Page 113 of Wicked

I meet Massimo’s gaze. “Is our contact in Los Angeles looking for Vishekov?”

Massimo nods. “We have them monitoring some of the private airstrips. So hopefully when he lands they’ll find him. But there are not enough men to monitor all of them.”

“Fuck!” I slam my hand into the boardroom table hard.

My secretary, Elaine, opens the door and clears her throat.

“What is it?” I snap.

“Three Russian gentlemen are here to see you. They said their boss sent them.”

“Spartak’s men,” Leo confirms, nodding at the glass window where three of his men are standing.

“Send them in.”

The men enter the room and bow their heads. “We are here to help.” A red-haired man speaks first with a scar through his right eyebrow. “I’m Akim.”

“I’m Oleg,” a dark-haired and muscle-bound man says, bowing his head.

“And I’m Viktor.” The last one, tall but not quite as tall as me with dirty blonde hair, introduces himself.

“Perhaps you three could be of more use than my men. We have a list of Egorov Bratva establishments, but no idea where they’ll be keeping Ella. There’s about forty possible places.”

The three of them chuckle, which only sets the rest of us on edge. We’re not used to working with Russians.

“There’s only one place they keep the hostages,” Oleg says.

Viktor nods. “The Rainbow Lounge.”

I clench my jaw. “Is that a strip club?”

They all nod. “They like to play with their prisoners.”

My fists clench, and I’m about ready to slam all three of their faces into the table despite it not being their fault. They had nothing to do with it.

“Massimo. Is the jet fueled and ready?”

He nods. “Of course. I instructed Francesco to have the jet on the runway for take off as soon as I heard Alex took her to Las Vegas.”

“Okay, we’re all leaving for Las Vegas right now.”

Massimo stands, but I place a hand on his shoulder. “Except for you. You stay here and keep an eye on everything on the ground. I can’t risk you coming to harm if this goes wrong.”

His jaw clenches. “I want to help.”

I shake my head. “You’re Don of the Morrone Mafia. Your place is here in Chicago.”

He bows his head, and the rest of us march out of the building to face the wrath of the Egorov Bratva. I don’t care if I have to burn down the entire fucking city of Las Vegas. I will ensure I get Ella out in one piece, alive and well, even if I die. She’s in this mess because of me; I’ll do anything to save her.

39

REMY

The jet lands at the private airstrip on the outskirts of Vegas.

Leo appears from the back of the plane, his hair a little disheveled and his eyes red from sleep.

“Any news from the contact?”

---