Then there was the fact he was known as a close friend and basic ally of the Petrov family.
That hadn’t won him any points.
However, he’d promised a certain oath to my father years before, much like the mayor had. My words were to make certain that he followed the requirement as set forth. If not, I had grounds and means of ruining him. While I needed friends in high places, something the man was very well aware of, I wasn’t going to give into any level of political bullshit.
Not on my watch.
“Just calm down, Aleksei. I have my finest detectives looking into this. If anyone else was involved, I will figure that out. Don’t worry so much.”
Don’t worry. He had no real understanding of what I was up against.
“And Peter Church?”
“He has an alibi. He wasn’t anywhere in the vicinity of the mayor’s house.”
“Where the fuck was he?” My anger was rolling.
“You know I can’t tell you that,” he insisted.
I remained quiet.
“Fine, Aleksei. He was with several of his friends at a restaurant at the time of death. That was certified by the ME.”
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t have one of his… employees handling the kill.”
Robert sighed. “That’s true. As I said, we’re going to find out exactly what went on.”
I thought once again about the words my father had issued. If only I knew what the mayor had meant by club. The nagging remained, driving bile into the base of my throat.
I heard commotion behind me and turned, a cold shiver shooting down my spine seeing Maksim’s flushed face.
“I have to go, Commissioner. You need to contact me the moment you hear anything,” I commanded, ending the call before he had a chance to retort.
“Boss… Aleksei…” Maksim half stumbled closer.
“What the fuck?” As two other soldiers ran inside my office, weapons in their hands, reality slammed into my mind and my heart.
“Boss, there’s been an accident. The SUV carrying Dimitri and Willow. There was an explosion.”
All the rage and sadness I’d felt over the years, the majority bottled to allow me to proceed with life came unfurled. Blood rushed to my temples, spots forming in front of my eyes.
And I made a promise, one I intended to keep regardless of the outcome.
There would be blood spilled into the streets.
* * *
The single SUV had taken the brunt of the explosion, catapulting the massive vehicle on its side.
I threw myself out of the car, racing toward the scene of the accident, only to be yanked by Maksim.
“Wait. You need to listen to me,” he said as he moved in front of me.
“What? I need to get to them. Don’t you understand?”
He shook his head. “Dimitri is gone, taken. Thomas is going to be all right, but James was killed in the explosion. The bomb came out of nowhere, hitting the driver’s side and killing him instantly.”
There were sirens coming from every direction, several ambulances and firetrucks positioned. As I scanned the area, trying to comprehend what he was saying, I noticed how the cops had all taken a step away. I snarled viciously, a warning that they needed to do their jobs.
“My son.”
“No evidence he was injured, but he was gone before anyone arrived,” Maksim said quietly. “Willow is alive.”
Stars floated in front of my eyes for the second time in less than an hour. I broke away from him, racing past the firefighters, shoving everyone out of my way. Willow had been placed on a stretcher, her face covered in scratches, her lovely eyes open and filled with horror. My entire world had been yanked straight into hell, leaving me cold and empty inside.
“Baby. You’re going to be all right.” I hovered over her, even as one of the EMTs continued to check her vitals.
“She will be just fine. She’s one lucky lady. Just a few minor cuts and bruises,” the EMT said with conviction as well as a hint of fear. I could see recognition in his eyes.
I brushed hair from her face, taking heaving breaths as I tried to control my emotions. “What happened?”
“She needs her rest,” the EMT insisted.
“I need to know where my son is!” I barked.
He held up his hands, backing away. “Just a few minutes. She needs to be thoroughly checked at the hospital.”
I ignored him, leaning over and pressing my lips against her cheek. “I’ll kill the bastards who did this. They will die.”