The Enforcer (Chicago Bratva #3) - Renee Rose Page 0,54

one Skal’pel’ left me somewhere between cutting off my tongue and framing me on drug charges. I make Story the beneficiary, then I compose a message for her.

It’s only a couple hours until sunrise. Time enough to lie down beside Story one last time before I go…

Chapter 13

Story

The only reason I wake is because I no longer feel Oleg’s solid form beside me. I snuggle into the soft sheets, relishing the smell of him that still lingers. After another moment, I crack my eyes and look at the bedside clock. Eleven in the morning. That’s pretty normal for me the morning after a gig. I sit up and rub my eyes, looking around.

Oleg doesn’t seem to be in the room.

Maybe he went for bagels again.

I swing my legs out of the bed and almost trip over a duffel bag beside it. On top of the navy canvas bag is Oleg’s iPad. I smile. He left me a note.

I grab the iPad and wake it up.

Story,

You are my reason for living, so of course, it is easy to make this choice.

A cold chill sweeps across my limbs. Renders me limp. My fingers holding the iPad tremble.

My death is the best protection for you. Take this money, so I can continue to protect you from the grave.

I love you, my lastochka.

No!

I might have screamed it. Maybe several times.

All I know is that a pounding starts up on the door to the penthouse.

Sobbing, I yank on one of Oleg’s t-shirts. The door opens, and Oleg’s friends pour in. I don’t see them. I barely hear them over the screaming in my head.

Dima picks up the iPad and reads the words out loud to the rest of them.

Someone gathers me into a hug. Nikolai, maybe. I’m passed to Sasha, who also envelopes me against her chest.

I can’t stop crying. I only hear snippets of their conversation: ...turning himself in to Skal’pel’...the bottle of Soviet champagne that was delivered here for him… I can’t track him, he left his phone here…

Finally I make myself speak. “S-stop him,” I sob. “You have to stop him.”

“We will,” Ravil answers grimly, even though I can tell by his face he doesn’t believe it.

He means he will try.

But we may be too late.

Oh God, we may be too late.

How could this have happened? How did I fall in love for the first time in my life only to lose him in the matter of two weeks?

I’m hyperventilating. It’s that ugly, out of control sobbing where you can’t breathe. Can’t speak. Can’t release the torrent of emotion trapped in your body.

“Why?” I sob, even though he told me why.

He did it for me.

He sacrificed his life, so I would stay safe.

I hate myself now for insisting on going to gigs. Making him worry about my safety.

Fuck, if I would’ve know it meant him turning himself in to get butchered by some cruel doctor, I would’ve holed up here in this penthouse with him for the rest of my life.

The salt in my tears burns my eyes.

Someone hands me a tissue. Then another.

Then the whole box.

I can’t stop the hurricane.

“You have to stop him,” I repeat again. “Please.”

Some of the men have left the room. I’m not sure what’s happening.

“Are you going to find him?” I ask. I’m like a lost child in the airport. I don’t even know where to begin or who to turn to.

Ravil comes to me. “We’re trying to track them down. I’ll be honest. It might be difficult. Skal’pel’ is a smart man who could be using any identity and wearing any face. He could’ve been living anywhere. But Dima’s working every angle we can think of.”

I shake my head, refusing to accept that answer. “No. You have to find him. You have to get there before anything happens. How long has he been gone? Does anyone know?”

“Not yet,” Ravil murmurs, pulling out his phone. “But I’ll check with Maykl down at the front door. We have security footage.”

I stumble around the room, my stomach scrunched up under my ribs. “This is wrong,” I mutter between hiccuping sobs. “It’s all wrong.”

“Story.” Ravil gently grips my shoulder. “I’d like you to stay here while we figure this out, okay? You may still be in danger, and I need to keep you safe.”

I blink at him then burst into fresh tears, but I nod. “Yes,” I say. I want to be with them. I need to be with the people who know and love Oleg.

Because I need them