Page 3 of Ruined

“It’s fine. I’ll go do this job. He said to leave my phone and everything else here. I’m guessing whoever we need to protect is highly important and shouldn’t be traced.” Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I walk around him into the kitchen. I need to get on the road if I’m going to make it there by mid-morning.

“Jace,” Ryker calls after me.

“It’s fine. I’ll figure out a way to let you know when we arrive safely at the cabin.” I shrug, glancing over at him. “Just keep an ear out in case I need help?” I ask.

Ryker stares at me for what feels like forever. I can’t figure out what’s going through his head, and I’m not sure if I want to know. But when he sighs and rolls his eyes, I know I’ve got him.

“You owe me,” Ryker mutters, storming out of the kitchen, and slamming his door. Smirking, I grab my keys from the kitchen table, leaving out the back door. Throwing my duffle into the backseat of my car, I get inside. Taking one final look at the house, I back out, heading towards Kentucky.

I can’t explain the dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach, but that little voice in the back of my head is telling me I have to do this. That this guy, the one we have to protect, needs help.

2

Ten hours later, I’m sitting across from Dimitri, the Pakhan of Russia. And for the last fifteen minutes, it’s been a staring contest with him. Uncertain why Walker acted as if I had to rush here. I expected them to be under attack.

“Are we just going to sit here, or are you going to let me in on what Walker called me about?” I ask, leaning back into the chair.

“I’m still debating.”

My eyes roll to the back of my head. I should have known this was going to happen. One thing about the mafia that I learned while dealing with them is that they don’t trust anyone. It’s the same in my profession. You can’t trust a single soul. The only reason I trust Ryker as much as I do is because we’ve known each other for so long and were in the military together. I know more about his character than my own.

“Well, ask away. I’m an open book.”

Dimitri glares over at me as if he doesn’t think I will realize this is a game he is playing. He is waiting to see if I will crack or freak out because I am facing a killer.

I like to murder people too, buddy.

“Why did Walker pick you?”

“I’m good at making people disappear,” I answer honestly. It’s a blessing but a curse. The number of people who are missing and never to be found just because of me is alarming. My parents would be ashamed, if I hadn’t killed them.

“Is that why Walker trusts you?”

“Walker doesn’t trust me,” I blurt out.

Dimitri smirks, leaning forward and clasping his hands together. “Long story short, three years ago, Gabriel and Blake were taken. It didn’t take us long to find them, about twelve hours.” Dimitri sighs. “But the damage was already done by the time we got to them. Neither one has spoken about what happened, and it’s come to my attention that Antonio, head of the Italians, is making moves towards one of my children, Blake.”

Frowning, I open my mouth to say something about Antonio going after one of his sons. But I stop myself from saying something I might regret.

“There's more to it,” I say instead.

“You’re a smart one, aren’t you?” Dimitri smirked.

“Walker called me for a reason. Just stop pussyfooting around and give me what I need to protect whoever it is,” I growl. I’m sounding more and more like Ryker. He’s the one with no patience, yet here I am losing it with the Pakhan of Russia.

“Business deals are messy, and Italians and us, we have a bad history. Antonio wants a hand in Blake's marriage, and I refuse. He’s getting testy and through the grapevine, I hear he’s getting anxious, wanting to tie our families together because of Salem.”

I nod my head, remembering all about Salem. The girl who hunted and killed most of the Italian Mafia over fifteen years ago.

“So where do I come in?”

“I don’t want the details. No one will know. Not Walker, no one, just yourself. Protect Blake with your life.”

Dimitri studies me as I think about what he says. Over the years, I’ve only done a handful of protection jobs. Usually, it’s a wife hiding from her husband,and I protect her while Ryker tracks him down. This feels different, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.

“Now that we have that established, let’s go.” Dimitri gets to his feet and walks around his desk, heading for the door. Following behind him, we leave the office, walking through the entryway, heading for the stairs. A few guards stand post around the front door and the stairs. Turning left, we head down the hallway until we stand outside a door that has seen better days. Dimitri knocks twice, stepping back. I hear a commotion inside until the door cracks and a blond guy pokes his head out, eyeing me and then Dimitri.

“Blake’s having a fit,” he mutters. Opening the door further, Dimitri enters, leaving me in the hallway. “You coming in, big boy?”

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