Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Likely because the Novikoff brothers ran their other business out of the hall, and were allergic to shit that wasn’t good taste.
They liked the color black.
The walls were painted a matte black. The tables and felt on the tables was also black. Hell, even the hardwood floors were stained a black color.
What was keeping it from feeling oppressive, though, was all the lighting. Each table had its own long, rectangular chandelier casting light down on it. Then along all the crown molding in the place was carefully concealed strip lighting that warmed the space up.
Toward the back was a snack bar that, when the business was open, was usually being manned by a gorgeous redhead in a tight dress. But it was abandoned at this time of day.
To the right of the building was a room that had once been a smaller billiards space, but had been gutted and turned into the brothers’ personal office and recreation area with desks, chairs, and couches, and their own personal bar, even though the place didn’t have a liquor license.
Standing in the doorway, both while the place was open and right then in the middle of the day, was another guard in a suit.
His gaze moved over me, but he said nothing as I went into the archway that led into the other room.
There they were.
The Novikoff brothers.
Konstantin and Mikhail.
They were both intimidating figures in their all-black suits with their tall statures, wide shoulders, and stern faces.
I’d heard a shitton of women from the town mooning over the brothers. And, I guess, yeah, you had to admit they were good-looking.
Wide jaws—Mikhail’s covered in stubble, Konstantin’s clean-shaven—, with stern brows, dark brown eyes, and strong, masculine bone structure.
There were slight differences in their appearance, but there was no mistaking their family resemblance.
“Slash,” Konstantin greeted, gaze holding mine. “This is an unexpected surprise.”
“I’ve got an issue I’m dealing with,” I told them. “I was curious if you two would know more about it than I do,” I told them, moving in, but not taking a seat. They didn’t either.
“We might,” Konstantin said, shrugging. “What is the issue?”
“Any idea who is running heroin around here these days?” I asked, watching as Konstantin’s brow raised ever so slightly.
“I was under the impression that your little… club dealt in arms, not substances.”
“You’re right about that,” I said, nodding. “I’m not looking to break in. I’m trying to figure out who beat the shit out of my woman over bricks of heroin they forced her to hold onto.”
To that, I saw their brows furrow as they cast a glance at each other before looking back at me.
“I wasn’t under the impression that you had a woman,” Konstantin said as his brother remained silent.
“She wasn’t mine when it started. But she’s mine now.”
“Understood,” Konstantin said. “And who is your woman?” he asked. “I believe it is important to know these sorts of things,” he explained.
“Nyx,” I told them. “The—“
“Bartender from The Bog. Yes, that makes sense. Okay. In the interest of full disclosure, we don’t deal in substances either,” Konstantin said.
“I know,” I agreed. “But I figured your organization might have a finger on that pulse more than mine does.”
“Fair enough. You said she was beaten?” he asked.
“Yeah. She suspected it was Czar, who was her ex. But she went to see him in prison, and he was not happy about her face, so we’re relatively sure it wasn’t him.”
“Czar was never the type to bring innocents into things,” Konstantin confirmed. “Could it be his old organization?”
“He is trying to look into it. I don’t have a lot of hope about that. That’s why I’m here.”
“The Bulgarians don’t have the stranglehold in the area that they used to. They are more active in LA from what I understand. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some members still around, but Czar had been the leader back when they were strong in Shady Valley. When he went away, things fell apart. There are likely some of his organization around, but if they are, they are keeping to themselves.”
“Why did they beat her?” Mikhail asked, speaking for the first time. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a darkness in his voice. Over what? A woman getting beaten? I guess maybe that made sense since they had sisters.
“We’re not sure. She’d been given bricks to hold onto twice. She lost some of them, but there’s no way that they could have known that. She went home one night and interrupted someone going through her apartment. They beat her and ran off. That’s where we are at.”
“How is she?” Mikhail asked.
“Tough. But worried,” I told him.
“Does she remember anything?”
“He came at her from behind. She didn’t see him. But whoever it is figured out she’d stayed at the motel last night and ransacked her room while she wasn’t around.”