Maybe the senator had run. Yeah, the fat pig wouldn’t have a chance against Kadiks.
I noticed a partially open door at the end of one hall. Using my index finger, I pushed open the door, peering inside. Fuck me. I took long strides, finding the senator covered in blood, his body tossed onto the floor. He’d been severely beaten. As I knelt down and felt for a pulse, I heard a single strangled moan coming from his swollen lips.
“William. Can you talk? Who did this to you?”
He attempted to open his eyes, both swollen severely. I was no doctor but knew the man needed to get to a hospital immediately. There was no doubt internal bleeding.
He gurgled, blood slipping past his lips, a cough followed by a moan indicating racking anguish.
“Don’t try and talk. I’ll call 9-1-1.” Damn it. He was my only hope of finding her.
I was shocked when he grabbed my wrist, the hold stronger than I would have imagined. “Wa… Wait.”
I hunkered down. “Okay. What?”
“Si-err-a.”
“What about her?” I hissed.
“They… took her.”
“Who? Who the fuck took her?”
“Ra…” A string of blood-infused bubbles pushed past his lips followed by a more intense cough. He wasn’t going to last long. “Russian.”
I bristled, a cold chill sliding down my back. No one would ever confuse Axel as a Russian. “Okay. Just rest.” While a huge portion of me wanted to end the man’s life, I realized he might still be of use.
He refused to let my arm go, tugging me down even further. “Desk. Look. Drive.”
I glanced over the man’s desk, trying to figure out what he was saying.
“Take… it.”
“All right.” I moved to a standing position, walking toward his desk and opening the drawers. I found a single jump drive. It had to be what he was talking about. I eased back by his side, holding the drive in front of his face. “This is what Lucas was going to give Sierra?”
“Ya… yes. A copy.” He began coughing up blood, his chest heaving.
I shoved it into my pocket and yanked out my phone, dialing 9-1-1. “Yes, I’d like to report a man down. He’s been beaten.” As I gave the address, I realized every emotion seemed to be frozen. The bastard had taken the woman I loved. I would tear the city apart hunting him. I glanced down at the senator one last time. “Help is on its way but know this. I will come for you later and when I do, there isn’t anyone who will be able to save you.”
I left his house before the sound of any sirens. My next destination? Visiting my father in the hospital. I owed him the respect of letting him know what the hell was going on. Only this time, he was going to have to play it my way. There was no other choice.
While on my way, I made several calls, pulling every soldier on duty. From the limited reports, there’d been no active attacks of any kind on the businesses our family protected or any unnecessary violence in the streets, but there were heightened rumors. I knew Dante was scouring the streets, trying to find out any information on Konstantin, as if the Russian would reveal himself at this point. He was also lying in wait, enjoying his game of cat and mouse. I had to believe that Sierra was still alive, especially since it appeared that the evidence Konstantin had hunted for was so damn important.
I fingered the drive as I parked near the hospital, finding two of my soldiers waiting outside. “Any issues?”
“None, boss. All quiet,” one of them told me.
“Stay in radio contact. Make certain no one gets to my father or my brother.” I took the stairs, doing everything I could to burn off energy. I needed a clear head for what was about to transpire. I hesitated at the entrance to the ICU, uncertain if I could stand seeing my brother in his traumatized condition. I kept my head down, heading toward his isolated room, stopping short the second I didn’t see any of my men guarding the door.
Rage flashed to the point I was sick inside. The second I burst into the empty room, I let out a roar of anger, jerking backward and rushing toward the nurse’s station. If something happened to him or if he… Jesus Christ. If my brother died and I hadn’t been available. Maybe that’s why my father had called.
“Nurse. Nurse!”
One of the nurses finally turned in my direction, obviously furious with my outburst. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Where is my brother?” I demanded.
“And you are?” She moved toward the computer.
I slammed my hand on the counter, finding it difficult to breathe. “You know exactly who the fuck I am. Where. Is. My. Brother?”
Blinking several times, she was obviously befuddled, her hand shaking as she held it over the keyboard. “I need… I need some identification.”
Another nurse ran in our direction, trying to offer a smile even though her eyes told a completely different story. “It’s okay, Brenda. I got this.” She waited until the other nurse took backward steps away before leaning over. “He was moved, Mr. Francesco. One of your men convinced us that it was necessary for their safety. Your father was moved as well. It’s a private area. But the other man refused to stay. Checked himself out almost two hours ago.”
Private area. Fuck. Fuck! And Vincenzo had left the hospital? I was shocked, another round of anger driving into every cell and muscle. I would deal with his shit later. That is if he was still loyal. The concept that he’d been recruited to work for the Kadiks entered my mind. I was almost dizzy from the lack of oxygen, struggling to calm my nerves. “One of my soldiers?” None of them had the authorization to move them.
“Yes, he…” She gave me a look before tapping her fingers on the keyboard. “Shit. I didn’t catch his name. I’m so sorry.”
“Where are they? Where?”
“Sixth floor, past the sign for operating, but wait. I need to talk to you.”
“I don’t have the time.”
“Make the time,” she snapped, reaching out and grabbing my arm. “While your brother is improving, there is some damage that is beyond repair.”
“What the fuck are you saying?”