Page 28 of Scarred Ruin

Wise men calculate their advantage before striking.

“You’re really going to use our father’s words against me?”

“What is the slang? If the shoe fits?”

I brought the glass of whiskey to my lips, taking a slow sip and allowing the whiskey to burn. Right now, I needed to feel something other than the anger continuing to simmer underneath my clothes.

Without being asked, Sergei grabbed the bottle of whiskey, filling my glass. That meant he also had something on his mind. Since Grigor’s murder, he’d begun to fill the empty role of Sovetnik or councilor as well as Brigadier.

At some point, I’d need to decide which role he was better suited for. At the request of my father, he’d not only gone to college but also law school so he was well versed in providing council.

“What is it, Sergei? Say your piece.” I’d all but ordered a full scour of the city, which would mean bodies left in the wake. While not unheard of in situations of this nature, doing so would indicate I’d been flustered by the attack.

Unacceptable.

“Roman is right in that you need to step back so you can think very clearly about how to handle this.”

I twirled my glass midair, studying the way the light reflected on the amber liquid. “I’ve been sitting on my ass for over a week. No leads have been presented, no names provided. Nothing. I think I’ve been extremely patient.”

“And you’re willing to take the word of a woman who happened to be in the right place not only once but twice?”

Yes, I knew Sergei had a point. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t thought of already, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t hear him out. “And your point?”

Kristoff was also in the room. I shifted my gaze toward him and he lifted his glass instead of jumping into the conversation. The man was smart, realizing I was close to giving an order that would put us all in harm’s way. No, it wasn’t my best course of action, but neither was ignoring what had occurred.

“She had to have been made aware that she’d be working with you very closely. Do you think it’s possible she was paid to bring you to your knees?”

Sergei was somewhat careful with his words; every man in the room knew it was possible I was a ticking time bomb.

“He’s right, Max,” Roman added. “What do you really know about her?”

“I know enough to realize that she’s a talented architect who lost her sister to the very same illness my daughter is suffering from. That is enough for me.”

“Have you checked her background?” Kristoff weighed in.

I shot him a vengeful look. “Enough to know she’s not some operative for a secret society of assassins, but I’m being very cautious with her.”

“Cautious? You brought her into your home and around my niece!” Roman rarely raised his voice to me and almost never in front of anyone. He’d picked the wrong time to do so.

Before I could rise to my feet, Sergei placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t overreact, Maxsim. You of all people know we’re vulnerable right now. Our men know it. Our enemies are acutely aware of what happened.”

“Our enemies,” I scoffed. “And who exactly would that be this week? The Italians insistent on using our ports or the Saudis who insist their shipments are entitled, refusing to allow anything else on the cargo ships? Or perhaps the members of the trust who seem to believe this project I was kind enough to allow them to be involved in will somehow fuel and fund their struggle for additional power? Which one?”

I jerked up from my chair, cognizant my brother flinched, concerned I would punch him as I’d done only a week before. I moved to the single window in the ridiculously depressing port office, staring out at the ocean’s waters. “She saved Mina’s life. You were there, Roman. You know exactly the lengths she went to, something very few other people including a few trained soldiers would do on instinct alone.”

No one said anything for a couple of minutes. They all knew when I needed to calm the fuck down. I’d been known for my patience and prudence in the past, but this time was different. This time the attacks had been personal in a way few could understand.

“Anastasia’s killer was never found.” My words seemed hollow, devoid of emotion when I was suffocating inside. The years hadn’t made her death any easier.

“I know, Pakhan,” Sergei said.

“Then what are you suggesting? That I leave this fucker to try and hurt my child again?” Yes, I was angry, so much so my vision had become blotched with spots of blood.

Sergei took that moment to remain quiet. He rarely allowed me off the hook when he thought either an idea or an action needed council. Perhaps he was better suited in the position, but his silence now spoke volumes about his disappointment.

I laughed, hanging my head as I did. “By all means, Sergei. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

Sergei took his time to do so. “My recommendation is that we find out more about this man if he exists at all. From what we’ve discovered so far, we’ve found no active connection to anyone that could be considered on the radar. That doesn’t mean he’s not someone of importance, but allow us the time to determine if he has a role.”