Page 3 of Torn Souls

Kirill is at the end of his rope. He’s not the only one.

“Hendrix will update us,” Baker adds even though it isn’t necessary.

Hendrix, Dominic, and Wolfe—who is also Baker’s older brother—are mercenaries working for us at the moment. They are former military who have seen firsthand the terror Morozov thrives on. They’ve made a name for themselves by taking down trafficking rings and we aren’t the only ones who use them for their skills.

It helps that we grew up with Wolfe. He took a different path than we did, along with Baker, but it didn’t cause a rift between us.

I respect the man. He felt a calling to fight for our country. If things had been different, if we weren’t raised by first generation immigrants, I might not have felt like I was constantly straddling two countries. Fleeing because enemieswere after Dad and his power made the man both resentful and grateful for his new home country.

Kirill and I still find our souls divided. Dad raised us to build an empire, the same kind he couldn’t keep a hold of and had to run from. We knew our destiny and it never held room for wearing a military uniform.

At least Wolfe and his team’s skills come in handy.

I lean forward, my elbows resting on my knees and crack a smile. “I think you need to blow off some steam,” I direct my observation toward my brother.

Kirill narrows his eyes at me. Even though it seems like he’s against my suggestion, I can see his mind turning over my words. With a huff, he shakes his head and leans back in his chair.

“And what do you suggest? Going to Second Circle,” he sneers the name of the brothel our tentative Italian mob connection, Angelo Amato, owns.

I scoff and shake my head. “I’m certainly not suggesting going to Amato’s brothel,” my tone is filled with condemnation.

Baker smirks as he lounges back in the spot on one of Kirill’s couches which he’s claimed as his own. “Although getting some action wouldn’t hurt you. You’re clearly stressed out,” he points out the obvious but the glint in his eyes says he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Of course I’m fucking stressed out,” Kirill snarls. “I have Mikhail hiding in the shadows and trying anything and everything to disrupt my business.”

“He hasn’t been very successful,” Huck points out.

“No,” Kirill sighs, “but he has managed to piss me the fuck off.” I can’t help but smirk considering it doesn’t take much to piss my brother off. He waves his hand dismissively like he knows exactly what I’m thinking; he probably does. “Anyway, I’m not paying for a night with a woman. I don’t need to pay for a willing woman, why would I start now?”

“True,” I agree. “How about going to Club Sin? You might find a woman for the night.”

Kirill tilts his head to the side as he considers me. “Are you asking for me or is this really for you?”

I bark out a laugh because he’s not entirely wrong. It’s been a while since I’ve had the time or the inclination to find a woman to spend the night with. While I have no doubt when the right woman comes along, we’ll share her; she hasn’t made her presence known.

Maybe she never will.

“Would it be so bad? A night out? Seeking a little softness in the midst of all the bullshit we’ve been dealing with?” Kirill arches an eyebrow at my questions. I go in for the kill and add, “Isn’t there some old adage about all work and no play?”

One side of my brother’s mouth tips up in a devilish smirk. “You’re not wrong, brother,” he agrees.

But I can read the man. I know what his answer will be.

“But, no,” his words hold a finality. “As of right now, I can’t trust anyone, especially a woman, put in our path. There is too much going on in the background. Mikhail will use any means to get to us.”

Baker’s body deflates as he pouts and grumbles, “Fuck, now I can’t even get my dick wet.”

Kirill cracks a smile, a genuine one, while shaking his head at our lifetime friend.

Huck barks out a laugh as Baker continues to pout. “As soon as we deal with Mikhail and his little cockroaches, you’ll be free to find a nice warm hole to enjoy.”

Baker flips Huck off which only causes the man to grin wickedly, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“When I get my hands on him, he’s going to wish he had just evaporated like fog instead of trying to take back his daddy’s legacy,” Baker’s threat is whispered with sinister intent.

Kirill, Huck, and I chuckle at the promise of violence in his words.

Now we just have to cut Mikhail off from everything he’s been trying to rebuild and then take him out. My gut is screaming at me that something is coming. Something big.

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