There was a pause. “Maxim wished for you to know that he attended a ball at Petrovsky Palace with Star Sullivan. She danced with a man called Anton Kuznetsov and he took her into his office.
“That was the last he saw of her.”
My brow puckered as I repeated, “Anton Kuznetsov?”
“Da.”
“Have you heard of this man?”
“Most of Russia knows of the Kuznetsovs but they are not a name you speak out loud.”
“Why not?”
“Because people who speak it tend to find their tongues cut out the next day.”
“Intense.”
He grunted. “Very. Maxim attempted to recover Sullivan.”
Nowthatstunned the crap out of me. “He tried to rescue her?!”
“He did. Maxim is an honorable man.” His voice had turned gruff. “Even if it means he doesn’t watch his own ass in the process.
“The rescue mission failed.”
“And that’s why the Bratva have rejected his leadership?”
“Da. One does not go against the Kuznetsovs. Especially if you are Bratva.”
My mouth tightened at that news but… “For no other reason than that he attempted to rescue Star Sullivan, you can tell Maxim that he has the full support of the Five Pointsand,when the next Summit is held, he will be backed by my family.”
Silence filled the air for a moment. Then, Misha rumbled, “I appreciate this, and thank you on my brother’s behalf.”
He ended the call before I could say another word.
Pressing the corner of the cell phone to my bottom lip, I tried to figure out my next move.
I had my confirmation that Star was in Moscow, but she hadn’t been behind the bombing as I’d thought.
Maxim Lyanov was the one who’d been caught in it, not her.
Nevertheless, that didn’t mean she wasn’t in danger.
This Kuznetsov appeared to be the last person who had seen her alive…
A man whose name stirred fear into the heart of a Bratva foot soldier who felt no fear in chopping up an enemy’s son into parts and presenting it at his feet—I’d heard the stories from Aidan and Brennan. Eventheyhad been surprised by how Lyanov had handled that situation.
Contemplating what I’d just learned, I decided the best way to deal with this was to send out a group message.
Me:Just a heads-up—Maxim Lyanov has been deposed as the Bratva Pakhan by Moscow itself.
Eoghan:How the hell do you know that?
Me:Does it matter?
Brennan:Yes. It matters. What’s going on, Kid?
Me:Got a call from Lyanov’s man, that Misha guy.