Hunted by wraith, p.7
Hunted by Wraith, page 7
“What do you mean, going out?” I ask, confused.
Selene’s supposed to be “missing.”
“Barbra’s hosting a black-tie event at the house,” Max says. “We’re making our move.”
Makes sense. That way we see who’s shown up in town too.
“We came up with a plan,” Lily says, pride in her voice. “Keir wanted to go over it with Selene.”
I nod and grab my own bag—there’s a garment bag hanging off the side as well.
“Won’t we all be recognized?” I ask.
We’re not exactly subtle. And neither is Selene.
“Good thing it’s masks required.” Lily winks and gestures to the kitchen island where six ornate masks are laid out.
“Okay,” I grin, excitement hitting hard. “Guess I should get dolled up.”
I turn and head to the bedroom opposite Kaz’s, adrenaline buzzing through my veins.
Chapter 15
Keir
“Are you going to say something, or are you just going to stand there?”
I snap out of it, internally cursing myself. I was staring. She looks ethereal—bathed in the warm mid-afternoon light, the sunset casting a golden hue behind her as she sits in the tub.
Clearing my throat, I glance away. “We have a plan I wanted to go over.”
The sound of water sloshing draws my eyes back. She’s turned away from me, reaching for a towel. My cock stiffens at the sight of her perfect, round ass framed by wet tendrils of hair sticking to her skin.
“Go ahead then,” she says, voice detached.
I try to focus. “Barbra’s hosting a masquerade event tonight.” I aim for professional, but the words falter when she bends over to unplug the tub, giving me a flawless view of her pussy.
“Perfect time to make a move then,” she says with a soft laugh.
“There’s one thing I need to happen before that.” She wraps the towel around herself and turns toward me.
“Oh?” Her eyes are sharp. “What’s that, princess?”
“There are documents in my office. I want her to find them before the party.”
Her smirk is devilish as she steps closer. I have no idea what the documents are, but I already know Barbra won’t like them.
“I’m sure that can happen,” I reply, my voice hitching when her finger trails down my chest.
“Good boy.” Her eyes glitter with mischief before she turns and walks away, leaving me stunned.
I’ll take that as a win—she’s at least talking to me now.
When I follow her out, Lily is standing in the room, the two of them talking about dresses.
“Ladies,” I nod in their direction before stepping out.
I head down the hall and enter the room I picked for myself, only to find Dario sprawled across the bed, legs crossed, and Kaz sitting stiffly on the edge, arms folded.
Dario sits up when he sees me, the usual playfulness missing from his face.
“We may have a situation,” he says quietly.
“What kind of situation?” I step in, more alert now.
Dario glances at Kaz, which instantly annoys me. This is probably about Selene—and yeah, I get it. I feel it too. But we still have unfinished business in Boston: the Syndicate, our people, our city.
“We overheard something,” Dario continues. “I think they’re keeping something from us. Something important.”
That throws me. “What exactly did you hear?” My tone sharpens.
“I’m not sure what it means, but Lily said Selene needs to tell us something… especially ‘the big fucker.’” Dario mimics the air quotes.
I glance at Kaz, who gives a silent nod. So it’s confirmed.
I curse under my breath and head for Selene’s room, the others trailing behind.
I knock once, then open the door. Selene and Lily are just stepping out of the closet. Selene gives me a curious look.
“Something wrong?” she asks.
“I’m not sure.” I keep my tone steady. “The boys seem to think you’re hiding something.” I nod toward Kaz and Dario behind me.
Something flashes in her eyes—hurt? It’s gone as quickly as it came, her face going blank as she looks between us.
Lily eyes us with obvious disapproval.
“I see,” Selene says calmly. “Then I guess it’s time we talk.”
She gestures toward the hall, and we all head into the main living area.
“Where’s Maximus?” Dario looks around.
“He went to do his job,” she answers coolly. We all pause, sensing the shift.
“You might want to sit down for this,” she adds, motioning to the couch.
We sit, while she and Lily take the chairs across from us.
“Why are you guys really here?” she asks, eyes locked on mine.
I scoff. “You already know. The Russian skin trade we’ve been tracking.”
She nods but looks away, lost in thought for a moment.
“It’s not because Kaz is a Volkova?”
The air stills.
“What?” I ask, confused. “Ivan Volkova?”
All of us shake our heads.
She groans. “Seriously? I thought you were well-connected on the East Coast.”
“We are. What does Ivan have to do with this?” I press.
“Ivan, the old Pakhan of the Bravata. His family was murdered.”
She looks at us like we’re missing something obvious—and maybe we are.
“I’ve had a theory,” she continues, now speaking directly to Kaz. “Since your last name was mentioned.”
Kaz’s jaw tightens. “What’s your theory, milaya?”
She moves in front of him, takes his hand. “My father made me learn about all the major players. One of them was Ivan Volkova. He had a wife… and a son.”
Dario and I nod. We’d heard as much.
“But weren’t they all killed by his enforcer?” Dario cuts in.
Selene nods. “That’s the official story. But our division out east responded first. Only Ivan and his wife’s bodies were there.”
She looks at me, waiting for it to click.
And it does.
“So, if Ivan’s heir wasn’t there…” My brow furrows.
She nods. “And not just that. The trauma caused his wife to go into early labor.”
A guttural noise comes from Kaz. “Katherine.”
Selene’s eyes go wide as she looks at Lily, something unsaid passing between them.
“If you’re right,” I say slowly, “Kaz is the heir to the Bravata.”
She gives a sad smile. We all know what a mess the Bravata’s been since that incident, we’ve been hunting them for fucksakes.
Kaz shoots to his feet so fast Selene almost falls. I reach out and pull her into my arms before she can stumble.
“Yebat’. The dirty otbrosy Petrov,” Kaz growls, pacing, his Russian accent thick and harsh.
We stay silent, letting him work through it. Until suddenly, he stops.
“I knew I recognized that name.”
Then, without warning, his gaze locks on Selene—and he charges.
Dario and I both shoot up, ready to intercept, knowing the look in Kaz’s eyes—he’s lost in it. In the traumatic memories.
But Selene doesn’t flinch. No fear in her posture as he grabs her.
“Kaz!” Dario barks, reaching for him.
Then… nothing we expect happens.
Kaz drops into the chair Selene had been sitting in, pulls her into his lap, and presses his face into her hair, inhaling deeply. His entire body relaxes.
I freeze. We all do.
Usually when Kaz spirals like this, I have to pin him down or knock him out.
But now?
It’s as if he found his anchor.
Chapter 16
Kaz
Holding my moon grounds me.
Her presence brings breath back into my lungs, settling the chaos in my chest.
She strokes the hair back of my neck, my face buried in the crook of her own, and for a moment, the world falls away.
“So, if Kaz is the heir, we can easily clean out the Bravata—start fresh.”
Keir’s voice is too eager, already planning our return east. He knows I’ll have to go back with him. And he’s right. If this really is my birthright, then it’s not a question—I’ll claim it.
“Well, I wouldn’t say easily,” Selene’s voice is soft, grounding. “But it’s definitely doable. It’ll just take time.”
She’s not wrong. You don’t just walk into a room and declare yourself Pakhan. And I’ve only ever known how to be second in command—not the man at the top.
“We get things wrapped up here, then head back and handle the rest.”
Keir states, but this time I feel Selene tense in my arms. Barely—just for a millisecond. If I wasn’t clinging to her, I’d have missed it.
“That’s true,” her voice is thick, forced. “Then you’ll be the most powerful men on the east coast.”
Before the silence has time to stretch, Lily’s voice cuts in, sharp.
“This is all great, but we’ve got a masquerade to attend.”
Selene slips from my hold, earning a low growl from me. She turns back, that smile on her face.
Her fucking smile—it lights me up from the inside out.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” her voice is sultry, laced with tease. “I won’t be long.”
My cock jumps in my slacks, like it’s trying to chase after her.
She winks, then disappears down the hall with Lily.
“This is great news, Kaz,” Keir says behind me, but his tone doesn’t match the words.
I glance his way—his eyes are still on the hall where Selene vanished.
He’s not wrong. It is good news. Maybe the best we’ve had in years.
But we all know leaving her is going to fucking hurt.
I know it’s crazy, this connection to her. I barely know her.
But I do know that my soul recognized her instantly.
That my heart only beats for her.
That she’s imprinted on every part of me.
“That means leaving Selene, doesn’t it?” Dario’s voice is quiet, heavy with emotion.
I nod. She wouldn’t leave this place. Not with her father’s legacy to take care of.
Keir has his. I guess I have mine.
“Unfortunately.”
Keir’s voice makes both Dario, and I snap our heads toward him.
“Unfortunately?” Dario bristles. “Man, you’re the one who said all those things.”
Keir scoffs and drags a hand through his hair. “I know. Fuck, I know. I just don’t know how to handle this.”
His voice rises with each word until it’s nearly a shout.
I see it in his eyes—the war he’s waging inside himself.
“What do you mean?” Dario asks.
I stay silent. I already know. I just want to see if I’m right.
“These fucking feelings, man. I feel like I’m going insane.”
Keir gets up and starts pacing. “I’m thirty-eight and I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before. For a woman I barely fucking know.”
Yep. Nailed it.
None of us ever had girlfriends. Except Dario, briefly, back in high school.
Keir? He’s never been like this.
Me? I’ve always been fucked up. So this? This makes sense.
“It’s alright, Keir,” Dario says calmly. “It’s new for all of us.”
Keir stops pacing, looks at us both.
“You’re right. But… are we crazy?”
I let out a low, dark laugh. Dario joins in, like it’s our own private joke.
“The only crazy thing,” I mutter, “is that you fucked up.”
Dario points at me like bingo.
Keir just rolls his eyes and sighs.
“There are ways we could make this work, you know?”
Dario’s words send a flicker of hope through me.
Hope. What a fucking dangerous thing for someone like me to feel.
“Go on?” Keir’s voice shifts—there’s interest now.
“Well, what if we moved here?” Dario grins. “Lucas and Vito are running things well in Boston. We could start a sector here—shift the Bravata operations too.”
I think it over.
He’s right. It’s doable.
“That’s…” Keir sounds surprised. “Actually a good idea. Would take time, though.”
They both look to me, and I nod in agreement.
“But first…” Dario turns to Keir, voice firm. “You need to fix things with her.”
Keir nods slowly. “I will. Then we’ll settle this… and come back for our girl.”
Dario grins. “Wonderful. Let’s just hope she’s on board.”
Some of the tension in my chest eases.
I just hope it doesn’t take long.
I can’t be away from my moon for too long.
As if summoned by my thoughts, she appears at the end of the hallway.
My cock is instantly hard.
She looks like a fucking dream.
Dario lets out a low whistle. Selene smirks.
She’s in a silver dress that hugs every curve, long sleeves, no tattoos in sight. Her hair is pitch black, no white streaks, cascading in waves.
The mask matches her dress, and her lips—fuck—painted the color of fresh blood.
I’m on my feet in an instant, walking straight toward her.
“You look fucking delicious, malyshka. But I miss the ink. Your hair. Your eyes.”
My voice is thick with need.
Her eyes are usually grey. Now? Green contacts—but the heat behind them is all her.
“Why, thank you,” she murmurs, rising onto her toes to kiss my cheek.
“What about me, sweet cheeks?” Dario’s suddenly beside me, all grin.
She laughs and kisses his cheek too.
“Princess.”
Keir steps up. Her smile vanishes. But when he pulls her in close, she doesn’t resist.
“You look otherworldly,” he murmurs. “But I agree with Kaz.”
Her cheeks flush. She rises on her toes to kiss his cheek too.
“Thank you,” she breathes.
“Alright, let’s grab our masks,” Dario says, breaking the moment.
I shake off the trance and catch Lily, decked out and grinning.
I head to the counter where three black masks wait.
“How many weapons are we packing?”
“I’ve got two guns and two daggers,” Selene replies casually.
The corner of my mouth twitches.
Where she’s hiding them in that dress—I have no idea. But I love it.
I walk down the hall to gear up. Slide into my harness, two guns at my sides, one at my back. Suit jacket on.
We’re all in black. Our suits match, but the tattoos peeking out from my shirt collar? Those are all me.
When I step back out, Keir and Dario are suited up too.
“Well damn,” Selene teases. “You boys clean up nice.”
“We’re nothing compared to you, malyshka.”
She lets out a sweet laugh that goes straight to my chest.
“You’re too sweet for your own good, Kazimir.”
Hearing my full name in her voice makes me groan.
Everyone laughs as Keir offers her his arm.
“Shall we?”
She takes it with a nod.
Together, we head down to the waiting limo.
And I can’t shake the thought:
I’d burn the Bravata to the ground before I let anything, or anyone take her from me.
Chapter 17
Selene
As we head to my home in the limo, all I can think about is how Keir looked at me—and the words he spoke.
I want to be mad at him, but it’s hard.
I understand their situation. It’s not like I can ask them to stay when they have so much waiting for them back home.
But I want to.
You can call me crazy all you want.
Whatever this is between us sends excitement rushing through my body.
It’s just like the books I read—falling fast and hard.
Not that I’m in love with them or anything… but I definitely feel some type of way toward each of them.
It’s like I’m living my own fast-paced romance novel—and I’m addicted to the feeling.
Dario sits beside me, his hand resting on my leg. I look over at him and smile. He grins back, leaning in close so his lips brush against my ear.
“I know I didn’t say it earlier, but you look exquisite,” he says, voice low and smooth.
His warm breath against my skin sends a jolt of electricity straight to my center.
I subtly rub my thighs together, but of course he notices—and winks.
Then my phone dings.
I grab it and see a video file from Max.
I haven’t even watched it yet, but just seeing Barbra standing at my desk in the study? I already know this is going to be good.
“What is it?” Keir asks from next to me.
I look up at him, probably grinning like a maniac.
“I just got the best news ever.” I glance around at all of them.
Lily grins. “Is it what I think it is?”
I nod and hit play.
Everyone crowds around me, watching as Barbra flashes her smug little smile and takes a seat in my high-back study chair.
She opens the top left drawer. I know the exact moment she sees the papers—her body tenses, and she snatches them up.
The first document hits her like a slap. Her face tightens as she reads that Lily is officially a partner in Onyx and owns half the shares.
She flips to the next page—and the paper crumples a little in her hand.
My will.
It clearly states Lily is the sole beneficiary to everything.
Then she hits the final document. Her expression shifts to full-on rage.
This one? It makes it real.
It confirms that her story for my “disappearance” would be null. It states if I am no longer present-physically or mentally—my will activates immediately. And if anything happens to Lily, everything goes to an unnamed recipient.
Only two people know who that is: me and my lawyer. And it’s a sealed tight document and locked-away.
