Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
The apartment is a shithole. Mold is growing on the walls, and there appear to be old stains from a water leak. One of the windows has been smashed. This is not a place to be lived in. However, it does give me an idea for a business venture.
Going inside the apartment, Terrance grabs Marcus and slams him into one of the wooden chairs, but it was old and not designed to hold too much pressure, and it collapsed. Eventually, Terrance pushes him into a threadbare chair and holds him down.
I stare at Marcus. He’s weak, and he’s pissed himself again. The scent coming off him suggests that he might have also shit himself, which is so fucking nasty. I’m used to this reaction, though. He’s guilty. He knows what he’s done.
My cell phone rings and I see it’s from the casino.
“Any news?” I asked.
“Bethany took a flight over two weeks ago, and other than landing in Pavlov territory, no one else has seen her.”
“Thanks.”
So there is a connection. What I don’t know for sure is who reached out to who. The Evil Savages didn’t help put a hit on my wife. That was all Bethany. She would have met Oleg because of me.
All the brigadiers were at a function. Adelaide hadn’t met them all yet because Ivan had changed my wife after Bethany had been introduced to them.
Now I’m pissed off. I should have killed Bethany. This is what we needed, though. Oleg was no longer loyal to Ivan. That piece of shit was going to die.
I needed to contact Ivan. This is where it got a little trickier. Ivan wasn’t always easy to get ahold of. He might have heard about the attack on the restaurant. He had spies everywhere. I called his number. Nothing.
Marcus had started to beg for forgiveness and even prayed to whatever would help him. In the end, I had no choice but to call Slavik.
“What do you want?”
“I need Ivan.” I didn’t tell him about Oleg or give any details. Ivan hadn’t given me the green light to alert other brigadiers to what we had discovered.
“Hold on,” Slavik said.
I heard movement and then minutes later Slavik hung up. I didn’t have to wait long before Ivan rang my cell. He was in Slavik’s territory. I could only guess he was besotted with the little girl they’d had not long ago.
When Adelaide eventually gives birth to our child, I don’t want Ivan to start dropping by for more random visits. Not that I had anything to hide from him. I never did.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I give him a rundown of everything that happened, from the attack to Bethany’s last known whereabouts, to the man in front of me.
“Put me on speakerphone and question him. I’ll remain silent,” Ivan said.
This is fucking news to me. Ivan can never be silent. He’s the kind of man who always has to get involved. I put him on speaker and hand my cell phone to Terrance.
“Now, Marcus, you want to live, right? To get to use that fifty grand.”
“Please, please, please, I don’t … I don’t … I was told that if you ever came into the restaurant I was to call this number and tell them exactly where you were.” Marcus started to sob. “She told me it would change my life.”
“A woman told you?” I asked.
Marcus nodded. “She said it was important. I had no idea they were going to kill you. I swear. I swear.”
“What number?” I asked.
Marcus’s hands shook so much and he did piss himself again. I didn’t even know anyone could hold that much fucking urine without drinking in-between. He handed me his cell phone and I didn’t want to touch it, but I had no choice. I’d be bleaching my hands by the time I was done here.
“The last number I dialed.”
I didn’t recognize the number.
“Anything else, Ivan?” I asked.
“Clean up. I’m on my way.” His voice was clear.
I pocket Marcus’s cell phone, and then pull out my gun. Terrance holds him down and I put a single bullet through his skull.
“Burn it,” I said, leaving the room, and pressing the fire alarm as Terrance starts a fire.
Screams fill the air, and before Terrance and I even make it out, the flames have already engulfed the entire floor. The people who live in the building are all outside, staring up. No one pays us any attention, all caught up in the chaos and drama of their homes being set up in flames. Once it was burned to the ground, I’d build it right back up. Another business opportunity coming my way.
Chapter Eighteen
Adelaide
I’m pacing the floor waiting for Andrei to either call or to walk right in the front door. My hands shook as I held my cell phone. I hadn’t called him, even though I wanted to. I want to make sure he’s okay.