his cousin. “I was afraid you’d say that. Her family is complicated. As you know, they own the property just bordering yours. About two hundred acres. Most of the hillsides here are planted with grapes, but they aren’t in the wine business. They have a very successful business maintaining cars for the wealthiest clients in and around San Antonio. If a driver is needed, they often will drive for the client. They’re sought after and are paid top dollar.”
Mitya nodded and put his glass down. “The Dover family. I heard of them from Jake Bannaconni. He has a contract with them to maintain his cars. He told me about them. He said there were rumors that the grandfather or father occasionally worked for the Caruso and Anwar families out of Houston years ago.”
Sevastyan nodded. “Those rumors would be true. They were both known for their driving skills, and the families hired them as couriers to get packages from one place to another when they knew someone—make that the police—might try to stop them.”
“So on the edge of the criminal world but not really in it,” Mitya said.
“They knew they were working for criminals,” Sevastyan pointed out.
“Who do you have watching Ania?” Mitya asked.
“Kiriil and Matvei. I trust them with my life and yours, so they are watching over her. Not that I like giving up two of my best men.”
“I appreciate that you sent them. I need her, Sevastyan. I need her in my life soon. Did you do as I asked?”
“Yes, the dinner will be ready in an hour. We can take it over to her home. She’s there now, but Mitya, that isn’t the end to the story. That accident she said her grandparents and mother were killed in? That was no accident. Someone ran them off the road. The Dover car was traveling at a high rate of speed, as if it was being chased. Witnesses claim there was another car that appeared to be trying to run them off the road, but a third car was actually what clipped them and sent them into a spin, and the car rolled so many times witnesses lost count. All three occupants were dead.”
Mitya was silent a moment, turning the facts over and over in his mind. It sounded like a classic hit. They’d set up the Dover car. While the driver worried about the car chasing him, the other was in position to take him out. “Did they do something to anger either family? Like steal from them? Talk to the cops? Anything?”
Sevastyan shook his head. “I did some digging, but so far haven’t found anything but that the Dovers had an impeccable reputation and no one would ever consider that they would steal from those employing them. Or go to the cops.”
“That was how many years ago?”
“Three. Two weeks after they buried Ania’s grandparents and mother, her father was robbed on the street just outside of a liquor store. He was shot multiple times. From what I understand, one of the bullets lodged in his brain and they couldn’t remove it. He hasn’t been seen in public since. He’s alive, there was footage of him leaving the hospital, but he no longer works his business. Ania took it over, and a couple of months ago she contacted Jake Bannaconni saying she wanted to sell. He agreed to handle the transaction for her. I’ve got a call in to Jake to see exactly what his relationship with the Dovers is and what he knows about what transpired between the families in Houston and Ania’s family. From what I understand, the business is worth a fortune. She’s already independently wealthy and doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to. Jake’s in negotiations right now with two different buyers.”
Mitya steepled his fingers and continued to stare into the flames. She was selling the business. She’d mentioned that to him.
“Is her property up for sale?”
“No, but there is a rumor that it might be going up. I don’t know if that’s because she’s selling the business or because she contacted a Realtor. Why would you think that?”
“Her grandparents and mother were murdered. Someone tried to kill her father and, in some way, partially succeeded. She told me his health was declining. She’s selling a lucrative business that has been in her family for three generations.”
Sevastyan sat back in his chair. “Shit. She’s getting rid of all encumbrances. All ties. Anything that would hold her down.”