by K. J. Dahlen
“So, you won’t tell me.” her expression looked curious.
He shrugged and lowered his arms to his sides. “I did tell you.”
She bit at her lip and lowered her gun. “I assume you are Bratva.”
Andrey smirked. “You assume?”
She smirked back. “We are at Sergi’s house. He is THE Bratva.”
Andrey continued to smile, as this woman seemed to pull that out of him. She was fast becoming the distraction he needed. “Da, we are, so I assume you are also Bratva.”
Her eyes rounded and her smirk fell away. “There is no need to insult me.”
He blinked his eyes. “Insult? It is a natural conclusion as here you are standing on the Constantine’s steps.”
Shoving her gun into her back waistband, she huffed angrily. Her little cat and mouse game was obviously over. “I am done with this entire conversation.” She turned to go down the steps.
Andrey didn’t want her to leave. If she did, she would take her identity and the fun away from him. He took two steps to her and grabbed her arm.
She then abruptly took a step toward him, whirled around, and had him lying on his back looking up at her, before he could even blink.
She stepped back and placed her hands on her hips. “Like I said, some security man you are.”
Andrey stared up at this gorgeous woman who seemed to grow even more beautiful as time went on. He then began to laugh.
She looked startled by this.
The door opened and Sergi himself looked at her then peered down at Andrey. He raised a brow. “Oh, I see you two have met.”
Andrey chuckled. “Yes and she made quite the impression on me.” His laughter grew.
Sergi grinned. “She does have that effect.”
The woman rolled her eyes.
Andrey finally got up. He winced a bit. That flagstone was not soft to be planted onto.
“You okay there, Mr. Security?” she asked.
He then jumped up on his feet and had her wrapped up in a hold. He knew many moves in many arts.
Gasping, she reacted instantly by trying to stomp on his foot.
He maneuvered out of that.
Next, she used her elbow to attempt to knock his ribs.
Andrey simply tightened his hold. By doing this, he could smell her hair and he took a deep whiff of this woman. Her scent went right to his brain then all the way down to his cock. It came alive and hard instantly.
She must have felt this reaction as her body was pulled in so tight to his.
“Andrey,” Sergi finally spoke. He’d been watching this bit of entertainment for a couple of minutes.” I think you better let go or you might find yourself under arrest.”
Andrey looked over at him. She was a cop? He loosened his hold.
Countering his weak hold, she maneuvered herself under his arm and flipped him up then over.
Andrey was again, lying on his back.
Her face came into focus as she stared down at him. Her smirk was back.
Sergi was laughing, he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Da, you will do well with this assignment, Inspector.”
Andrey sat up then was up on his feet, as he couldn’t hide his surprise. “Inspector?”
Sergi nodded. “Andrey Balick, meet Inspector Keviana Gavirla.”
Peering down, she smiled at the stunned look on his face. “Kevy to my friends, which I am afraid you are not.” She gave a nod to Sergi then went in through the front door.
“Oh, my…” Sergi chuckled. “Fire I tell you. Pure fire.” He turned to Andrey. “I think you maybe, you should think about getting a fire retardant suit if you care to deal with her again. I will see you tomorrow.” He too, turned and went in, his chuckling trailing behind him.
“Chto, chert voz’mi, tol’ko chto proizoshlo. What the fuck just happened?” Andrey said aloud to himself, as he stood there alone.
Chapter Seven
The White Building in Lubyanka Square, Moscow, Russia
It was now 11 a.m. Moscow time. At least Andrey thought it was. The lag had caught up with him and the lack of sleep. There had been an improvement however. His thoughts in bed last night were not of the killer or any of his past. They had been filled to the brim with Kevy. He had gone back up to his room and got on his laptop. Not to look at crimes scenes, but to look up Inspector Keviana Gavrila.
What he found impressed him and helped his bruised ego a bit too. Graduated with honors from the FSS Akademiya. Top of her class and he would bet her other classmates hadn’t liked that at all. He went from place to place following her life or what he could find of it. Some press conferences on tape and yes, he had watched quite a few. Damn, the woman exuded confidence and the same quality Sergi had said. Fire.
Andrey knew one thing now. He wanted to taste that fire. But with the kind of woman this was, he might also need what Sergi had suggested. Some kind of fire retardant for the walls she had built. She wouldn’t come easy. But Andrey wasn’t used to easy in his life, so he believed he was up to it. He wondered if she had a boyfriend then he spent another half hour attempting to prove or disprove this suddenly important question. He got no answers but he doubted it. She seemed fully involved in her career. Fully. He hoped that was still the case. As he didn’t want to have to knock out any competition. Da, he was a brave soul and now a hopeful one as he believed in just a few hours contemplation time that he had met his match.
It came like an epiphany. A woman who had bested him in the martial arts area. Though it had hardly been fair as he had been too shocked to react naturally. No, he didn’t want a bout to prove he was superior, there would be no point. He wanted a bout of a different kind.
To have this happen in the middle of this case, this supposed mission from hell, he had found this ray of light. Was it just a distraction? No, he didn’t think so. His body knew full well what honest attraction was, even if his mind couldn’t maybe deal with what it meant.
He determined that by the end of this visit to Russia, he would have this woman. He had never went after a woman though. After a criminal, a target, a fiend, yes. He had chased evil, chased jets, and chased the sky. But chasing a woman? It had never happened, none had ever been worth the trouble. They usually came after him.
This would be a different challenge than any in his life so far and another surprising event in just the last several days.
Finally, the council chamber started to fill. His team was already here, arriving just shortly after he had.
Then a man came in with Sergi. Young with dark hair, perhaps of half Asian descent carrying a sketch pad and a case.
This sight turned Andrey’s feeling fast. From sunshine to rain in one second flat. Bylad. It was again, time to face this relentless ghost of a killer.
Sergi caught his eye then waved him over.
Andrey made his way to where they stood.
“Andrey, this is Karuso, he is our artist.”
Andrey nodded at him.
“This is Andrey, who saw this killer maybe twenty years ago, Karuso.”
The artist shook his hand. “I will do my best to reproduce the man’s features.”
“If you will sit over there in the far corner, there is still time before everyone else arrives.” Sergi motioned to a table across the room.
Andrey and the artist went over to sit down.
“Oh, if you would, please sit next to me,” Karuso asked as he placed his case on the floor.
Andrey came around and sat beside him.
Karuso began to speak, “The point is to get to a resemblance, so that people can look at the drawing and be reminded of someone that they have seen recently or in the past.” He paused and glanced up at Andrey. “In your case, it has been twenty years.”
Andrey nodded.
“So this may be harder but not—”
“Get your pencil Karuso,” Andrey stated firmly. “I do not have a fuzzy memory of this man’s face.”
Karuso stared at him then did what
he said.
Andrey walked him through it, eyes, nose, brow, face, chin, jawline. In just minutes. It seemed that Karouso’s pencil could not move fast enough.
Then he was done.
Andrey glared at the sketch. “This is him.”
Karuso looked a bit alarmed but he said nothing as he waved Sergi over.
Constantine came over, sat down and waited.
Karuso reached down where he had set his bag and got out a second sketchbook.
Sergi placed a hand on his wrist then waved Mikial and Yuri over as they had just arrived.
The two men headed over but remained standing.
Karuso opened the sketchpad from his case then set the new one next to it.
They all stared down at the two illustrations.
They matched almost to a T.
“This cannot be…” Andrey was stunned. “He had to have aged in the ten years between these two…murders.”
Mikal looked like he had to sit down and so he did. “It is impossible.”
“No, perhaps he just ages well?” Sergi attempted to find an answer. He looked over at Karuso.
The man shrugged. “All I can say is both witnesses…” He motioned to Mikial and then Andrey. “Had clear unequivocal memories as to this…” He paused. “...these faces. In fact, they each had no pauses, no doubts, no trouble at all, directing me. I did not have to even ask the standard questions to coax the memory from them.”
“So where does this leave us?” Yuri wanted to know.
Andrey stood. “In the same place we were in yesterday.”
“I think not,” someone else spoke from behind them.
Andrey looked up to see Anosk Valentin. An older Valentin than he remembered but it was him, nonetheless. The man that had brought him into the Bratva and changed his very future.
Sergi stood and looked concerned as he greeted his friend. “I am glad to see you are… better.”
Andrey felt puzzled by this as looked back and forth between the two men.
“Da, our condolences, Mr. Valentin,” Yuri stated.
Andrey was confused. “Condolences for what?”
Valentin let out a sigh. “I will be up there in a few minutes to…explain if I can.” He glanced back down at the sketches and then paled.
Sergi took note of his expression. “Anosk, do you know this face?”
The man seemed to not hear him. “I am so sorry. I never knew. I-I…”
“Wait,” Andrey cut in. “You do know this man!”
Valentin raised his tear filled gaze to Andrey. “I swear I did not know who she was back then.”
“Back then?” Sergi asked.
Andrey nodded. “He was the provincial Bratva leader of the province where I lived. He was there to…” His voice fell away as he turned and grabbed the older Valentin by the coat collars. “You knew!”
“Nyet! I swear I did not… until it was too late!”
“Andrey!” Viktor yelled as he approached. “Release him!”
Andrey did not do as his boss commanded. “Not until I get answers. He was there Viktor, right after it happened. He arranged for my sister’s funeral. He moved me to the Bratva. All this time, I believed it was sympathy or even kindness, but he knew the killer!”
Viktor raised his hands at his man. “Just let him go and then maybe, we can get answers.”
“Yes Andrey,” Sergi said. “Anosk has been unwell. He has suffered—”
“Suffered?” Mikail stood up now. “He has suffered? If Andrey is right, this man had something to do with this killer!”
Yuri placed his hands on his arm. “We must allow this to proceed as Bratva dictates, my friend. Please stand down.”
Mikal had his fists clenched and he looked away.
“Andrey, I demand the same,” Viktor ordered “Let him go.”
Andrey reluctantly released the man then patted his lapels down into place with a hard patting. “If you had anything to do with my sister’s death—”
“I never thought,” Valentin cut him off. “But now…” He looked even paler than a moment ago.
Sergi finally took control of the situation, as was his way as he stepped in between Andrey and Valentin. “Step back Andrey, please.”
Andrey glared at them both but did so.
Sergi spoke softly but firmly, “We will continue this in Council so that—”
“NO!” Valentin yelled. “We must continue this now. It means life or death for the next woman…”
Sergi swiveled his gaze back to his old friend. “What is it Anosk?”
Valentin stepped around him and faced Andrey. “I made a grave error all those years ago. I only intended to help a poor girl. I didn’t know that she was your sister…” His voice fell away as he looked around at all of them. “I took her in as my mistress. Unknowing her identity, I swear! I gave her money to help her family as she had pleaded with me to do.”
Andrey stilled and his heart seemed to stop in his chest as he realized what this man was saying. “YOU!” he shouted. “You were Natalia’s…” He then forgot his orders and stepped toward Valentin, ready to take his old fool head off. This was the man she had taken up with, the one who had ruined her… this man, the one he thought of as a mentor had been her benefactor!
“Andrey!” Viktor stepped in front of him. “You cannot handle this in that way. You cannot! Stoyat’ vniz!” Valentin ignored everyone but Andrey as he spoke slowly, “I have paid for that sin, Andrey. I did take her in. I was younger then. I will not excuse it. Then when I came to your house and saw…” he faltered. “The killer was Vacilli Valentin. My son.” At this news, the men who stood there including Sergi, all of them looked as if they had been punched in the gut. Andrey was filled with rage, he had trouble even seeing clearly as he fought his urge to kill this man, this leader of Bratva, the man that brought him in to be an Enforcer someday. All he wanted to do was kill him with his bare hands. “I then realized he must have done it because he was angry that I had cheated on his mother. I didn’t know he was like this. That he could kill, would kill.” Valentin lowered his head. “So, I lost my son that day, as you lost your sister.” “So then you covered it all up?” Andrey seethed. “I did…There was nothing else to do for it. He was dead. On zaplatil za eto, he paid for it. I paid for it.” “Wait,” Yuri said as he stepped in. “So how can it be the same man that killed Mikial’s mother 10 years before that?” Valentin stared down at the sketches again. Sadness radiated from him and it even seemed that he had aged ten years since he’d stepped up to the table. “It isn’t.” The men in the room and some who had gathered close to listen, all shook their heads, confusion marring their features. The two men looked exactly alike. Two killers a decade apart, killing in the same way. Valentin suddenly looked ashen and he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. His eyes rolled up and he grabbed his arm. “YA seychas plachu za eto…” Now I pay for it. He then pitched forward. Sergi gasped and caught him. He then laid him gently on the floor. Yuri knelt down and felt for a pulse. “He is having a heart attack.” He began compressions and then alternated with mouth to mouth. Andrey trembled like a leaf in the wind, as his whole body was stiff with fury. He looked over at Mikial to see the man looking back at him. Mikial’s eyes seemed to reflect what Andrey felt inside. Neither man felt any pity, neither felt any compassion. They both mirrored rage and as their eyes locked. They both wanted this man dead.
Chapter Eight
Kevy had been at it for hours. Implementing all the steps she’d needed from the packages that Sergi had sent up to her room. Preparing herself for her ultimate job. Her greatest stake out, maybe her greatest hour to catch a killer. She was nervous now though about it and how she would be received by this so called Council as she rode up in the elevator. It dinged and she stepped out. The double doors with the Eagle and star on it was guarded by two very large, very muscled men. She noted the hard looks on their faces and their sheer size. She then thought about the man she had met last night, h
e had been large as well and in all the right places. Okay, yes, she had lain awake thinking about him. She was a woman after all. And man…was he all man. She bit at her lip to keep from smiling as she now approached the two burly guards.” She told then in Russian who she was and flashed her ID. They raised their brows but they told her she was on the list and they let her pass. When she strode in, she stopped. The scene before her wasn’t really what she had expected at all in this high dome ceilinged room. The room where all the power in Russia and other parts of the world was supposed to be. With the Bratva, men who led everything in this part of the world. What she saw was men standing around at a small table over to the left. Not the large ornate oak table sitting up on a three feet high stage. Kevy spotted the ones she knew. Andrey, Viktor and Sergi. Then she moved closer to listen. Their voices were raised and they were all looking at an older man who stood in the middle. She recognized him now too. He was Anosk Valentin. She knew every member of the Bratva by face. She had researched them all on her own over the years, as she had waited to take on the elusive crime syndicate, not that this idea had ever went far with her bosses. She now noted that Andrey looked angry. Wow, he is a fierce looking alpha if I ever saw one. To think he allowed me to best him just last night. Now seeing him in a fury, she wondered how that had ever happened. Andrey looked furious and had Valentin by the coat collar. “Andrey, I demand the same,” Viktor ordered “Let him go.”
Kerry had met this Viktor this morning when Sergi introduced him. They all then discussed her theory. She told them boldly that she knew where the killer would strike next, well it was a guess but according to the dots on her map, it was a given and she also reminded them that it would be within three days as they were about to go into a new month. Apparently, this Viktor was the man that would lead this operation, or so Sergi had said. She hadn’t figured out if she even liked him. He was a hard nut to crack, as those ice blue eyes seemed to take everything in. Still, he wasn’t rude, he just was far too knowing if she could describe it that way. Especially, when he asked key questions upon hearing her theories. He seemed to digest it and agree. You could have knocked her over with a damn feather when he agreed. Kevy was unused to men taking anything she said seriously. Now, witnessing this as were other people in the room, she simply stood back unnoticed and watched it all play out. To say her mind had been blown as she watched and listened to the scene over the next few minutes was an understatement. Andrey had lost his sister to this killer twenty years ago? No, she surmised that couldn’t be possible. Not to the same killer. Then this other man had also lost his mother, thirty years ago? She frowned. It was confusing and she had looked around to see others in the room were in the same boat as her. They all looked perplexed. Then when Valentin was about to tell them who this current killer was, or Kevy assumed that was what he had intended to do, he dropped over. The medics came in and put him on a gurney then took Valentin out through the doors in a flurry. Now the men all stood in the same spot in a seeming silence. Kevy was only staring at one man now though. Andrey. He wore an expression she couldn’t fathom right away. Now his eyes and expression was blank. He was covering whatever he had felt just a moment ago. But something had passed over his features before he blanked his expression. Kevy was so curious to know what that feeling was. Not that she would ever ask. She paused. No, maybe she would. It just depended on what all happened next. Sergi finally turned and noticed her. His keen cobalt eyes narrowed in on her, then a slight smile touched his lips. Kevy could see the slow recognition in his eyes. She even felt pretty proud that it took him a full couple of minutes to realize what had happened. Then her gaze caught Andrey’s. His dark eyes glanced over at her and he showed no recognition. He then turned his head to look over at another man. Kevy felt pure glee as this meant she had passed this test. She caught herself from clapping with joy. But then… Andrey fully turned around and stared at her. It was odd really, like a slow change in his expression as he studied her. Then it happened, he said, “Kevy?” Her shoulders drooped just a bit as she walked over and stood in front of the men gathered there. Her eyes never left Andrey’s though as her body heated up instantly at the intense stare he was giving her. God, this room just got too hot all the sudden. She gave him a nod and then turned to Sergi. “Well, my dear. It seems you have pulled it off.” She shrugged. “I hope so.” She paused then asked, “Are will still on the same plan?” “What plan?” Andrey boldly asked. Sergi paused to glance at him and then at Viktor. “I will be calling off today’s meeting with the council, due to what just happened, but after we clear the room…” He looked over at Andrey. “I will answer this question in great detail.” Andrey stared at him then at her. Damn, she felt goosebumps suddenly. Under that hot gaze was a man that looked like he would not be denied anything. She felt a sudden respect. This hadn’t happened often, as most men she met, never earned that. She had thought she could handle seeing this man again and now, she wasn’t so sure. Men… she had been around them working beside them for years and none had made her breath hitch or her palms sweat but this man did. All the more reason to stay away from him, but what was she doing now? Kevy walked over closer to where he stood. She couldn’t seem to help it. She suddenly felt like he was the magnet and she was the steel. She stopped in front of him. “So? What do you think?” Andrey simply stared. He’d thought he’d received enough surprises today but perhaps not. Here stood the woman he’d met last night, the woman who’d kept him awake. The woman he had decided to break a lifelong habit for, the habit of non-committal relationships to one he hoped would last a lifetime. But she didn’t look like the same woman. Instead of the long raven hair, she was now a stark blonde. Instead of big emerald eyes, she had cornflower blue eyes. “What do I think?” he repeated her question. “Is there a costume party scheduled for after the festivities we just witnessed here?” His voice came out hard and rough. He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh but his mood had translated through. Kevy studied him. “I mean for undercover, Mr. Balick.” He shook his head and looked over at Sergi who was speaking to the council members. Then his gaze caught Viktor’s. His boss showed nothing as was usual for him. He simply seemed to study this woman cop. Those cool blue eyes never missed a thing. Andrey crossed his arms over his wide chest. “I have not been briefed, so I cannot five an opinion.” Kevy shook her head. “Typical man answer.” Andrey dropped his arms and stepped close to whisper, “You are going to find out soon that I am not the typical man. You asked what I thought. I will tell you. The woman I saw last night was the sexiest female I have ever met. You can cover her with dye, contacts…” He paused as he stared into her now blue eyes. “But that woman will always be there.” He then stepped back away from her. Kevy’s mouth actually popped open. Shock crossed her features. Now here again, in the middle of this hellish nightmare, Andrey cracked an actual smile. He couldn’t help it. He had rendered Miss Mouthy cop speechless if only for a moment. He swung his eyes over and caught Viktor’s penetrating gaze. Then he knew he had slipped up and that was no reason to smile. It meant that Viktor had already guessed that he had a thing for this Inspector. Just then, Sergi called them to the front of the room. They all headed for that area. “Please have a seat.” Sergi motioned to the first row of chairs as he took a chair and pulled it out to the front. Yuri, Mikial, Viktor, Andrey, Ivan Matvey, and Grisha all sat down, as well as a now blonde Kevy. Sergi sat down and placed his hand together. “You all just witnessed something shocking. But this also means, we are dealing with something unknown. But at the same time it has perhaps helped us or it will.” He looked at Viktor. “I have your man Adrik looking into facial recognition on this sketch as it seems Anosk is unable to tell us who he is.” He then nodded at Viktor to tell the rest. Viktor looked around the chambers then his gaze halted on the blonde Kevy. “Inspector Gavirla has a theory on this killer.” Andrey wasn’t surprised by this. She was always a step ahead or so, he had found in her history and she had been on this case for a year. “There is a pattern she showed
us. The killer has placed his victims over the map.” He motioned to Ivan. Ivan handed him a laptop. Viktor pointed at the dots on the screen. “She believes according to this pattern, the killer will strike here.” He pointed at the west area of the city. Andrey and the rest leaned forward to look. “Then she has another theory,” Sergi interjected. Andrey knew she did. This woman would end up surprising them all he felt sure. “Da,” Viktor went on, “The killer will strike in that area and he will do so starting at the beginning of the month.” The men all listened. “So she has proposed to be bait.” Andrey sucked in a breath and looked over at Kevy. She bit at her lip and gazed back at him. Andrey clasped his hands together in his lap and covered any emotion this sudden announcement brought. If he hadn’t been so distracted by Valentin, he would have connected those dots sooner. But he hadn’t. Fuck… The woman he had just discovered and wanted for himself was going to lure in the most terrifying bloodthirsty killer in all of Russia’s history.