“I’ll be in there in a bit. I want to talk to Venom tonight. He’s gotta head home tomorrow morning, and I have a few things to run by him. I also want to check on Squirrel.” She nodded, then after one last kiss, she wandered off down the hall toward the room we’d been sharing.
Once I was certain she wasn’t coming back, I pulled my phone out again. My teeth grinding at what I read, I went to Venom’s office.
The door was open, but I knocked on the frame. Venom was behind his desk with a bottle of Vanilla Crown Royal, Raptor lounged in one of the chairs, and Voodoo was leaning against the wall. They each had a shot glass.
“What’s up, Angel?” Venom asked as he took his shot. I walked in and set my phone in front of him. He glanced down at it and swore under his breath. Raptor shot me a questioning look, and I motioned for him and Voodoo to read it too.
Sperm Donor: Need to see you. Important. Russians want their money. I don’t have it. Said they’re gonna kill me and they’re coming for J
“I thought what Facet found said your father was in debt to the Bloody Scorpions for his gambling?” Raptor asked as he stroked his jaw.
“It would appear they were merely middlemen. I’m more concerned that it could be Kira’s family somehow. I thought it was Kalashnik that the Bloody Scorpions were working with, but it could be further into the Russian network than just him. You think this has something to do with that fucking shooter?” Voodoo questioned as he narrowed his eyes.
Venom poured another shot and slid it my way as I shrugged.
Without hesitation, I raised it to my lips and focused on the sweet burn as the rich whiskey slid down my throat. Shaking my head, I set the glass on the desk with a thunk. “Can I get another?”
“Sure thing,” he said and filled the glass again. After I’d downed it, he held the bottle up in offer of a third, but I waved my hand over the top of the shot glass.
“You think it could be one of Kira’s brothers?” I asked Voodoo.
“No way. Dmitry plays hockey, and Viktor is a fucking sculptor. The cousins aren’t involved in the family business either. Jericho plays hockey down in Texas with Dmitry, and the rest are girls.” Voodoo frowned as he absently tapped on the desktop.
“Now what?” I asked as my shoulder muscles tensed. My father was a pain in my ass, and I was pissed that he’d pulled us into his shit.
“You shoulda let us take care of him years ago,” Venom muttered. I couldn’t argue. He was right. It hadn’t been due to some misguided sense of family, that’s for damn sure. I’d simply wanted my father to suffer alone.
Now it was coming back to bite me in the ass.
Fuck.
“I’m gonna check on Squirrel, then try to get some sleep. What time you heading out?” I asked Venom.
“Probably about zero four.”
“Goddamn, why so early?” I asked, and Raptor snorted out a laugh.
“Grams has an early appointment, and I wanna be there. Her doc’s up in Fairmont, Minnesota. I think she’s blowing smoke up my ass, so I wanna hear what the doctor has to say firsthand.” Scrubbing a hand down his face, he poured himself another shot and tossed it back.
“You sure you don’t need one of us to ride with you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nah. This is personal, not club, and I’m caging it. Already secured my cut with Raptor.”
“Well, if you change your mind, let us know. I could bring Korrie and Trace and we could follow you up.” If he needed me, I’d be there. I could take advantage of spending time with my family by bringing them with. Maybe I’d even get Jazzy to go, getting her away from this area.
“I’ll let you know, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
I sighed. “Roger that. You need anything from me before I hit the hay?”
“You’re good.”
Venom stood, we said our goodbyes, and I left to stop by Squirrel’s room. He’d been cleared to leave the infirmary.
After knocking, I stuck my head in.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey, yourself.”