Page 52 of Torn Souls

“We’ve seen an increase in dealers linked to Mikhail on the street. With the ones we were already tracking, there’s been a twenty percent increase. The new dealers are all teens and young adults. They don’t know who is really in charge, but they also don’t care,” Hendrix starts to fill us in.

I zone out for a moment and wonder what Oaklynn is up to. In a matter of days, she’s become everything to me. It’s difficult to concentrate when I’m not around her.

Spending time with Oaklynn is like being outside under the sun. She shines down on you and it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

I’ve never been infatuated with a woman before, but our woman has me messed up. With her nothing feels forced. It also doesn’t feel like we’re moving fast enough though I know that makes no damn sense.

“No one has seen Mikhail,” Hendrix comments and his words snap me back to reality. “There has been talk of a money man making some moves, but we’re not sure who that is.”

“Chambers,” I growl.

Hendrix looks at me with a curious expression. “I recall that name. Richard Chambers. We had intel of him working with Anatoly, but he hasn’t come up in regard to Mikhail.”

“I think it’s time to fill you in completely about our woman,” Kirill states and leans back in his chair, his elbows resting on the arm rests as he steeples his fingers in front of him.

“Can’t say I didn’t have some questions,” there’s a tease in Hendrix’s voice.

“We’re curious about the woman who has captured your eye and can hold her own with the four of you. She must be strong,” Wolfe muses. “She’s my sister and I haven’t met her yet,” this jab is directed at Baker.

Baker only shrugs, not giving anything up or away. Wolfe makes a good point. We’re connected to Hendrix and his crew in more ways than just business.

“You’ll meet her when the time is right,” Baker assures him, but doesn’t make excuses or try to play off the situation.

“Richard Chambers asked for a meeting,” Kirill begins. “Actually, he had been trying to get a meeting for a while, but I ignored him. It finally felt like the right time to accept it. We knew he was connected to Morozov and was curious why he was still so persistent. At our dinner meeting he brought his daughter, Oaklynn. I knew the moment I saw her,” he admits, unapologetically.

“Let me guess,” Dominic’s voice holds an edge of a threat in it, “he wanted to make a deal, and it involved his daughter.”

“You got it,” Kirill confirms. “I didn’t give him an answer, but a few days later, Oaklynn showed up here. Chambers waspissed when I didn’t fall at his feet with the offer he gave me. He beat Oaklynn. She figured she could come to me and let me know what he was really planning, what he really expected of his daughter, and it would be beneficial to everyone.”

“Everyone except her father,” Maxim snorts, but you can see the pride on his face because of Oaklynn’s courage.

“Fuck that guy,” Hendrix grunts, his face a mask of fury. “He put his hands on his daughter? He doesn’t deserve her loyalty.”

“We took her home and that’s where she will remain. Chambers didn’t even notice she was gone until I called him to set up a meeting. He thinks he’ll be controlling my financial portfolio but it’s all fake.”

“You could have just called the deal off considering she was in your home already,” Wolfe points out, a devious look on his face.

“But then Chambers wouldn’t let his guard down. He’d been trying to fight us on the deal. We’d rather him believe that his plan is working.”

“He thought Oaklynn would feed him intel?” Hendrix questions with his eyebrow arched.

“Yeah. He’s not a very smart man,” I point out. I look at Kirill who gives a small nod. “He’s already started making moves and making contact as if getting inside information to take us down is already a foregone conclusion. He’s received a large payment already which I assume is for information.”

“I knew it wouldn’t take long.” Kirill’s voice is cold, “Who has he contacted?”

“Lev.”

I let his name drop like a bomb in the room. We’re all very much aware of who Mikhail’s second is.

Lev is a dangerous guy, but he has nothing on me and the rest of my guys. The men scrambling for any semblance of power and control are fighting an uphill battle, one that they’re going to lose.

“I’ve already increased security around the house,” Baker cuts into the conversation to add.

“I’m monitoring him closely,” I say the words like a vow. “He’s going to try to take advantage of the connection with us that he thinks he’s forged, I’m sure of it. He won’t be able to put it off whether he trusts it or not. The man likes to gamble.”

“And fuck trapped women who have no hope of escaping the trauma he’s put them through,” Maxim grumbles the words with disgust written all over his face.

Wolfe and his men freeze with their mouths hanging open for a moment before anger takes over their faces. I narrow my eyes at Maxim. He shouldn’t have said that considering their woman was once caught in Morozov’s web.

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