From Russia With Claws

by Jacey Conrad

  “Already called him,” Konstantin said. Andrey went over and pried at the forearm Konstantin held against his side. “He’s heading over to your father’s place.”

  “What’s this?” he asked his bodyguard.

  “One of Alexei’s guys jumped me when I was leaving the club. I took care of him, but he got a lucky hit.”

  “Drink this,” Mama Yaga said, pressing a tall glass of something brown and foul smelling into Galina’s hand. The old woman helped her to sit up. “All of it,” she warned, having noticed Galina’s less than excited look. “Once you have, I’ll put poultices on your wounds to draw out the rest of the poison.”

  Galina lifted the glass to her lips, grimacing when she got a nose full of the nasty smell. “All of it?”

  Mama Yaga looked down at her, a slight frown on her lips. Galina smiled at her weakly, and then sighed, answering her own question. “All of it.”

  Galina took a huge swallow and gagged, nearly spitting it back into the glass. One look from Mama Yaga convinced her it would be less painful to drink the horrible tasting stuff than to defy the old witch. She chugged it down, tears streaming down her face. When the glass was empty, Galina sagged back against the headboard of Andrey’s bed.

  “That young idiot over there,” Mama Yaga said, indicating Konstantin with a nod of her head, “has a slash along his ribs that he needs help cleaning.” She waved for Andrey to attend to him. “I will take care of your mate.” When Andrey looked like he was going to protest, she raised one grey eyebrow. “What on earth made you think that was a request?”

  Galina nodded. Andrey needed to see to Konstantin, as much as she might wish him to stay close to her. And she suspected that Mama Yaga had a reason for sending him away. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him, although she wasn’t entirely sure she would be. “Go.”

  When he had helped Konstantin into the bathroom, Galina stared at Mama Yaga. The old woman was spreading a white paste onto clean cloths. When she turned to begin unwinding the dressings from Galina’s wounds, Galina asked her, “Why did you really send Andrey away?”

  Mama Yaga smiled a smile without mirth. “Not much gets past you now, does it?”

  “Why?” She gritted her teeth as Mama Yaga began to drape the cold cloths over the deepest of her knife wounds.

  “I have a question for you, and you are the only one who can answer it.” She paused to situate another cloth. “I can give you something for the pain, but it will put you out for at least twenty-four hours, if not longer. And I won’t be able to give you a restorative for full health until it wears off.” She wiped her hands on a clean towel tucked into her belt. “But if you choose not to take the pain medicines, you will feel everything. There will be no unconsciousness for you.”

  Mama Yaga looked down at Galina, who could do nothing more than lie still and pray for this to end. “Which is it, girl? You must decide soon.”

  Galina thought of Nik and Rina, of Konstantin and Andrey, and everyone else who was in danger while Alexei still held power. She was the only one who could challenge him, but first she had to heal and be at full strength. Nik didn’t have time for her to swan around in bed and recuperate, not if what Konstantin said was true. And Konstantin wasn’t one to lie about things when it came to Nik.

  “No drugs,” she said firmly. “Not even if I beg.”

  Mama Yaga’s lips lifted in an unwholesome smile. “I imagine you don’t beg anyone for much of anything.” She placed more poultices over her stitches.

  Galina squirmed uncomfortably against the bed, trying to hold still, but unable to manage it completely as burning heat began to race through her. “I’m getting hot,” she whispered, suddenly very, very afraid.

  Mama Yaga put her face near hers. “The medicine you drank will burn the poison from your blood. The poultices I’m wrapping over the wounds will pull out the rest. It won’t take long—my potions work quickly.”

  “How will I tell when it’s over?” Galina asked, already feeling like her nerve endings had been dipped in acid.

  “The pain will stop.”

  “That could mean I’m dead too, you know.”

  Again that unpleasant smile. “Oh, I know.”

  That did not make Galina feel even a little bit better.

  Galina opened eyes that were still tacky with dried blood. Once the pain had finally begun to subside, Galina suspected she had slipped into an exhausted sleep. Her throat felt raw and painful, but she knew that was to be expected after all of the screaming she’d done. Mama Yaga had not been exaggerating about how painful her cure was. There were a couple of times where Galina had thought about dying and that perhaps it would have been easier. But she wasn’t ready to give up, not on herself and not on Andrey. So she’d screamed her head off and hung on with teeth and claws while the silver’s poison was purged from her system.

  She looked down at her body on the bed, expecting to see it covered in red. She remembered blood leaking from her nose and eyes and ears, as well as her mouth. Black ichor had flowed out of her stitched wounds, staining the poultices Mama Yaga had wrapped her in. But instead, she was swaddled in soft white sheets. Andrey’s dark head rested on the mattress next to her hip. The skin beneath his eyes looked bruised from lack of sleep and worry. His even breaths stirred the fringe of the blanket where his cheek rested.

  Galina smiled fondly. This was the man she was going to marry, the man she wanted to marry. She wanted to bicker with him about his inability to pick up his shoes, grow old with him, have wild, mind-blowing sex with him. She wanted to love him the rest of her days. Resting her hand lightly on his head, Galina slid her fingers into his soft black hair. It felt smooth and lush beneath her fingertips. She could have stroked his hair for hours.

  Andrey stirred, eyes opening. He blinked slowly, taking his time coming to full awareness. He kept his head still beneath her hand, so Galina continued to run her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. “Good morning,” she murmured, giving him a smile.

  “I think it’s closer to midnight,” Andrey replied, closing his eyes and sighing as she palmed the back of his head. “I’m glad to see you awake again.”

  His voice was light, but Galina knew he’d been worried for her. He hadn’t left her side the entire time she’d been fighting to rid herself of the toxic silver. He’d held her hand and whispered words of courage and support in her ear. She couldn’t remember exactly what he’d said, but she’d understood the feeling behind it. He’d encouraged her to fight.

  He lifted his head, pulling away from her hand. “How do you feel?”

  Galina cocked her head, taking stock. She felt…good. Great, actually. There was no pain anymore. She peeled up one of the poultices and saw nothing but mostly healed scars. She was tired and achy, but the silver that was poisoning her system seemed to be completely gone.

  “Okay. Better than okay, really.” She rubbed a hand to her hair. It crackled. “Although a shower would probably go a long way to making me look vaguely human again.”

  Andrey leaned forward and kissed her hard, his hands resting against her jaw line. Without words, he spoke of his devotion to her, and without words she answered him. Galina melted into him, wishing they had all day to revel in each other.

  He broke away after a few moments. “I should get Mama Yaga.”

  “Wait,” Galina said, clutching at Andrey’s hand to stop him from leaving. “How’s Konstantin?”

  Andrey gave her an exhausted smile. “He’s good. Mama Yaga patched him up.”

  “Any word from Nik and Irina?” she asked.

  Andrey didn’t answer her. He kissed her palm before leaving to get the healer.

  Galina felt clear headed for the first time in what seemed like days. How long since she’d been attacked? Alexei wasn’t waiting for her to recover. He’d be trying to make alliances and secure his position. And why had Irina suddenly decide to leave the safe house to, of all things, confront their grossly twisted brother?

  S
he looked over to the side table where Mama Yaga had set up her things. A stuffed chicken stared back at her. Galina rolled her eyes. Above her bed, hanging from the light of the ceiling fan was a collection of dried chicken feet.

  Sometimes the woman took the chicken thing a little too far.

  Andrey returned with Mama Yaga. Konstantin and a battered looking Viktor brought up the rear. Kon gave her a smile when he saw her awake. Andrey took his usual place next to her on the bed and brushed hair back from her face. “Сладкая,” he murmured.

  “Touching,” Mama Yaga interrupted. “Now get out of the way so I can check on her.”

  Andrey moved out of the way reluctantly so Mama Yaga could do a cursory examination. She looked at Galina’s eyes, checked her tongue, asked her to lift her arms. Galina did as she was bid, wondering exactly how this was supposed to determine anything, but kept quiet. You didn’t backtalk Mama Yaga unless you’d suddenly developed a really strong need for corn.

  She peeled away each of the poultices, making approving clucking noises as she did so. “Worked better than even I expected,” she said as she removed the last one. “Well done, girlchick.”

  “You mentioned a restorative,” Galina reminded her. She needed to get up and out of bed so she could find Irina and Nikolai.

  “I’m surprised you remembered. But yes, I can mix one for you.” She lightly patted Galina’s head.

  “Do so, please.” When Mama Yaga left, Galina swung her legs out of bed, to a chorus of protests from everyone else in the room.

  “Get back in bed!” Andrey ordered.

  She looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow. “Really, with Konstantin and Viktor watching? I didn’t know you liked an audience.” Galina grinned at him wickedly.

  “Galya,” he growled, not the slightest bit embarrassed at her words. “You need to rest.”

  “I need to find out what’s going on with Alexei. I didn’t just go through five kinds of hell so I could swan about like an eighteenth-century consumptive while the rest of you go charging in like the cavalry.” Galina looked at the concerned faces of those around her. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll stay in bed until Mama Yaga comes back with her potion, if you’ll fill me in on what’s going on. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Kon agreed before Andrey could protest again.

  Andrey took the chair he’d been sitting in the entire night on her other side. Galina sat back against the pillows. She looked over at Viktor. “Why aren’t you watching out for Irina?”

  Viktor bristled at her tone, but Galina didn’t really care if she’d hurt his feelings or his pride. He was supposed to love her sister; more importantly, he was supposed to protect her. What the hell was he doing here?

  “Nik sent me away.” His eyes blazed blue, anger making them almost shimmer. “I couldn’t get her away from Alexei at the restaurant—he had too many guards. I even tried to get through to her in wolf form at your father’s house, but no dice.”

  “Nik said he had it in hand,” Kon interrupted. “You know he won’t let anything happen to Irina.”

  Galina crossed her arms, but there was nothing she could do until Mama Yaga came back with her restorative. It made her teeth itch. “What else have I missed?” she snapped.

  Konstantin began. “Alexei blowing up a couple of Andrey’s warehouses for shits and grins.” Andrey threw his friend and bodyguard a dark look. “What? She asked. And that’s where he started.”

  Galina swiveled her gaze to Andrey. “How bad?”

  “No one was badly hurt,” he said, a storm brewing in his blue eyes. “I lost some smuggled product, but he didn’t get what he was after.”

  Galina knew he meant Bullet. “What else?”

  Viktor piped up again. “He’s trying to turn the families against Andrey. And with him here, watching over you, there hasn’t been anyone to counter him. I don’t think many people are buying it though.”

  “I’m not worried about that,” Andrey said. “I have enough people that Alexei doesn’t know about who are backing me. He’s only digging himself a deeper hole.”

  “What the hell was Irina thinking, leaving the safe house?” Galina looked back at Konstantin. “Did she give you any indication she was thinking of running?”

  Kon shook his head. “None. We ran, practiced shooting, talked—you know, the usual. I don’t know what lit a fire under her ass.” At Viktor’s low growl, Konstantin said, “Calm down, Vik. It wasn’t an insult.”

  “Did Nik tell you what she was looking for that got Alexei so angry?” Galina asked.

  And that’s when Galina remembered her last phone conversation with Irina, lamenting the fact that she hadn’t been able to find any dirt on Alexei. She’d griped because she hadn’t been able to get close enough to him to find anything. And if there was one thing Irina was capable of, it would be getting past Alexei’s defenses.

  “Oh, crap.” She shook her head. “I know what she’s doing. She’s looking for some proof that Alexei arranged to have Papa killed.”

  Viktor looked ready to pounce on someone and use them as a chew toy. “We need to get over there!”

  “And we will.” Galina had had enough handwringing. If things with Alexei were going to escalate further, she wanted it to be on her terms. “Andrey, call the heads of the family and tell them I’m calling a meeting at Papa’s place. Moonrise. They should all meet at the Circle.”

  She looked at Konstantin. “Let Nik know what’s coming. He’s going to need to let everyone through.” Next up was Viktor. “I’m going to need a list of every bodyguard, streetman, and underling likely to remain loyal to Alexei. I need a purge list. Get on it.”

  Mama Yaga took that moment to enter the room. Galina was grateful for the break. There was no doubt that the car bomb had been deliberate, but she’d been hoping to be wrong about who’d ordered it. It was one thing to think your brother was a psychotic douchebag, but to have it proven true was quite another.

  Pressing another tall glass of questionable liquid into her palm, Mama Yaga ignored the charged silence in the room. “Drink it all. But understand that if you’re hit with silver so soon after your recovery, no amount of elixir will help you.”

  Galina nodded. “Does it taste as bad as the last one?” she asked the older woman.

  Mama Yaga grinned. “Worse. But the results are worth it.” She tilted the glass up to Galina’s lips. “Especially if you plan to challenge your brother.”

  Everyone stared at the wise woman. She scoffed. “Oh, like I don’t know what’s going on with every family. I do more than think about chickens, children.”

  “Na zdorov’ye!” Galina tipped back the glass and finished every drop and then clutched at her throat, coughing. “Do you make anything that doesn’t taste like crap?” she asked Mama Yaga.

  24

  Sibling Rivalry

  GALINA SAT IN THE MAYBACH beside Andrey, bouncing her foot nervously. Konstantin rode in the car behind them, along with several of Andrey’s best men. Another car full of them and Viktor brought up the rear.

  Andrey’s hand on her knee stilled her foot. She looked over at him with a grin. “Remember the last time we were in backseat of a car?” she asked.

  A laugh rumbled deep in his chest. “I do.” He pulled her closer. “One of the best nights of my life.”

  “And mine.” Her hands slid up his chest. “Want to go again?” she asked, leaning forward to whisper in his ear.

  “You were suffering from silver poisoning less than twenty-four hours ago.” He kissed a line of heat down her neck.

  “And I feel fine now.” Galina hiked her skirt up and pulled herself onto his lap. “Better than fine, actually.” She rocked against him until she felt him grow hard against her.

  “What is it with you and cars?” Andrey asked, laughter making his eyes dance. His fingers climbed up her thighs until his hands grabbed her hips. He moved aside her panties.

  “It’s not cars,” she told him, before she lowered her mouth to hi
s. “It’s close proximity to you that does it.”

  When she let him up for air, he said, “I’m flattered.”

  She caught a gasp between her teeth as his finger slipped inside of her. She rocked against his hand, bracing her own against his shoulders. Galina leaned against him, dropping her head down as he slid a second digit inside of her. She hummed as she moved against him, feeling the sweet rush of heat climb up through her stomach and across her chest.

  “You feel amazing,” Andrey murmured, sucking her earlobe into his mouth. “I’ve missed you.”

  Galina sighed, wishing they dared do more. She wanted him inside of her, wanted to feel his naked body rubbing and pressing against her own. Andrey added a third finger inside of her. She arched against his hand, grinding her clit into his palm, needing the roughness. He knew what she needed and thumbed the greedy nub of flesh, making her cry out in pleasure.

  Her toes curled inside of her heels as she felt her orgasm build. Heat flushed her chest and cheeks as Andrey’s clever fingers and thumb brought her closer and closer to the edge. His mouth covered hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth in time with his fingers. He swallowed her gasps as she stiffened in his arms, her climax rolling through her like a tidal wave.

  “Better now?” he asked, removing his fingers and licking her juices from them.

  She slid off of him, laying her head against him. “Mmmm hmmm. That certainly took the edge off.”

  He pulled her tight against him. “Let me fight him.”

  Galina reared up to meet his gaze. “I can’t.” She put a hand to his cheek. “And you know why. It has to be me. This is Sudenko business more than anything else. Now that Alexei’s gone off the rails, there’s nobody but me. Nik doesn’t want to run the business.”

  “You’ll have to challenge your brother. And win.” Andrey’s eyes were a dark with concern for her.

  “Do you doubt I can do that?” Galina tensed, waiting for his answer.