Melting Point

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “You have to leave now.”

  “But —”

  “Where is Sonya?” a voice asked from behind. It was thick with a Russian accent.

  “Follow my lead, and don’t say a word,” Liam whispered to Trace.

  Liam slowly turned to find two men at the door. The menacing one standing just a foot behind the rotund man was most definitely the bodyguard.

  “Sonya will be here in a moment,” Liam said. Now was the time to use his father’s legendary bullshit. He just hoped Trace wouldn’t say anything, and maybe even follow directions for once. “But it’s not her you’ll want to speak with.”

  The older man narrowed his eyes. “Why is that?”

  Liam smiled as if he found his predicament amusing. “Because I am taking over.”

  “You?” The man gawked. “You are not even Russian!”

  Liam smiled. “Why? Because I don’t have a grating accent?”

  The man scowled.

  Liam leaned in. “Ya mogu tozye govoryat lo russky.” He straightened, noticing the suspicion growing in the other man’s features. While he might be a tad rusty in Russian, he knew enough to create doubt and to also understand if they started speaking in their native tongue.

  “Just because you say you speak Russian doesn’t mean anything,” the man warned. “Who are you?”

  “Nikolai Pavlovich.” At the man’s stunned expression, Liam added, “Junior.”

  “I heard Nikki’s son died.”

  “One of them.” Liam nodded. “By Ivankov’s orders.”

  “Aren’t you a little too young to be his son?” the man questioned.

  Trace smiled and gave the man a wink. “Don’t tell me you don’t have mistresses half your age.”

  The bodyguard shoved Trace.

  “Who is this?” the man asked Liam, disdain in his voice.

  “No one to bother with.”

  “You’re looking for trouble by being here, no matter whose son you might be,” the man said.

  Liam understood that more than the man could possibly know. He took a moment to study him. The man stood a slight inch under Liam, dressed in the most expensive clothes and wearing large rings on his fingers for his loyal men to kiss. A birthmark on his right cheek gave him away. Igor Belinsky. Liam remembered him from his research. He could never forget Belinsky’s doings, nor his brother’s.

  “Mr. Belinsky, with my father’s name, I was born to inherit trouble,” Liam said offhandedly. “Speaking of family, is your brother out of the Black Dolphin yet?”

  Belinsky glared.

  To be sentenced to the Black Dolphin, nicknamed due to the statue in the front of the prison, was a sentence to purgatory. Serial killers, cannibals, rapists, and serious offenders were sent there to wait for death, which happened quite quickly with such inmates for company.

  “The only way to leave the Black Dolphin is to die,” he said, eyeing Liam. “And where is your father? I must speak with him.”

  “You may speak to me.”

  “I only speak with Nikki.”

  “You won’t like what he has to say.”

  Belinsky tried to keep his face passive, but a sweat broke out along his hairline. Did Walter really have this much sway in the Russian underworld?

  “Tell him I’ll pay him whatever he asks.”

  Interesting. “My father doesn’t need your money,” Liam said. “He has more than enough.”

  “He must want something.”

  Liam smiled. “Oh, he does.”

  Two more men walked into the room, turning Belinsky’s attention. He flinched slightly before nodding. “Dorosh.”

  The other nodded back. “Belinsky.”

  Liam knew his window of opportunity was closing. As more guests arrived, his time was shortened. He leaned over to Belinsky. “If you have a care for your secrets, you will follow my lead without question.”

  Belinsky glared at Liam but then finally nodded.

  Liam straightened. “By the way, Sonya is coming here to kill everyone. I suggest blocking her from entering. But don’t kill her or you’ll have an FBI agent breathing down your neck.” Liam shrugged as if it didn’t matter either way. “Just a friendly warning.”

  “You have your father’s gift of spying,” Belinsky grumbled. “But —”

  “But?” Liam wasn’t sure why Belinsky stopped short.

  He smirked. “But Nikki wouldn’t have warned us.”

  “I might not have either. But I have a feeling we can mutually benefit.”

  Belinsky nodded and bellowed for his guard to secure Sonya upon her arrival.

  The rest of the party arrived in pairs. Within five minutes, the entire room was filled and the men took their seats, their bodyguards behind them, with the exception of Belinsky’s guard. He hadn’t returned yet. Belinsky was visibly nervous and kept looking behind him.

  Liam hoped the guard had been successful in securing Sonya, otherwise Liam’s cover was blown. Of course, if Walter showed up, his cover was blown too. What in God’s name had he been thinking? He should have stayed outside. Better yet, he should have stayed at the hospital with Morgan and let the killers and thieves deal with each other in their own twisted ways.

  One more man walked in flanked by a bodyguard and a younger man. Trace slid over to hide behind Liam.

  “What is it?” Liam whispered.

  “It’s Edik. He’ll spot me for sure.”

  Liam took a calming breath and averted his eyes. He would not make eye contact with Edik or he’d recognize him. While they hadn’t seen each other in a decade, Edik had always come to their house to hang with Trace. He was sure Edik had made special trips to their house when Sonya visited. Liam suspected the younger boy had a crush on her. Could that be why he’d taken up with the Russian mafia? As far as Liam remembered, he wouldn’t have any other ties linking him.

  Liam turned his head slightly to watch Edik from his peripheral vision. The younger man scanned the room. He was looking for Sonya.

  “Trace,” Liam whispered. “Go to Edik. Tell him that Belinsky’s guard was going to stop Sonya from coming.”

  “Are you insane? He’s the one who tossed me into her dungeon.”

  “He used to have a crush on Sonya when he was a kid, right?”

  “The poor sot was head over heels. Do you know he would follow her from school every day?”

  “He’s still following her.”

  “What?”

  Liam didn’t have time to explain his tangled plan that morphed each time the situation changed. But he was about to start a feud.

  “Tell Edik that Belinsky has Sonya.”

  “And who will rescue me from Edik?”

  Liam took a calming breath. “You’ll have more than Edik to worry about if you don’t go now.”

  “I’m so glad you forked over my funds. I get to use it for all of five minutes before I die!”

  “Go!”

  Trace huffed and skirted the room over to Edik. Liam caught Edik’s surprise and quick words before he hurried out the door. Trace glanced at Liam and shrugged.

  When Walter walked in moments later, Liam thought his cover was in jeopardy again. But Walter merely nodded at him and made his way to the table, with Dmitri following in his footsteps.

  The room went silent.

  Chapter 25

  “Where’s Sonya?” Walter asked.

  “Sonya won’t be coming, Nikolai,” Belinsky stated. “Your son filled us in on her treachery.”

  Walter glanced at Liam. It was the first time that Liam had felt his stare. The weight of it was oppressive, and he could see how many men would crumble beneath it. Liam wouldn’t. Walter had hired him for a reason, even conspiring to send him to Vegas. The older man had a plan, and Liam was going to figure out what it was.

  “You have a lot of nerve coming here,” Dorosh said to Walter. “You’ve had us looking over our shoulders for years.”

  Walter raised a brow and settled into an empty seat at the head of the t
able. Liam tried hard to reconcile the differences of the calculating man before him and the gentle, smiling man from the metal shop. It was impossible to. Even his posture was different.

  “What do you want from us?” another man asked. “You hide for years. You threaten us. You hold our secrets hostage. I’ve heard you even hold something over President Russak. And yet you do nothing.”

  “Nothing?” Walter asked and then nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, perhaps I did nothing. Until now.”

  A murmur of unease swept through the room.

  “If you take one of us down, you take us all down,” a man stated, banging his fist on the table. “Including yourself.”

  Walter merely smiled. “It’s been a long time coming.”

  “What do you mean?”

  A commotion outside turned everyone’s attention. Edik and Sonya marched in, flanked by guards.

  “Belinsky,” Sonya shrilled. “You will pay for your actions!”

  Belinsky flushed, his throat moving as he stammered, “It w-was h-his idea!” He jabbed a jeweled finger at Liam.

  Her eyes flashed, targeting Liam with a hint of surprise. “I knew I should have killed you!”

  “Think of what you are saying,” Belinsky warned. “If you kill Pavlovich’s son, you will pay dearly for it.”

  “Pavlovich’s son? Liam?” She asked, a crease on her brow. “This is Liam Hayes. Pavlovich’s only son is dead.” She smirked. “I made sure of that.”

  A roar cascaded through the men, while Walter stayed eerily quiet. He must have known it was Sonya behind the murder. The news didn’t shock him.

  Walter held up a hand, quieting the room. “It is time we end this now.”

  “I, for one, would be happy to see her go,” Belinsky said. “Ever since she took over there’s been nothing but bloodshed. She doesn’t follow the code!”

  “The code is for men,” Sonya stated. “It doesn’t apply to me.”

  “Because you are not vory v zakone!” Dorosh growled. “We kill her now!”

  Walter held up his hand again. “There is no need.”

  Sonya’s gaze snapped to Walter. “What have you done?”

  “What I should have done long ago.”

  “Stop speaking in riddles, old man!” Dorosh bellowed.

  “Enough of this!” Sonya shouted. “Edik, bring them in.”

  Edik casually lifted a finger. A guard wielding a gun marched Morgan and Greer into the room. Liam’s heart fell. They were supposed to be safe at the hospital. He shouldn’t have come. He should have stayed at the hospital with Morgan.

  “There are no weapons allowed in here,” a man stated. “This is a neutral zone.”

  “What is the meaning of this?” Belinsky stood, his fists banging on the table.

  Walter didn’t seem concerned that his granddaughters were here with a gun to their backs. Whatever Walter was planning, he had to act now.

  “I have no use for the vory v zakone,” Sonya said. “It’s an archaic system founded by boys who had nothing else to do while they rotted in prison.”

  “Watch yourself,” Dorosh warned.

  “It’s time for a new regime,” she continued, ignoring the rising tempers. “I will cut to the chase. You have two options. You can either die today, or swear your allegiance to me.”

  The room was silent for a moment before laughter burst from the men.

  “I thought that might be your response,” she said, undeterred. “So, a little demonstration is in order.” She signaled a guard with a flick of her hand.

  Liam saw what was about to happen but couldn’t move fast enough. The guard aimed his gun and shot Greer in the shoulder. She fell hard. Morgan gasped and knelt down by her, trying to stop the blood.

  Walter took a breath but was otherwise unaffected. Did he have no concern for his grandchild, or was he just that good of an actor?

  “I am not afraid of Nikolai Pavlovich,” she declared. “I will own his secrets, and then I will own all of you. If you do not join me, I will take you down one by one!”

  “Funny thing about secrets,” Walter said. “They only stay that way if they are not told. But you are too late, because I no longer keep them and you have no one to blame but yourselves. All of you.”

  “Me?” Belinsky croaked. “I haven’t done anything to you or your family!”

  “I left Russia for a new life in America, free from the vory v zakone. Free from your way of life. Free from death and hate.” Walter gripped the table, his knuckles turning white. “You followed me, harassed me, took my family from me! You forced me back into a life I despise! But not anymore. By involving my grandchildren, you have condemned yourselves.”

  A nervous energy raced through the room, even affecting Sonya’s earlier righteous disposition. She grabbed the gun from the guard’s hand and leveled it at Morgan’s head.

  “You have so much to learn about the ways of the vory v zakone,” Walter said, pulling a gun from his pocket. “We do not bow to threats.”

  Sonya was quick to re-aim the gun at Walter.

  “No!” Reed shouted from behind Sonya.

  Sonya smiled wickedly at Reed. “You just won’t learn your lesson.” She aimed the gun at Liam. “Maybe this will finally make you understand.” She fired, missing Liam by a small margin.

  “Stop this now!” Reed ordered, but she didn’t listen, her finger tight against the trigger. Thankfully for Liam, Reed was a quicker shot. His aim was true. When Sonya fell, Liam saw Reed. Saw his pain. The gun that shot Sonya shook in his hand. Reed stared at her lifeless body in horror, blood casting a dark shadow around her.

  A murmur set across the room, confirming Reed’s identity as Sonya’s ex FBI partner.

  “FBI!” Dorosh stood, a knife in his gripped hand. “What have you done, Nikolai?”

  Walter set down the gun on the table and stood. “I ended this. And if you’re smart, you’ll leave now. I’ve spread the word about this meeting to officials, including our Russian comrades. Your cells are waiting for you at the Black Dolphin.”

  “You sold us out!” Belinsky cried.

  “No, Belinsky. I didn’t take a dime for giving your information. I did it for free. You have about sixty seconds before the rest of the FBI arrives with extradition orders.”

  Chairs scraped across the ground as the leaders hurried to flee. Liam rushed across the room to Morgan and Greer. He was about to kneel down beside Morgan when a shot was fired outside.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, squeezing Morgan’s shoulder.

  Liam stood by the door and peeked out to find the area surrounded by agents in SWAT gear, aiming guns at the bratva who slowly kneeled down with their hands on their heads.

  “So much for not kneeling to authority,” Trace drawled from behind Liam. “By the way, the old man doesn’t look too good.”

  Liam glanced over to find Walter sagging at the table. Hurrying over, he found the cause. “He’s been stabbed. Help me get him to the floor before he falls.”

  Morgan murmured soothing words to Greer as she watched Liam and Trace gently lower Walter to the floor.

  “Walter, how do you feel?” Liam asked, wondering how serious the injury was.

  “Like I can finally rest,” he rasped. “Take care of my girls.”

  “Is he dying?” Trace asked, horrified. “Do we take out the knife?”

  “No, we leave it in until we can get help,” Liam said. “Go outside and see if you can flag down an agent. We have two injured.” As Trace ran to the door, Liam added, “Don’t get shot.”

  Trace shook his head. “After all the work I did to get my trust fund? Not likely.”

  Liam rolled his eyes. If nothing else in life, at least Trace was predictable.

  Reed had been standing in the same spot, staring at Sonya.

  “Reed, I’m sorry. She’s gone,” Liam said.

  Reed swore and wiped his eyes. “I thought I could save her. I thought she’d listen to me.” His body shuddered as he tried to kee
p control. “But I couldn’t let her kill again.”

  Liam stayed quiet. He knew nothing he could say would help Reed. In Reed’s eyes, Liam had failed Sonya and now she was dead. He’d make amends to Reed someday, but not now, not when the wound was still fresh.

  “Help should be here soon.” Trace looked at Reed from the doorway. “You had a thing for Sonya, huh? Well, don’t worry, mate. There’s always another fish in the sea, preferably one that won’t lock you into a dungeon.”

  “Trace,” Liam warned softly.

  He shrugged. “I’m just saying I didn’t appreciate the handcuffs. But if Reed likes it —”

  “Trace,” Liam admonished.

  “What? I didn’t know Reed liked them rough. Thought he had more of a sweet tooth. Like that Bethany in the office. Now she has just the right amount of sugar.”

  “Trace!” Liam shouted. “For the love of God, shut your mouth or I’ll glue it closed.”

  Trace raised a brow but decided it was in his best interest not to say another word.

  “Help Morgan tend to her sister,” Liam said, trying his best not to snap.

  “I’ll do it,” Reed said, wiping the last of the moisture from his eyes. He crossed over to Greer and sank down next to her.

  “I think she’s in shock,” Morgan said, her own hands shaking.

  “Greer is strong,” Reed said, placing his hands over Morgan’s. “We’ll get her through this.”

  “How do you . . .” Morgan studied Reed. “Do you know her?”

  He shook his head. “Never had the pleasure.”

  “Then —”

  “Morgan,” Liam interrupted. “Can you come here and help me with Walter?”

  When Reed nodded to Morgan that Greer would be safe in his hands, she hurried over.

  “Is he okay?” she asked, glancing down.

  “If I’m not mistaken, he’s happy.”

  A team of medics rushed through the door, taking over the two injured. Liam held Morgan tightly as they worked on her family.

  When the team was finally ready to move Greer and Walter, Liam escorted Morgan to the door. “We’ll take the truck and meet them at the hospital.”

  “I should go in the ambulance.”

  Reed stood. “I’ll go with Greer. She’ll be fine.”