Page 69 of Silent Heart

He wasn’t here. The kitchen was empty.

The sound came from his device where it sat perfectly on the edge of the counter, exactly where he always kept it.

He didn’t even take his phone.

I tiptoed forward, my own cell dropping to the island with a dangerous clatter. Luckily, the screen didn’t crack. My fingers trembled as I picked up the sleek, razor thin phone, because tucked under it was a note.

I’m sorry, Harley.

“Sorry!” I spewed, because it was either that or begin to cry.

And I would not cry over this.

He’s really gone.

I slumped back against the center island. Kole was special. And the way he looked at me, Iknew—I freaking knew!—he felt the same about me.

“He’s either the world’s biggest player,” I sniffed, giving voice to the exact opinion my family would have of this situation, “or something happened.”

In my heart, I had to choose the second. It was the only thing that would keep me from going insane. Thunder cracked outside. I jumped slightly.This is not the end.It couldn’t be.

Chapter 27 – Kolya

Along, keen whistle blew past my brother’s lips. “Fuck, man, what the hell did you do?”

I looked up from the crimson pool around my feet and the lump of flesh still warm under my gloved fingers. “Eliminated the threat.”

“Yeah, Dimitri wanted us to negotiate, not—” Luka waved his hand over the scene “—Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

“They’ll get the message.”

“Ookkaaaayy,” Luka drawled, bouncing on the balls of his feet before landing back solidly. “Normally I’m the messy one. You’re taking all the fun out of this for me.”

“Let’s go.” I sheathed my blade and stalked past my baby brother.

The sticky summer heat wrapped around me like a wet blanket. The trash fermenting on the pavement and the still hot asphalt created a pungent stench. In the west, streaks of daylight gave their final salute as the night settled over everything else.

“Drop me at the airstrip,” I instructed my cousin as I slid into the passenger seat.

Kazimir shot me a sideways look. “Going somewhere?”

“A tip was dropped in my inbox this afternoon,” I explained, keeping the details vague.

“Ah, so that’s why you packed your sniper rifle,” Luka hummed, tapping his thigh.

Kaz nodded and started the engine. “We appreciate the help dealing with the 5thStreet Gang.”

I flicked a glance at the rundown strip mall we were leaving in our dust. “They’ll come back for vengeance.”

Kaz shrugged. “What’s new?”

I left the rhetorical question alone. The unorganized rabble who terrorized the streets was different than the more established entities running under the radar of the law. Organized crime versus wannabe leeches—mobs versus gangs. There was a huge difference. We kept order, we protected our people. Gangs were violent and produced nothing of value. A vicious part of life, we had to deal with the gangs whenever they encroached on our business ventures.

As he drove, Kazimir sent a call to the boss, which was quickly answered. In the rapid exchange of Russian, I listened as the limited participant that I was.

“Another puppet for the Syndicate,” Kazimir concluded. “You were right, Dimi. They’re enlisting gangs.”

“Fuck.” The sound of something slamming showed how this news affected the pakhan. “Are you sure?”

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