Valeriya tapped her pen on her notepad. “Is he always this cheeky?”
Nadei shrugged but kept his eyes straight forward. “I do not know this term. Maybe he will tell you a story later, eh, about a pea and mattress, and you will like him more.”
Valeriya frowned at Nadei. “What the hell does that mean?”
Nadei stretched his long arm out around her to give himself more space and adjusted his large body in his seat. “I don’t know, but evidently, women like it.”
***
It was four o’clock in the morning when Anatoly finally arrived back in Memphis. Refusing to stay away from his wife any longer, he had instructed the pilot to get back to the States straight away with as few stops as possible.
Plus, he had a bad feeling about leaving Gabriel in Ukraine alone. For what he had offered the client and what they had provided per his father’s wishes, there was little need to woo them anymore than they had, but he needed to talk to Dmitry to see if he agreed.
When he arrived at the Medlov compound, he was greeted at the door by the butler and told that his father was already up for the day and had gone downstairs in the gym to work out. On a mission, he headed there with a cup of coffee in one hand and his father’s daily newspapers in the other.
Lying on a bench lifting weights with his earbuds in and his eyes to the ceiling, Dmitry had tuned the entire world out for his daily meditation. This was the only time that he could get any peace. Before the wife roused from her slumber or the children began to play, he always started his day in the same way, focused and ready.
A modest grunt escaped him as he pushed the 350 pounds up in the air above him, locking his arms at its peak. A thick vein pulsed out of his forehead, his lips pursed together and pearls of sweat dripped down from his hair and face onto the floor. His wide chest ripped with waves of muscles contracting. Drawing the bar back down to him with even precision, he repeated the same thing 20 reps to make one full set.
Anatoly sat on a bar stool in front of the bar where the smoothie machine was and sipped his coffee. He would miss his workout today unless having sex with his wife counted, and he planned to wear her ass out as soon as he could get upstairs.
At the end of the third set, Dmitry racked the bar. A loud sound of metal clashing with metal echoed through the room. He sat up, legs played wide, and bent to pick up his towel, heaving for breath. It was then that he caught a glimpse of Anatoly watching him in the panoramic mirror on the opposite wall.
“Good. You’re back,” Dmitry said, wiping his face. He pulled the earbuds out and motioned for his son to bring him his water bottle. “How was the drop?”
“Successful in a way,” Anatoly said, bringing Dmitry his tall VOSS® water.
“In what way was it not successful then?” Dmitry asked, knowing that he was going to hear something that he didn’t like by the tone of Anatoly’s voice.
“Gabriel stayed. Despite the fact that we gave them what they needed and more at no cost, he wanted to ensure that they felt comfortable with us before he returned home. It’s a waste really. We have other clients who need to be dealt with.”
Dmitry’s calm never cracked. “For how long does he want to stay?”
“Long enough to make you happy.” Anatoly rolled his eyes in disapproval. “And there is a woman involved.”
“A woman?” Dmitry’s brow rose.
“A freedom fighter. She’s in charge of the Donetsk Relief and Revolution,” he said mockingly. “They are basically a bunch of armed Red Cross workers. I even arranged a drone bombing of the Nazi compound that was giving them trouble. They were eating out of the palm of my hands before I left, but Gabriel was not satisfied.”
“So this is now about a woman?” Dmitry smirked. He had heard that story before and was not at all surprised. “How is that going to make me happy?”
Anatoly was too tired to explain all the nuisances of what brought him to that conclusion. “Papa, you need to bring him home. He’s used to dealing with men like us – no fuss, no frills, no…vagina. With a woman like that, I fear that he’ll get too invested. He already can’t see the forest for the trees. This will only make things worse.”
Dmitry stood up and went over to the free weights. He picked up a 75-pound dumbbell in each hand and lifted them slowly. He didn’t want to get ahead of himself. This could simply be a little attraction. There was nothing wrong with a little attraction. “What kind of woman is she?”
“Beautiful,” Anatoly started off with. “Pig headed. Stubborn. Devoted to her cause.”
“Sounds like his mother,” Dmitry said absently. It brought of memories of a time when Emma Hutton was alive and trying to save the world one revolution at a time. It didn’t work out in her favor. “So if they were happy, then why did he stay?”
“He says that he wants to make sure that Allan will still do business with us, so he’s going to stay and win the woman over. Evidently, she is the leader now and has Allan Roman’s ear.”
“But what do you think?” Dmitry asked Anatoly. “What does your gut say?”
There were no two ways about it for Anatoly. “I think he wants to screw her.”
Dmitry stood silently in front of the mirror thinking. Without saying a word, he watched his form while Anatoly watched the news on the television. When Dmitry was finished, he set the weights down and walked over to the bar. “Do you think this business with Briggy is causing him to lose focus?”
“Of course, I do. This woman is wreaking havoc. In my opinion, it’s better to just send her away. That way, Gabriel can get back to being himself, not that he’s all that great to begin with, but with her here, he will do whatever he can to stay away, that includes putting his life at risk.”
“Hmm, I was hoping that this could be handled without my input.” Dmitry sat down on the bar stool and picked up the New York Times.
Anatoly watched his father for several minutes as he read. “Is that all?”
Dmitry slowly took his eyes off the paper. “Yes, that’s all. Tell him to be ready on the third day on time, no tarrying.”
“So you’re going to let him stay?” Anatoly asked. “Despite what I have told you.”
“The problem is here, not there. Tell him to come home at the time that you all have already arranged, and I will deal with Briggy then.”
Anatoly nodded. “Da, da, Papa.” He looked at his watch. “I’m headed up to bed, but before I do,” he stopped in his tracks. “Just how do you plan to handle Briggy? She can’t stay here. It’s driving Renee insane.”
Dmitry’s testosterone began to elevate and anxiety began to fill the room. “This needs to stop. All of it. I’m done with the bullshit. She’ll stay here until the child is born. No longer.”
Anatoly’s eye twitched. “That’s five months from now.”
Dmitry put down his paper and turned to Anatoly. His eyes were ice cold. “Then keep your wife busy and happy for five months. Am I the boss or some dime envelope drop boy?”
He knew that his son was tired, and he also knew that most of this was not his fault. Still, Anatoly did carry some blame, just like he carried blame for the ex-police officer’s exposé on her sordid sex exploit with a Russian mobster in Miami and screwing the nanny that he was later forced to kill in Italy and encouraging Gabriel to bring Briggy to the states when he was lovesick over Renee leaving and going to Atlanta. It was the snowball effect.
“I meant no disrespect, Papa.”
“We’re beyond that. I told you both not to fuck the girl. Leave her alone. Let her be. That’s what I said. It was obvious from the start that she would never make either of you happy for very long. I told Gabriel that allowing her to stay here permanently instead of finding other housing options for her would be a problem eventually. I told you that too many women in one house would be a cause for disaster eventually, especially if they don’t like each other. I told you both all of these things to save you headache and heartache, and yet no one listened to me, because you and
your young minds had it all figured out. Now, you come to me for help and ask me, Papa, to fix all of it. So, I will, but I will not ask any of you for your input or what is most convenient for you. You will do as you’re told and then it will be done because you don’t get to ask for my help and then question the manner in that help was given.”
“Okay, Papa.” Anatoly couldn’t argue the man’s logic. “But one question.”
“One more, then off with you. I need to finish my workout in peace. I’ve got meetings at eight.”
Anatoly grinned. “Can Royal handle five more months?” Winking at his father, he headed out of the door. “Dobroy nochi.”
Dmitry chuckled. “Little asshole.”
***
On a patch of land that looked more fitting for a countryside than the inner city, a large three-story wooden home with a tattered white fence surrounding it was the final destination for the early afternoon. Pulling up in the driveway, everyone quickly exited out and headed up the old concrete steps to the front door, carrying several heavy boxes with them.
Valeriya and Andriy seemed to be beaming with excitement on this trip, so much so that Gabriel found Valeriya’s giddiness somewhat insightful.
After a few knocks and a few looks out of the window by whoever was inside, a white woman in her late 60s opened the door with an AK-47 in her hand. Smiling as she looked past the towering men to Valeriya, she gave a wide smile. “I hoped that was you, but I couldn’t be sure. Welcome. Welcome.” Opening the door for the men, she quickly set down the gun and gave a huge warm hug to Valeriya.
“How are you?” Valeriya asked, rubbing through the woman’s hair. “You look wonderful.”
“I could be better, but it’s so nice to see you,” the woman said, bright with smiles as the men toted in the boxes.
Valeriya nodded. “You can tell me all about it, but look, I’ve brought you provisions…food, clothes, hygiene products and lots of bullets.”
“Bless you,” the woman said, following Valeriya inside. “It’s very hard keeping those trouble makers away from here, especially during nightfall.”
Gabriel walked into the home and set down a large box in the living room. The walls were covered in nostalgic dusty wallpaper and nearly hidden in books, board games and recreational toys. Hardwood floors were covered in mismatched rugs and shoes littered the doorway. There was no central air or heating, just large air conditioners and fans, even still it was a bit humid for his taste. On the sofa, piled up playing and laughing, he saw seven children of different ages, all Black or biracial sitting playing cards and watching television. They looked over at him with a curious stare.
He waved but did not speak. Did they speak English?
Andriy walked in after him and stopped in the entry way. “Hello, hello!” he said, dropping to one knee as one of the small girls ran toward him and gave him a hug.
“Andriy,” the girl yelled. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been busy, pryntsesa.” Kissing her cheek, Andriy picked the little girl up and walked her over to Gabriel. “This is Sasha. She’s going to be an astronaut when she grows up. Isn’t that right, Sasha?”
Sasha nodded shyly with a wide grin as she put her little index finger in between her teeth.
“That’s awesome, Sasha,” Gabriel said with a fake smile. He guessed that they did speak English. “It’s nice to meet you.” Shaking her little hand, he smiled this time genuinely, despite himself.
“You are a very big man,” Sasha said enamored with him. “Will you be my boyfriend?”
Gabriel laughed. Her little innocent smile warmed him. “Yes, I will.”
Setting her down, Andriy rubbed the top of her curly brown locks before she ran off into the house with her doll in hand.
“And I thought she was shy,” Gabriel quipped. “But I like her style.”
“You should have met her twin sister,” Andriy said, watching her disappear into the back room. “She was something else.”
“What happened to her,” Gabriel asked curiously. “She can’t be any more than five.”
“Six,” Andriy corrected. “Her sister was killed in the bombings last year while they were at the dentists. Sasha survived and ended up here at the orphanage. No one wants to take little Black babies here in Ukraine, as you can imagine.”
Gabriel looked back at the empty hall for the girl and shook his head. “Their loss.”
Another five children came down the stairs from the second floor in little black uniforms and dingy white shirts. They also were Black and also looked at Gabriel strangely as they shot warily past him into the kitchen.
Valeriya was busy by the front door speaking with the woman in Ukrainian while he wandered around the front rooms of the house being nosy. Pictures of children hung on the walls along with artwork and verses from the Bible. The house smelled of food and cinnamon with a hint of bleach.
“There are a lot of kids here,” Nadei said, walking up to Gabriel. He passed him a bottle of water that Gabriel poured into his gold-plated water bottle. “Kids make me nervous. Let’s not stay here long, eh.”
“Not planning on it,” Gabriel said under his breath. He eyed Valeriya as she hugged the children who came up to her, one by one. They all seemed to know her, all seemed to love her and looking at her face light up and her smile so bright as she greeted them, he knew why. She was beautiful not just on the inside but on the outside as well.
“Guitana, this is Gabriel Medlov and his guard Nadei. They are responsible for all of this good fortune,” Valeriya said, pointing at the boxes. “There is so much stuff that you needed inside. I brought as much as I could. I will bring more in the next few days.”
“Thank you,” Guitana said, walking up to Gabriel. She made him bend down so that she could kiss his cheek. “God bless you.”
Gabriel went stiffly, becoming uncomfortable. “God bless you as well.”
Nadei quickly stepped back, not wanting to be involved in the show of appreciation. There would be no kisses for him or touches or hugs for that matter.
“You must stay for lunch,” Guitana insisted of Valeriya as a young girl ran up to her and held on to the bottom of her long linen skirt to look at Gabriel. “There is so much to catch up on, and we never know when we will see you again.”
“We don’t want to impose,” Gabriel said, slipping his hand into his pocket. “And we really must be getting back to pick up more products.”
“You must stay for lunch,” Guitana pleaded, looking at Valeriya.
“Of course we will,” Valeriya said, winking at Gabriel. She could see the discomfort all over his face and it made her absolutely beside herself. “It would be an honor.”
Clapping her hands together, Guitana headed toward the kitchen. “I’ve made borscht. We’ll all sit out on the picnic benches in the back and enjoy the weather.”
“I thought we were on a tight schedule,” Gabriel said to Valeriya when they were alone in the common area.
Valeriya smacked her lips together and fluttered her eyes. “You said that you wanted to be with me every minute until you left. Well, some of those minutes will be here having lunch with the children and Guitana.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Gabriel asked.
“Very much,” she said, going into the kitchen to help Guitana.
Hearing his phone buzzing in his pocket, he opened it and stepped outside on the porch. “I was just about to check in,” Gabriel explained as he looked next door at what appeared to be teenage skinheads coming onto the porch. They watched him as he spoke and pointed, trying to get his attention.
“I hope you’re close to closing the deal,” Anatoly said, standing outside of his bedroom door to keep from waking his wife.
“Why is that?” Gabriel eyed Nadei as he stepped out on the porch and stood in the line of sight between the skinheads and Gabriel’s view.
“Because we’re picking you up day after tomorrow at 10:00.”
“In the morning
?” Gabriel asked.
“The morning,” Anatoly huffed. “Don’t be late. Someone will be by the hotel to pick you and Nadei up and get you to an airfield where you will be brought back to Memphis straight away.”
“And what if I need more time,” Gabriel asked, not ready to leave Valeriya just yet.
“Look, I’ve spoken to Papa. You’re out of time,” Anatoly said, hanging up the phone.
Gabriel stuffed his phone back down in his back pocket and looked over at the boys as they huddled on the porch staring at them.
“I guess we figured out why they need more bullets,” Nadei said, throwing a finger sign at the boys.
“Tell me about it. An all-Black orphanage right beside a Nazi stronghold. That’s gotta be a bad mix,” Gabriel said, feeling himself get angry. If there was one thing he hated, it was a bully.
“Fuck you!” one of the boys shouted to Nadei.
Gabriel stood at the end of the porch where they could see his guns. “You want some trouble today?” he yelled. “Because we’ve got plenty of time and plenty of fucking bullets.” His guns gleamed in the sunlight.
Nadei stepped beside him and pulled one of his guns out of the holster. Suddenly, the young men didn’t seem so eager to antagonize the giant men. Pushing each other back into the front door of the house, they quickly disappeared.
“Maybe I come by and give them a house warming later,” Nadei said, sucking his teeth.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Gabriel said as Valeriya walked to the front door. He lowered his voice. “But just make sure you spray for bugs first.”
“Will do, Boss,” Nadei said, happy to see some action finally.
“What are you doing out here?” Valeriya said, wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing. “The food is out back.”
“We’re on the way,” Gabriel said, opening the screen door.
Chapter Eleven
Unexpected Delays…
Gabriel's Regret: Book 1 (The Medlov Men Series 2) Page 15