Page 84 of In My Heart
“Name came across one of our snitches. Little rat’s been feeding us scraps for weeks. Tonight, he earned his keep.”
“And? What the fuck is this? Am I supposed to guess?” I snapped.
“Kozlov,” Killian said, obviously sensing my short fuse. “Estate. Just outside the city. Big place, old money. Word is, it used to belong to one of theirs before you and Rafe started cutting the legs out from under them. Our snitch says Kozlov’s inside. Probably not alone.”
“How many?”
“Not sure, but if they stuck by him, they’ll be loyal. The kind that don’t run.”
“Send the address,” I demanded.
“Already have.”
The line went dead then, and I checked the address. I loaded it into the mapping app, and was relieved to see it was only an hour away. I didn’t want to delay. We’d been looking for this fucker for long enough. He was mine tonight.
I grabbed my jacket and the gun I kept hidden in a concealed section of the desk, checking it was loaded, then tucking it into the back of my trousers. I’d have been more discreet if Cara were around, but she had seemed settled for the night when I checked on her.
Finally. It was time to get her some revenge. A calm settled deep inside me at the thought of that bastard, Kozlov’s, blood being spilled before the night was up.
***
Arran saw my face and jumped up, ready for a fight already, as soon as I stepped into Rafe’s room.
“Tell me we’re goin’ someplace unpleasant,” he said as he pulled a knife from somewhere at his back and started to flip it between his fingers like it was a damn fidget toy.
“We are.”
“Where? What have you got?” Rafe sat up as much as he could, his eyes wide open and wide awake all of a sudden. I had thought he was asleep.
“Killian called. Estate outside the city,” I told him, not wanting to drag it out. “Kozlov’s inside with some of his men.”
“Then we go now. We’re not missing this opportunity.” Rafe swung his legs over the side of the bed immediately.
“Wewon’t, but you’re not coming,” I stated.
He looked up slowly and gave me the cold, hard glare that made others cower. Not me. I knew him better than I knew myself. He was my brother in every way but blood. I loved him and I would not allow him to risk himself.
“I’m not asking,” he growled.
“And I’m not giving you a choice,” I couldn’t keep the smirk from my face as I stared him down, wondering how far he would take this.
“Here we go,” Arran sighed, as he collapsed back into the chair, slouching back and lounging there like he was on holiday.
Rafe pushed himself to his feet, and nearly faltered instantly. He caught himself, grabbing the wall, but it was enough. He’d illustrated my point perfectly. I stepped closer and wrapped my arm around his back to support him.
“That’s why you’re not going, brother,” I told him.
“I can still put a bullet in his head,” Rafe snapped as he tried to move away from me, but he didn’t have the strength.
He was already gasping for breath and I could feel his body shaking as he fought to stay on his feet.
“Maybe,” I agreed. “But you won’t make it past the front door like this. I won’t risk losing you again. Cara needs you, as do we.”
Silence. But Rafe stopped fighting me at least, and seemed to lean into me a little.
“And I’d rather no’ explain to everyone how the boss bled out because he was too bull headed te see sense. Especially that wee lassie sleeping downstairs,” Arran added with a tilt of his head.
Rafe glared between us, but I could see reason finding it’s way past his rage and need for vengeance.
