Page 101 of Ace of Shadows
“I don’t know,” Kraven replies. “I did what you asked. Yes, I knew where he was, but you have to understand that he is my son and you are?—”
His next words leave him in a strangled gasp as Bradley suddenly leans across the table, grabs Kraven by the collar, and drags him back across the table. Several guards shuffle forward, anxious to protect their Pakhan without overstepping the Suit.
“He is your son. I understand. This goes beyond your son blowing up a plane, ruining a drug deal, or even kidnapping that poor girl. Your son nearly killed our Ace. Again. I’m not here to play games. I’m not here to listen to excuses. I’ve already calledseveral families under your control to ensure that if anything happens to you, they will happily step into your enterprise and ensure this world keeps on turning. So I’ll ask you again.Whereis Alexei?”
Kraven struggles against Bradley’s grip, tossing his head back and forth and wiggling as he’s held awkwardly over the desk. “I don’t know!” he chokes out. “B-But he won’t kill the girl! He needs a scapegoat!”
I step forward. “Explain.”
“H-He’s trying to save face, don’t you see? The Suit hunting him down is a nightmare. It’s a nightmare for all of us. That girl is the only thing keeping him alive right now! He’s a smart boy, he’s just stupid. He’s reckless.”
“He’s endangering you and your entire estate,” Bradley growls. He finally releases Kraven and he falls down onto his desk, coughing and gasping.
With a wave of his hand, his guards step back against the wall and await further orders. “I know,” he croaks. “Don’t you think I know that? Everything I’ve spent my life working for, everything I’ve built… in tatters because of him. I’ve spent my life trying to keep him on the straight and narrow after his mom died, but he was born with a streak I can’t tame. Never—” Kraven coughs sharply. “Never have I had trouble with you, King. You know me. I know the rules and I play by them.” He coughs again. “If I knew then I would tell you, I swear.”
Bradley adjusts his suit and glances at me, seeking approval in my eyes for how to proceed next. After I nod, Bradley sighs. “Then how do we lure your son out?”
“He will do everything and anything he can to keep himself alive,” Kraven explains. “He’s a survivor.”
“So he wants a deal? An exchange?”
“Maybe.” Kraven slowly sits back down in his chair. “A deal could work. Immunity for Ivy’s life. Would you be willing?”
“No,” I reply before Bradley even has a chance. “Alexei declared war on us the moment he sent his goons to kidnap and torture me. Your son isn’t getting a deal.”
Kraven’s eyes narrow faintly. “Then you aren’t getting your girl.”
My stomach twists, and I walk forward until I’m next to Bradley, focused on him so my fury toward Kraven doesn’t get the better of me. “War will draw Alexei out.”
“War?” Bradley lifts one thick brow. “What war?”
“We make him think that we believe the Italians are behind everything, that they fucked with the plane and shoved the poor Russians into such a tight spot that Alexei had no choice but to act out to save his father. Desperate times for men to do desperate things. If he gets a hint that there’s a chance we don’t blame him, I bet he’ll take it.”
Bradely holds my gaze for a long time as he mulls over my idea, then slowly, he nods. “That could work. But to pull that off…” With a deep sigh, he turns back to Kraven. “We’ll need your help.”
34
IVY
I’ve lost track of time. After being dragged into Alexei’s car, I was struck hard in the temple and woke up some time later in this room, the same room he’s kept me in ever since I opened my eyes.
It’s empty except for the hardback chair I’m tied to with heavy, rough rope that cuts into my ankles and wrists. Peeling streaks of salmon-pink paint cling to the dirty walls and light radiates from behind me. I’ve given up on trying to escape after twisting in every possible direction for long enough to exhaust myself.
I’m alive.
And I have to remain that way.
Ruslan will find me. Somehow. He has to.
The dark wooden door swings open, spilling golden light across the bare stone floor, and Alexei enters the room for the umpteenth time. Every time he looks at me, his brows lift as if he’s surprised I’m still here.
“I need to pee,” I say as soon as he walks through. “Unless you want me to piss all over myself.”
His beady eyes narrow to slits and his gaze darts briefly down to my legs. “Hold it.”
“I’vebeenholding it for the hours you’ve kept me here. I’m not a robot.” Despite the strength in my voice, my heart beats wildly. Every ache and growing bruise from the car crash stopped throbbing a few hours ago as numbness spread to every inch of my body, but my temple where Alexei’s fist made contact burns. Every blink pulls at the bruised skin on my face, and every thump of my heart is mimicked through the blood vessels in my face. I cling to those two sensations and use them to make myself stronger than I feel.
“It hasn’t been that long,” Alexei replies. “Hold it.”
