"For some reason, Konstantin has targeted Chicago as his first takedown. Do you know why, brother?" Aleksei's question seemed accusatory.
However, I'd thought of the very same question more than once. "Not a clue." I yanked the phone from my pocket. Seeing Dante's number, I started to walk away.
"We need to work together, gentlemen. You know that," Miguel said in a quiet tone.
I found myself looking in his direction, searching for the hidden meaning.
He smiled seeing my expression. "As in we must tell our fathers that we've formed an alliance."
The others merely whistled, but we all knew the day would come that we'd have to share the fact we'd been meeting in private for years. At this point, there was no way to avoid the inevitable. "Then we work together until this is done no matter the consequences."
Every man in the room nodded. While we'd accepted information and other forms of assistance, what we were facing was as unprecedented as the fact sworn enemies had found an even playing field. To our credit, our various territories had remained mostly peaceful. To be targeted as one meant someone knew that we were working together.
And they considered that a weakness.
The five of us knew otherwise. As the old adage went, we were a force to be reckoned with.
As long as we kept our loved ones alive. There was much to lose if we failed.
Dante's call had ended and as I walked away from the others, hitting redial, I tried to formulate the necessary information I would relay to my father. I almost laughed at the concept. He would never forgive his impetuous son.
"Dante. Shit is going down. We need to get the soldiers organized immediately."
"Lorenzo. We have a problem."
I heard the fear in his voice, something that almost never happened. He was fearless in every application of his life. "What?"
"She's gone."
"What the fuck do you mean she's gone?" My heart raced, my mind reeling from the realization.
"Disappeared and boss, I have a bad feeling about this." Lorenzo
Death.
I'd come full circle with the word hovering in my mind, the notion taking on an entirely new meaning. From what Dante had told me, Sierra had left of her own accord, but with Konstantin's soldiers walking the streets, it was only a matter of time. She either held some key or was looking for the evidence that Lucas had died to supply. That meant one thing.
The senator, the man blackmailing my family.
I wasted no time, gunning the engine, going twenty miles over the speed limit in an effort to get to the senator's house quickly. The others in the alliance remained in the warehouse to fully flush out a plan, a second meeting to be held at my house in two hours. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, unable to believe that the damn Solntsevskaya had managed to slip into the country, build a freaking army, and use a drug cartel to thwart our knowledge of what was really going on.
Brilliant plan.
Deadly plan.
I would still kill Axel with my bare hands.
As another phone call came in, I yanked the cell phone into my hand, snorting upon seeing the caller. My father. How did I know that Armando would go whining to him with lies? My father was a tottering old fool to have believed Armando's bullshit for so many damn years. Well, I'd deal with the old man later. Right now, I had to concentrate on getting every scrap of information out of Senator Spalding, including whatever he told Sierra.
I weaved my way past dozens of vehicles on the interstate, constantly checking my rearview mirror. There was no way of knowing how many Kadiks were lying in wait, prepared to kill on sight. We'd been fucking lucky at the cabin. I snarled and pressed my foot further down on the accelerator.
Another goddamn phone call.
This time, Aleksei.
"What is it? I have my hands full."
"The note," he hissed. "You need to know what it says."
"And?" I veered off the exit toward the senator's house, the tires screeching.
"Take the woman."
I sucked in my breath, squeezing the steering wheel. She was of more importance than I'd even originally thought. "Fuck. Nothing else?"
"No. Killing you must be an event coming," he said with a snark in his voice. The meaning? Konstantin had plans on how he wanted his enemies to die.
"Well, the fucker has another think coming."
"Be careful, Lorenzo. You have more... what do they say. Brawn versus brain." Aleksei chuckled darkly.
"You may be surprised, brother." I tossed the phone, making a turn down the long street on my way to the senator's house. I zoomed up the driveway, immediately grabbing for the Glock even before I pressed on the brake. While there were no other vehicles in sight, that didn't mean that house hadn't been compromised. All points led to the good senator knowing far too much. He would be considered a loose end.
Within two steps I realized the front door had been kicked in. As I raced inside, my heart was heavy, a knowing settling in. I stopped just inside the foyer, listening for any sounds. There was nothing but the sound of a grandfather clock ticking in some discreet location. Still, with both hands on the barrel, I took careful steps through the house. Nothing.
Including no signs of violence.