Ashes (Web of Desire #3) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,81

does?”

“No, I’m saying that out of the mouth of babes and all that shit,” Reid replied as he displayed a satellite image on the screen above. “We found it.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, the muscles in my neck and arms tightened as I stared up at the screen. We’d been right about the headquarters being in a populated area of the city. It appeared to be an affluent neighborhood. Unlike our command center that was isolated at the top of a skyscraper, Ivanov’s appeared large and isolated from the rest of the properties by tall concrete walls. From the aerial view, it looked as if there were four connected structures with a type of courtyard in the center.

“Is the courtyard what Ruby meant about going outside?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Mason replied. “She talked about it being protected on all sides. She said she’d go out there in all seasons.”

I inhaled, my gaze narrowing at the image on the screen. “So this is where they lived?”

“And according to Ruby, it’s also where Ivanov works when he’s not away. She said there were a lot of people, mostly men, who came and went as well as staff, cooks, maids, and the like. I asked about Bykov and Gorky. She said they have both been around for as long as she could remember.

“Apparently, Madeline did her best to keep Ruby away from this area…” Reid moved an arrow over the largest structure within the walls. “Ruby said she and her mother had an apartment in the opposite building, but when she was younger, Ruby liked to explore. The man she called Oleg would stay with her, trying to keep her out of trouble, and the other men left her alone.”

“I think Ruby’s more broken up about Oleg’s death than she’s letting on,” Mason said.

I ran my hand over my hair. “That fucker Hillman killed Oleg right in front of her. I’d take him out again if I could.”

“Oh, about that,” Mason said, bringing another screen to life. “This is the visitor registration at the penitentiary where Wendell Hillman, Antonio’s father, currently resides. It seems that the sad news of his son’s death was followed by a visit by none other than Marion Elliott.”

“Like a fucking bad penny,” I said, shaking my head. “He seems to keep showing up.”

“He’s registered for the New Orleans poker tournament next weekend,” Reid volunteered. “The one that has Madeline listed.”

“She’s not going to New Orleans or facing Elliott.”

The door behind us slid open and Sparrow stepped into our command center. “We have over a week to decide that.” He looked at Reid. “When we have a break, go talk to Lorna.”

Reid looked down at his watch. “It’s after midnight. She’s asleep.”

“Yes,” Sparrow said, “and in the morning she’ll be the only uninformed resident regarding Madeline’s connection to dear old Dad.” His head shook. “Other than being extremely pissed that I hadn’t told her sooner, Araneae is thrilled to know our family has grown.” He shrugged. “She’s an only child of any of her parents, and we thought I was…I’m not.”

My gaze met Sparrow’s as if to say, so you’re admitting it, but then I remembered something. “Shit,” I mumbled.

“What now?” he asked.

“Ruby also needs to be told.”

“Fuck,” Sparrow huffed. Turning to Reid, he asked, “Tell me what you learned about Ivanov’s right-hand men. I want the fucker Ivanov gone. He made a threat against my city and bought and sold my sister. His days of breathing are seriously numbered. But I need intel to do this right.”

“As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t a wrong way to kill him,” I said.

“That’s because you’re not thinking,” Sparrow responded. “I don’t give a fuck how he’s killed. I care that we don’t open Detroit for a takeover we can’t control or at least align ourselves with. It’s fucking ridiculous for the bratva to think they can take over Chicago. They don’t have the manpower without Hillman’s recruits. As it is, the bratva is licking its wounds from Hillman’s deception. Somehow, Elliott is involved and at this moment, I don’t give a fuck. The Sparrows and the Ivanov bratva can work together as long as Andros Ivanov is out of the picture. We have the men and firepower to help the right man regain total control.”

“According to our capos up there,” Mason said, “the tension is high. Hillman’s connections are varying between running scared and wanting total control themselves.”

“Fuck no,” Sparrow said. “No one connected closely to McFadden is getting a