Just Business (Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Book 1)

by Sidney Bristol

  The sofa had bullet holes torn into the upholstery.

  Cabinet doors were blown to bits.

  Ceramic and glass littered the kitchen floor and counters.

  In the matter of a few moments, they’d utterly destroyed the lake house.

  And lying there in the middle of the kitchen where he’d made breakfast yesterday were two bodies and a lot of blood.

  The guy who’d charged the utility room hauled Haley in after Konstantin.

  Her hair was in a wild bun and there was a smear of blood on her cheek, but otherwise she just looked pissed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, focused on Haley.

  She didn’t answer.

  “What the fuck do you want?” Konstantin addressed the guy who seemed to be in charge.

  Instead of answering, the man pulled out his phone, tapped the screen and said, “It’s clear. You can come in.”

  Come in?

  Konstantin’s stomach knotted.

  The front door to the lake house opened.

  It hadn’t been unlocked since they’d arrived.

  Natasha Titov stepped in. She wore simple black slacks and a blouse rather than the dress from dinner.

  Her gaze traveled over the space, giving Konstantin and even the dead bodies as much notice as she gave the painting on the far wall.

  “Where’s the girl?” she asked.

  “The men looked up stairs and it seems like she was never here,” the big guy running the show said.

  “Not here?” Natasha turned her gaze on Konstantin. “We are tricky, aren’t we?”

  “What did you do to my men?” he asked.

  “Made them a deal they were smart to take. They’re tied up right now, but otherwise fine. Smart men. They took the money rather than waste their lives. You really did drag them all out to the sticks, didn’t you?” Natasha crossed to the patio and peered out. “Load him up. We’ll find the girl later.”

  Was it possible they’d let Haley go?

  Konstantin wouldn’t like it, but it was the better alternative.

  “What about her?” the man asked. “She killed two of my men.”

  Natasha waved her hand. “I don’t care, Oleg. Kill her.”

  “No!” The word was out of Konstantin’s mouth before he knew it. He bolted to his feet only for Oleg to grab him.

  Natasha looked at Konstantin with curiosity. “No? You do seem to care about your staff.”

  He grit his teeth and stared back at his mother.

  She smiled and strolled to where the beefy guy was holding Haley.

  “You’re not bad looking.” Natasha peered at Konstantin. “She killed two men for you. That’s loyalty.”

  “That’s doing my job,” Haley said calmly.

  Natasha focused on Haley once more. “Is it? Or are you more than just staff? You live with my son and take care of his daughter. Only she’s not here. So what are you then, hm?”

  Konstantin clenched his jaw shut.

  If his mother touched a hair on Haley’s head he’d kill her. He didn’t care when or how he’d do it.

  “What do you want, mother?” Konstantin asked.

  “What I’ve wanted all along.” Natasha smiled sweetly. “A family reunion.”

  “A family reunion?” He frowned. What was she trying to say?

  She held out her hand. “Where’s your phone?”

  He said nothing.

  Natasha’s veneer dropped a bit, revealing the cutthroat woman who’d always been there. “Someone find me his phone.”

  One of the goons scooped his phone up off the floor and handed it to her.

  She held it out to him. “Wonderful. Unlock it. Don’t be spiteful.”

  Konstantin couldn’t afford to say no. His security staff was tied up. Haley was still very much in the crosshairs of these men and his mother. He slowly lifted his hand and pressed his thumb to the screen.

  He held his mother’s gaze. “You know dad would rather see us both dead than alive.”

  Natasha’s smile widened. “You don’t know the old man at all, do you?”

  She took his phone from her underling and tapped on the screen, then held the phone to her face. “Leonid, darling, I need for you to stop ignoring me. If you persist, I’m going to start sending you care packages with pieces of your son and granddaughter in them. This is my last request.”

  Konstantin grit his teeth.

  “You’re disgusting,” Haley said, her voice brimming with anger.

  Natasha regarded Haley for a moment.

  “I think—Haley? Did you call her Haley?” She glanced at him. “I think Haley will be riding with me. Us ladies need to have a chat, it seems. Oleg? I keep my son in line. Come along, everyone.”

  In what world did Natasha think that Leonid would come to Konstantin’s rescue?

  He dragged his feet, but the men hauled him forward through the wreck of his home.

  They were fucked.

  He should have sent Haley away before this, but he’d been selfish. And now it would very likely cost both of their lives. His only relief was that Zasha was still safe.

  Please let her stay safe...

  12.

  Sunday. On the road. VA.

  Haley did her best to not let on to the fact she was sweating bullets. They’d taken the Kevlar vest she’d thrown on over her clothes, her guns and the knife she’d concealed in her sports bra. Thankfully, she’d fallen asleep still dressed, otherwise who knew what she’d be wearing for this unwanted adventure. Her eyes were gritty from the tears she’d shed, a fact that irritated her more than being caught. It shouldn’t, but there it was. Her heart was distracting her from the very real facts of their situation.

  Konstantin’s life rested on his father—the man he hated most—coming to his rescue.

  What kind of crazy was Natasha that she thought this would work?

  Haley tugged at the bonds securing her wrists and ankles to the front passenger seat. For a couple thugs, they’d restrained her pretty damn well. She could just barely lean against the seatback with her hands fully extended in front of her. It was not comfortable, but better than being in the trunk or dead.

  She could feel Natasha’s eyes on her. Studying her.

  “You’ve worked for my son for a very long time,” she finally said.

  Haley considered that statement. Was it a long time?

  Some days it felt like ages, others like mere moments.

  Natasha continued with her observations. “You must care for my son a great deal.”

  Haley bit the inside of her mouth. This wasn’t a conversation. Natasha wanted to use Haley like any other tool at her disposal. The best thing for Haley to do was give her nothing.

  “How much does he pay you?”

  Haley considered the question. She had to walk a line here.

  “My salary is my business,” she replied and stared straight ahead.

  Natasha continued to look at her. “Loyalty is admirable, but you should choose your allegiances carefully. I fear my son is more like his father than he realizes. They are cruel, calculating men.”

  Konstantin like his father?

  Not in the least.

  Haley had read up on the man when and where she could. It was hard to find information, but her boss Zain could get his hands on just about anything. She’d had plenty of homework.

  Konstantin was nothing like his father.

  She turned her head and looked at Natasha. The woman’s gaze had slid off Haley and she glared into the darkness.

  Natasha had broken into the house, losing at least two men in the process, all to leave her husband a voicemail. Konstantin really was just a pawn in all of this. Haley’s heart hurt for him, but she was also glad. There was still a chance they could come out of this. The woman’s target wouldn’t come if what he valued wasn’t alive.

  “Konstantin’s father sounds like a horrible man,” Haley said.

  She didn’t want to give up information about Konstantin or herse
lf, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t learn something from all this.

  “Horrible. That’s such a tame word. Did you know that before he was KGB he was trained by the Spetsnaz? Do you know what Spetsnaz training was like when he was a young man?”

  “No.” Haley licked her lips. She’d heard stories, but that was all they were. Stories.

  “I was cleaning out a closet once and I found a uniform that looked as though it had been dipped in dye. They forced him to crawl and swim through pools of blood to harden him. He kept the uniform all these years as a memento. Who does that?”

  She shuddered. Similar stories had been told, but she’d never heard or seen proof that such drills had been run. Then again, who was going to admit to such a thing?

  “A man like that only creates more like himself.” Natasha’s gaze slid toward Haley. “My son obviously cares about you. I’ve been in your shoes. I wish I’d run far, far away. You’d do better coming to work for me rather than stay with him.”

  Haley snorted before she could stop herself. “My contract isn’t up, sorry.”

  “I could make it worth your while. And I’d be saving you.”

  “While using the people I’ve promised to protect as bait?”

  “Leonid will come for the boy,” Natasha said with certainty.

  Haley twisted as much as she could to face her. “How do you know that?”

  “It’s obvious. Konstantin has everything he could have ever wanted all set up here for him. And what he didn’t have Leonid allowed Ivana to bring him.”

  Haley frowned. “That’s not the story Konstantin tells.”

  “Of course it isn’t.” Natasha chuckled. “Do you really expect Ivana would have left Leonid’s home burdened by all of their things if he hadn’t allowed it?”

  She had a point.

  Haley didn’t want to give it to her, but there was no denying that Natasha’s theory held water.

  Was there a chance Konstantin’s estranged father might come save him? Was that the outcome she should hope for? Or would that only lead to an epic clash with no winners?

  How was she going to get them out of this?

  “Where is the girl?” Natasha asked, her tone light, as if she were asking where her purse or phone were.

  Haley turned her head and looked out the window at the dark landscape. “You know I’m not going to tell you.”

  “It will only be more traumatic for her if you force me to find her myself.”

  When Haley didn’t make contact with Ivana at their designated morning appointment, the old woman would know something had happened. This would be the true trial of her loyalty. Would she stick to the plan? Or would she give them all up for the child she loved first?

  After a few moments, a not so delicate snore ripped through the car. Haley glanced over her shoulder to find that Natasha had fallen asleep.

  Even the cruel had to rest.

  Haley relaxed back into the seat as much as she could and turned her attention on the driver. He was young, fair haired and skinned. He didn’t look like he belonged in this crowd with his suit and fresh face. Then again they all had to start somewhere.

  Natasha wanted revenge and was willing to step on anyone to get it. At least Haley knew that now. Not that knowing helped anything. In fact, their position in this scheme gave them less bargaining power.

  By the time they reached a large, suburban home outside of DC on the Virginia side, Haley still had no better plan.

  They parked in the garage. Two other vehicles followed suit, crowding the enclosed space. Natasha left her without a backward glance after she woke up. Haley was just about to rally some hope that she’d been forgotten when a man came to get her. With backup.

  She was led through the sparsely furnished home to stairs that led to a basement. A basement with a wrought iron door of some kind set into one side.

  “Haley!” Konstantin bolted to his feet and grabbed the bars of what appeared to be a wine cellar. “What did she do? Did she hurt you?”

  One eye was swollen and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was blood on his lip.

  She gaped at him. When she’d last seen him, he’d been unhurt. “What happened?”

  “Shut up,” the man holding her snapped. He pointed at Konstantin. “You. Back against the wall. Now.”

  Konstantin held up his hands and glared at the man as he slowly backed away.

  Haley’s guard unlocked the chain wrapped around the bars, then pushed her inside. She staggered, more for show.

  Konstantin lunged at her, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She twisted to look at the man, see how the door was secured.

  Just a padlock and some chain.

  The goon gave the door a solid shake, then turned and went back up the stairs.

  “Haley?” He cupped her cheek.

  A part of her wanted to melt into that touch, but now wasn’t the time. She pulled her walls up as high as they’d go and focused on Konstantin. “I’m okay. Nothing happened except your mother talked my ear off. What about you?”

  He dropped his hands and shrugged. “Oleg and I had words.”

  “That’s the big one?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” Haley crossed to the door and began examining the hinges, how the two swinging pieces were attached.

  “They made sure to tell me this bar that the doors attach to is anchored into the foundation.”

  “But what about the hinges? The screws? Bolts? One weak point could change everything.”

  She was aware of Konstantin at her back while she went over the doors.

  They weren’t cheaply made, which was a disappointment. The bars were as thick as her thumb, so not likely to bend, and she doubted they’d be able to break them. And there were no hinges. The post went through holes formed into the gates.

  “Shit,” she muttered.

  “I was hoping you’d see something I didn’t.”

  She glared over her shoulder at him. “You already looked at these?”

  “Of course.”

  She grit her teeth in annoyance. There was no real reason for her to be annoyed, but she was clinging to any emotion she could right now. Locked alone with Konstantin was the last place she wanted to be right now.

  “Fucking hell.” He turned and paced the small room.

  The racks mounted on the walls were empty, so they couldn’t use wine bottles as weapons. The racks themselves were solid wood and smelled fresh enough she didn’t think they’d break anytime soon.

  “Did they say anything to you? Did you learn anything?” she asked.

  “No. They put headphones on me and a bag over my head. You?”

  “Your mother was...talkative.” Haley sighed and stretched her weary arms. “Did you ever wonder how Ivana made it here with as much stuff as she did?”

  “I snuck out of the house while my dad was away. He’d gotten shot about six months before and hadn’t left the house. Even made doctors come to him. But there was some meeting he couldn’t get out of. The trip was supposed to last two weeks. Once his entourage cleared out, there weren’t a lot of people in the house and I was able to pack what I needed to leave. I left, he came back early. I assume she waited like I did for the right opportunity.”

  She held up her hand, stalling his words. “Did you warn Ivana?”

  “No. I couldn’t risk it. She was actually the person who alerted the house staff that we were gone. She thought we were in trouble.”

  “Then how’d she get out of there?” Haley crossed her arms over her chest.

  “She... Where is this coming from?”

  “Your mother. She thinks your dad let Ivana go to you.”

  Konstantin laughed. “Like hell he did. Ivana was family at that point, so he let her stay on, but she was tasked with packing up rooms. After we left, he wanted to move. She just packed smart and when he had to leave, she took that chance to slip out, too. Why? What’s she getting at?”


  “Natasha thinks your father let you go. That he left the businesses in your name so you’d be totally set up with a life here. And then he allowed Ivana to come to you because you needed her.”

  Konstantin shook his head. “That’s a load of shit. He doesn’t give two fucks about me. We can’t rely on that old man to save us. He’d probably kill us himself if he could.”

  “Okay.” Haley wasn’t convinced, but she wasn’t going to win that battle with Konstantin. “Then we have to think up a strategy. Something that’ll get us out of here.”

  “Ideas? Because things look pretty bleak to me.”

  “She wanted me to work for her.”

  “No,” Konstantin said.

  “It’s an option. Let this play out for a while, see if she tries to wear me down, give in and figure out how to get you out of here.”

  “I don’t think we have time for you to gain my mother’s trust.”

  Haley didn’t want to admit it, but she wasn’t sure they had that time either. “When Ivana doesn’t hear from us, she’ll do something.”

  “Unless my security told her where Ivana and Zasha are.”

  Haley felt as though the rug had just been yanked out from under her. She stared at Konstantin in wide-eyed horror. “Fuck. They wouldn’t. She’s a little girl. Right? They wouldn’t?”

  Konstantin lowered himself to the ground. He looked exhausted. “They had a choice, die or roll over.”

  “Oh, man. Oh, no.” Haley leaned against the wine racks and looked up at the ceiling.

  Zasha and Ivana could be in Natasha’s custody within the hour if they’d already sent people that way. But that would mean forcefully taking them from where they were. With luck that would raise some suspicion and something might happen, but they couldn’t bet on that.

  “This is all my fault,” Konstantin muttered.

  “You can’t blame yourself. That’s not productive.”

  “You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

  “That’s true, and not the point.” She wanted to both hug and strangle the man.

  “I should have...”

  “What?” she snapped. “What could you possibly have done to stop your crazy mother?”