Page 4 of Royal Beast
“I’m sending Kellan to go talk to one of them,” Rory tells him. “We need answers.”
“I’ll go with you,” Finn volunteers, stepping forward.
“Good.” Rory nods curtly. “I’m off to bail our boys out,” he declares. “Report back to me whatever you hear.”
We part ways, and Finn and I head across town, to the Vitality Bank building. The impressively large brick building has a cozy, historic feel with stone archways and a large decorative lion in the center of the roofline. It houses the upper echelon of the Russian elite.
There’s a chill to the atmosphere as we walk inside. People going about their business suddenly turn and veer in a different direction when they spot us, and no one will make eye contact.
“I’d like to speak to Aleksey Mikhailov,” I say to the receptionist. Just then, Aleksey steps out of the elevator.
I raise my hand in greeting, but he stops short, his face impassive. Thick eyebrows arch upward as he gives me a once-over.
“What can I do for you, Brannagan?” he asks with a mild Russian accent.
“We came to meet with you,” I tell him, confusion washing over me at the hostility in his body language.
“I’m a very busy man,” he says. “You’ll have to make an appointment.”
“God fucking Christ, Aleksey, you’ve known me since high school. Can’t you give us five minutes of your time?” My shoulders tense and I breathe slowly in and out, trying to keep my temper in check.
Aleksey sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose before gesturing for us to follow him. We head for the elevator bank, the ride up to the fifteenth floor as silent as a grave.
Finn and I take seats in the leather armchairs opposite Aleksey’s mahogany desk while he sinks into his tall leather chair and faces us, steepling his fingers together.
“Five minutes,” he says, gesturing for me to begin.
“What the hell is going on?” I blurt out, unable to hold back. Aleksey raises a single eyebrow as Finn reaches out, placing a calming hand on my arm.
“Pardon?” Aleksey asks, blinking wide-eyed at me.
I stare at him for a beat, narrowing my eyes. “You fucking coward, you know what I’m talking about.” Before I can say another word, Finn jumps in.
“What Kellan is referring to, Mr. Mikhailov, is the raid on the Harborview warehouse this morning. We believe your boss is the one who orchestrated it, and we want to know why.”
Finn’s voice is calm, his presence a soothing balm when I need it most.
Aleksey gives us a tight-lipped smile. “I don’t recall any of my associates having anything to do with police matters. I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Brannagan.”
“Bullshit!” I spit out, already halfway out of my seat. “You know damn well that raid has Volkov’s fingerprints all over it. Why else would the police have been there at the ass-crack of dawn? We know Volkov had lunch with the police chief just two days ago. And now we’re being raided!”
“It’s very rude to accuse Anatoly Volkov of such things,” Aleksey scolds. “I’ve had enough, Brannagan. I think it’s time for you two to leave.” He glances over my shoulder where a burly guard is already reaching into his jacket pocket.
“We’re leaving,” Finn says, grabbing my arm. “But this isn’t over, Mikhailov.”
“In the future, I’d be careful accusing a powerful man like Anatoly Volkov of such outlandish conspiracies, gentlemen,”Aleksey adds. “You don’t want to make any more enemies around here.”
“I can’t believe the balls on that man,” I fume as we head to the office.
Rory is there when we arrive. Finn and I explain what happened, Rory’s brows furrowing deeper and deeper the more we talk.
“This is horseshit,” he grinds out. “Volkov isn’t getting away with this.”
“We should retaliate,” I suggest. “There’s a warehouse in Briarwood that is always shut down at night, no security. We should burn the place down and send a message not to fuck with the Irish.”
Rory’s mouthcurves up into a sly grin. “Good idea. Let’s do it.”
Finn nods slowly. “I think it’s a strong and pivotal message. Your father would approve.”
