by Hamel, B. B.
Bend For Him
BB Hamel
Contents
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1. Leonid
2. Robin
3. Leonid
4. Robin
5. Leonid
6. Robin
7. Leonid
8. Robin
9. Leonid
10. Robin
11. Leonid
12. Robin
13. Leonid
14. Robin
15. Leonid
16. Robin
17. Leonid
18. Robin
19. Leonid
20. Robin
21. Leonid
22. Robin
23. Robin
24. Leonid
25. Robin
26. Leonid
27. Robin
Also by BB Hamel
Copyright © 2020 by B. B. Hamel
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1
Leonid
Damn, she looked good with that gun to her head.
That's messed up. Better save her life.
“Don’t kill her,” I said.
Pavel looked at me sideways and pressed the Glock harder against her temple. Robin knelt in front of him on the gleaming hardwood floor in the middle of a spreading pool of blood. The flat-screen hanging on the wall above a cheap Ikea entertainment stand played an episode of Project Runway. An old leather couch, a scratched-up coffee table, and a tartan easy chair completed the decor.
The front door was half broken off its hinges and the sound of cars rolling past on the street filtered inside.
We didn’t have long before the cops showed up.
“What did you say?” Pavel asked.
“Don’t kill her,” I said again. “Wait just a second.”
His eyes bugged out. He was a small guy, just a hair over five foot five, but built like a tank. His shaved head gleamed in the overhead lights. His fingers seemed to stroke the trigger of his gun.
“You know who this is, right?” he asked.
“I know,” I said. I held out my hand and took a step toward him. I had to make sure I didn’t stomp on the dead guy’s arm. It lay outstretched like he was going to stop my bullet from blasting open his skull. “Just hold on.”
“You know she doesn’t know you, yeah? Doesn’t know you worth shit? If you think she’s going to be all grateful and shit, maybe give you a little head or something, you can think again.” Pavel sneered at me and I had to clench my jaw to keep from making the situation worse.
We hadn’t expected the girl. Hedeon sent us to kill the guy, but nobody said anything about a girl. Pavel was as surprised as I was when we kicked in the door and found them both on opposite ends of the couch, her legs stretched out on the coffee table, his head leaning back and his eyes half-closed like he was falling asleep.
Robin’s gaze met mine as I stopped just in front of her. She didn’t speak or move as we discussed her future and I was almost impressed. Her auburn hair was pulled up in a bun and flecks of her cousin’s blood covered her pale skin.
“I know that,” I said. “And I’m not interested. But still. She’s useful.”
“About as useful as that fuck.” Pavel gestured at Vlas’s body. Blood and brains leaked from a hole in his skull. My gun’s barrel still felt warm.
“That fuck was dangerous,” I said. “He had to be taken out. She’s nothing. And she’s related to Maksim. So think about it—”
“Fuck this,” Pavel said.
“If you pull that trigger, you’re next.” I said the words fast and stared at Pavel like I wanted to blow his head up with my mind.
A hint of surprise drifted across the girl’s face.
Pavel’s eyes narrowed. “You joking?”
I held my gun ready in front of me hip-height. I didn’t raise it, but I didn’t need to.
“You know I’m not,” I said.
Pavel’s hand clenched hard then he let out a frustrated growl as he dropped the barrel from Robin’s head.
“Fine,” he said. “But if Hedeon is pissed, you’re taking the fall. And she’s your fucking burden.”
“Fine,” I said.
Pavel let loose a string of curses in Russian likening me to a donkey’s diseased genitals before shoving his gun back into his shoulder holster. Poor guy didn’t get to fire off any shots and he was probably most annoyed about that.
I held out my hand. Robin Volkov stared up at me with poorly concealed shock and loathing.
“Get up,” I said.
She ignored my hand and got to her feet.
Her tight black jeans were splattered with gore. It made her look like some kind of death goddess. The sleeve of her loose gray t-shirt was ripped from when Pavel shoved her to the floor. Her lip was split from when she tried to fight back.
“This won’t work,” she said.
“What won’t?”
“Maksim doesn’t give a shit about me.”
I tilted my head. “Should I just kill you then?”
She opened her mouth then shut it again. Her glare of defiance lit a fire in my chest. The neck of her shirt was disheveled and stretched enough to show a hint of her breasts. I couldn’t stop my eyes as they roamed her tight body.
“That’s what I thought.” I gestured at the back door. “Let’s get moving.”
“Bringing a fucking hostage,” Pavel said to himself as he stomped toward the kitchen. “What the hell is he thinking?”
I did my best to ignore him. “Keep moving,” I said to Robin.
“Let me get some things.” She looked over my shoulder at me. “Unless you want to get me clothes and all that stuff?”
“Nice try. Keep moving.”
A small smile spread across her lips. She looked forward and followed Pavel into the kitchen. Dirty dishes heaped in the sink. A pizza box sat on the counter. Remnants of old coffee still lined the bottom of the pot. Pavel opened the back door and gestured us both through.
The yard was unkempt and wild. Weeds roped along the back fence. The concrete slab patio was cracked and growing moss.
“Over the back fence,” Pavel said. “Hurry the fuck up. She can climb, right? She better be able to climb.”
“You first,” I said. “Make sure she doesn’t run on the other side.”
Pavel grunted, annoyed. He took a running start and leapt like a tiger. He hit halfway up the wood fence, scrambled for purchase, then grabbed the top and threw himself over.
“I can’t jump that,” Robin said.
I pushed her forward. “I bet you can if you tried.”
“No, really,” she said. “I can’t. I just—”
I grabbed her by the hips. “Ready?”
“What are you—”
I lifted her up and threw her toward the top. She let out an undignified yelp but she caught the top and held on. I boosted up her feet and she managed to scramble over.
I heard her land in a heap on the far side.
I had an easier time getting over. I was a little over six foot two, so I only needed to hop a bit to grab the top. I pulled and threw myself over.
Pavel stood with his arms crossed in the tight alley behind the fence. Robin wiped mud off her jeans and glared at me.
“Come on,” Pavel said and strode
toward the far end of the alley.
I nudged Robin and she followed. I brought up the rear. Weeds grew at the edges. Mud covered the center. Empty chip bags, soda cans, and hypodermic needles littered the ground.
“Shitty neighborhood for the son of the Russian Don to live in,” I said.
“They didn’t get along,” Robin said.
“Yeah? Why not?”
She didn’t respond. Pavel glared back at me and I rolled my eyes.
Everyone was so fucking dramatic.
We reached the end of the alley and stepped out onto the sidewalk. I saw Robin look both ways and for a half second, something glinted in her eye. A car rolled past, its headlights on high, and I wondered if she’d go for it. I didn’t think she was that stupid, or that brave, but—
She bolted. Fucking hell. She went right for the street, her hands up, her mouth open to scream.
She made it two steps. Two whole steps before I grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back to me as hard as I could. She spun around and stumbled then slammed into my chest. I wrapped my arms around her like a boyfriend hugging his girlfriend and the scream she’d been saving up for that car came tearing from her throat.
I stifled it by pressing my lips against hers.
She struggled. Can’t blame her. It wasn’t a good kiss. Too much teeth, and also she was screaming, so that was a bummer.
But I held her tight. After about five seconds of horrible face-mashing, she calmed down, and I pulled back but didn’t let her go.
“You done?” I asked.
“You kissed me.” She stared at me, mouth hanging open.
I still had her taste on my lips. Bubblegum and lilacs. It was surprisingly good.
“Had to make it look real.”
“Are you two fucking done?” Pavel asked. “If she runs again, I’m killing her.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Hear that, darling?”
“Let me go, you fucking prick.”
“You gonna run?”
“No.” She stared into my eyes. She didn’t look angry, which surprised me. I thought she’d be livid after I just crammed my tongue into her mouth.
“Good.” I released her arm. She stayed standing close to me for another second before turning away.
“Come on, idiots,” Pavel said.
He stormed along the sidewalk and I made a little gesture at Robin. She finally glared at me then followed him. The car reached the stop sign at the end of the block, turned right, and disappeared.
Our car was parked on the next block over. It was a junker, a black sedan with rust all over the bottom, barely more than four wheels and an engine. Robin got in the back with me and Pavel got behind the wheel.
“God, I hate this car,” Pavel said. “Always smells like feet.”
“Does not. And it works, so what’s your problem?”
He glanced at me. “You’ve got money. I don’t know why you drive this thing.”
“It works,” I said again.
“It does smell like feet.” Robin made a face.
I grunted. “Okay, fine, it smells like feet. Not sure why, though.” I sniffed around. “Probably this fabric. I got a good price on it.”
Pavel grumbled and pulled out of the spot. Robin stared out the window and I could see the gears turning. She was wondering when she could jump out of the car and make a break for it. Probably looking for a cop car. If she hopped out close enough to one, we wouldn’t be able to run after her or kill her.
I leaned over and pushed down the lock. “I wouldn’t if I were you,” I said.
She stared at me. “What?”
“You’re thinking, can I get away? Can I just jump out and run?”
“I’m not—”
“You definitely are. And if you’re not, you’re a moron.”
“Hey, asshole.”
“I’m just saying.” I shrugged a little. “Don’t try it. I’m going to grab you and kiss you again if you do.” I smirked and tilted my head. “Unless that’s what you want. Then you can skip the struggle and come sit in my lap.”
“Jesus, you’re a fucking psycho.”
I laughed and Pavel rolled his eyes in the rearview mirror.
He drove down Broad Street toward the stadiums. Robin kept her eyes on the window. I saw her twitch toward the handle a few times but she never made a play for it, which was for the best. I didn’t feel like having to restrain her again if I didn’t have to.
Pavel turned into a neighborhood with brick front row homes smashed close together. Trash was heaped on the sidewalk. Only one of the streetlights worked. He parked halfway up on the curb and killed the engine.
“Remember, she’s your fucking problem,” Pavel said and jumped out.
“Come on,” I said, climbing out.
Robin frowned at me, looked at her door, then got out my side. She walked next to me as we followed Pavel to one of the row homes with a black door and no numbers. Pavel knocked twice and waited until the door swung open.
Hedeon stood outlined in the doorway. The mostly empty safe house behind him was lit by two floor lamps and nothing else. He looked at Pavel, nodded, then stared at Robin.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Hedeon, meet Robin Volkov,” I said. “Cousin of Vlas.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“What’s what I said, boss.” Pavel grinned. “Hey, boss, I gotta hit the head, you mind?”
Hedeon glanced at Pavel, grunted, let the guy inside. He blocked my way. Robin stepped closer to me and I thought she might be afraid.
Hedeon was a tall guy, broad shoulders, dark hair, light eyes. He was probably handsome, at least if he didn’t have that murderous glint in his eye at all times. He was smart and violent, which made him the perfect crew boss.
But he was also ambitious, which made him dangerous as all hell.
“Why is she alive?” he asked.
“She’s worth more alive,” I said.
“She’s a witness to a murder. Explain how she’s worth anything at all.”
“She’s a Volkov. Her uncle’s going to want her back. We can bargain with her. And shit, if that doesn’t work out, then we can kill her.”
Robin stared at the ground and said nothing.
“This is a problem,” Hedeon said.
“You want to talk about it out here where the neighbors can hear, or should we go inside?”
He hesitated. “Neither,” he said. “If you want her, you can have her. But she’s your problem.”
“What’s what Pavel said.”
“Pavel’s a fucking idiot.” Hedeon stared death at me. “But you’re even stupider for taking her alive.”
I shrugged. “Think what you will.”
“She’s your problem,” he said. “You clothe her, you feed her, you make sure she doesn’t run away. You babysit her.”
“Fine,” I said. “I got it. No problem.”
He snorted. “And you do it at your own goddamn apartment. You’re not bringing that into my safehouse.”
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. I knew he was just being petty because I took some initiative without asking him first. It didn’t matter if the girl stayed in the safe house at this point considering she’d already seen it.
Making me take her to my own apartment was just his way of taking back some power.
“Fine,” I said. “Pavel has my keys.”
Hedeon held up a finger and disappeared back inside.
“Your boss is pissed,” she said.
“Yeah, well, you should be happy that I don’t give a shit.”
She gave me a weird look then stared at the ground again.
Hedeon came back with my keys. “If she makes any noise, you kill her. If she makes any trouble, you kill her. Do not let this come back to bite us, Leonid.”
“Sure thing,” I said and took my keys from his outstretched hand. “Anything else? Maybe a ‘thank you for killing Vlas for me’ or something like that?”
&
nbsp; “Fuck off, Leo. Go home and tie that girl up.”
He slammed the door in my face.
“Asshole,” I muttered.
“Why are you working with him again?” Robin asked. “He doesn’t seem to care much about you.”
“Shut up,” I said and grabbed her arm. I dragged her back to the car and put her in the passenger side. I got behind the wheel and locked the doors.
We drove in silence back to my apartment.
I had a little place on the third floor of a row home near Fairmount on Green Street. It was a family neighborhood, but the rents weren’t too expensive and there was decent food nearby. I found a spot, parked, and dragged Robin over to my building. I unlocked the door and took her up the steps, unlocked my apartment door, and pushed her inside. I shut the door behind me and flicked on the light.
She stood in my living room and looked around.
“Not bad,” she said.
“Thanks.” I shoved the keys into my pocket then locked the deadbolt and the chain. I turned to her and tilted my head. “We need to talk.”
She shrugged. “Probably.”
“Are you going to try and run away?”
“Probably.”
I sighed. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
“No,” I said. “I’m not.”
“What about when I try to run? Are you going to hurt me then?”
I frowned and considered it. “Not on purpose. Might hurt you by accident when I grab you and wrestle you to the floor. But no more than necessary.”
She chewed her lip. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t think I need to hurt you. And frankly, I’m fucking tired and already killed one person tonight. I don’t feel like killing two.”