Page 52 of Reign of a Billionaire
“There was an explosion a few days ago in D.C., a car bomb apparently. A setup by Perez Cortes targeted at Sofia Volkov.”
The news hit me like a sledgehammer, my chest twisting painfully while I kept my expression blank.
“We need to get our hands on her daughter,” Marchetti gritted. He’d had a chip on his shoulder—much like the rest of us—ever since Sofia tortured his wife. “And I don’t want my wife knowing about it.”
“It would give us leverage,” Aiden agreed. “Except she’s dead.” When everyone’s eyes snapped to him, he explained, “A burnt body was found in the explosion, identified as Liana Volkov.”
Tense silence followed, but it had nothing to do with the holy establishment we were in.
“Why would Perez want her dead? He had a business relationship with her mother.” Kian voiced the question everyone was thinking. Except I knew the answer: Lianatampered with Perez’s business. Sofia might have refused to admit it, but Perez clearly saw the truth.
Guilt squeezed my chest, tightening my throat. I should have grabbed Liana the minute I saw her alive and breathing, careful planning be damned.
Aiden shrugged. “No idea.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” Kian’s brow creased. “Just twenty-four hours ago, he announced a flesh auction with Liana Volkov being presented for sale. If the fetched price isn’t adequate, he’ll use the Marabella Mobster arrangements.” My eyes sharpened and a red alert shot through me. Perez wouldn’t be so stupid. “Why would he rally buyers if she was dead?”
“If she’s alive, we need to get our hands on her,” Marchetti hissed. “I want leverage on her bitch mother.”
I jumped to my feet and left the church without another word, then typed out a message to my brother Winston.
He promised me his jet months ago. I was about to take him up on it and disappear again.
The moment I entered my flat, I really wished I hadn’t.
My brothers stood around my space like judges, juries, and executioners. And they wasted no time descending on me like goddamned flies. The only one who stood casually, taking no part in this, was Alessio, my eldest, illegitimate brother. In fact, he looked like he’d rather not be here at all.
“I hear you have a girl,” Royce blurted out, grinning like a fool. “An actual girl, not a blow-up doll.”
I side-eyed him. He might have some freaky tendencies, but I didn’t. “I don’t,” I deadpanned, flicking a glance at Winston.
“I didn’t tell him a thing,” he grumbled.
“It’s true,” Royce agreed. “It was Aurora.” I would need to have a conversation with my sister about details that should never be shared with my brothers, especially Royce. “And I saw the warning you made public, saying a certain woman is off-limits.”
Because I made a promise, I thought silently. There was nothing more to it. That little moment of shared passion was insignificant.Liar!The devil and angel on my shoulder called bullshit.
“I’m really worried about you,” Byron interjected, always the protective big brother. “You shouldn’t go after Sofia Volkov alone. She’s dangerous, and we don’t want anything to happen to you. At least let us help.”
“I work better alone.” It was the truth. Besides, I’d done unimaginable things while my brothers killed for our country. Well, except for Alessio. He’d endured some shit too, but I didn’t know him well enough to accept his offer of help.
“You think you could figure out who this belongs to?” Royce asked, ignoring my non-answer and pulling a bloody bag with a body part from his pocket.
“What the fuck?” Winston growled. “Is that a finger?”
Alessio shook his head. “You’re a sick motherfucker, Royce.”
Byron looked at his watch. “Well, Royce. You started this shit, getting us all to come here. Now say your piece, and do something with that bloody finger so we can all get back to our lives.”
“I was in Venezuela for a business trip.” My eyebrows shot up, but I didn’t say anything. “On my last day there, I found this in my hotel fridge.”
“Jesus,” Byron muttered. “Why didn’t you call the local police?”
That would make sense for my brothers who were, for the most part, law-abiding citizens, but nothing Royce did made sense. “And the local police is corrupt as fuck there.”
Without a look in Royce’s direction, I asked, “And you thought you should bring it to me,why?”
“Because it was addressed to the Ghost. Or Kingston Ashford.”
