by Cher Etan
“You are anxious and impatient Eli. I think we’ll need more than a day,” Roman said.
“We have only three days Roman, and then she starts picking us off,” Elijah said coldly.
“We’re narrowing it down. We’ll catch her,” Roman said.
“Mmmph. You do that,” Elijah replied and hung up.
*****
Tony was up early; he’d managed to get some rest but probably not as much as he needed. He couldn’t sleep though; not with this sword of Damocles hanging over all of their heads. He needed to do something. He got dressed and kissed his sleeping wife and child and then left the house trailed by his security detail. As he arrived at the office his security went in to ensure the path to his office was secure before they let him in. He went straight to his office and dialed the number which Natasha had used. The operator’s voice informed him that the number was out of service. He sighed in frustration and sat back thinking all he could do was wait for her to get in touch. He was willing to – temporarily – accede to Natasha’s demand for 30% of the business if it meant no-one else got hurt but her other request for them to be lovers was impossible. Tony speculated about whether he could have her killed but she was just one head of a very dangerous hydra. He needed to get the entire monster off his back if he and his family were to live in peace. A knock on the door distracted him.
“Come in,” he called and looked up to see who it was. His father walked in the room, looking like he’d been up all night.
“Any luck?” Tony asked.
“Luck? No. but I have some news,” Roman said.
“Tell me.”
“Well Natasha’s real name is Natalia Kalashnikov and she’s really Konstantin’s daughter and also a cold blooded killer. She has a following but it’s not large – she probably needs this deal to help consolidate her faction; maybe give her the necessary push to take her to the top. This gives us a starting point. We know that she’s not as strong as she’d like us to believe.”
“She does have a crack sniper unit though,” Tony commented.
“Yes, her colleagues are professional but they’re guns for hire – not necessarily loyal to her. They can be turned.”
“But we don’t know who they are,” Tony protested.
“Indeed we don’t. But we will. Give me till the end of today. I will have names for you; I give you my word.”
“I believe you Papa. So you think we should offer them money to back off?”
“I think we need to find out who they are before we can know what we need to offer them.”
“Kind of on a tight schedule here,” Tony said.
“I know,” Roman said and sighed deeply. He stood up and headed to the door. “Well, I better get back to it then,” he said and left.
Sophie called him a few minutes later to find out where he’d gone off to.
“I couldn’t sleep babe. I just had to be doing something,” Tony told her.
“So where are you?” she asked.
“At work,” Tony said.
“Okay then, I won’t be in today unless you need me. I’ll be working from the library here and Curtis can bring me what I need.” Sophie said.
“Yeah that sounds…good. I’d feel better if you’re at home with Benjy surrounded by guards.”
“Yeah, I don’t really feel like letting Benjy out of my sight right now.”
“Do not blame you one bit. If I didn’t think that she might get in touch if I’m here rather than there, I’d be there.”
“Don’t put yourself in harm’s way Tony. Nothing is worth that.”
“I won’t,” Tony said and hung up. He sat behind his desk but he couldn’t really settle to anything. He took a few phone calls that he couldn’t avoid and then spent the time pacing, taking periodic reports from his security detail and his father. At lunch time he went to the hospital to see how his aunt was doing. Uncle Mikhail was still with her – he’d yet to go home and Tony offered to sit with her while he went to shower and change. He was reluctant at first but Tony convinced him he’d be no good to Cara if he had to be thrown out of the hospital for lack of proper hygiene.
Mikhail conceded the point but only agreed to go if Tony was absolutely certain he would not have to leave while Mikhail was away. Even though there was a security detail attached to Cara he did not feel comfortable leaving her alone without family. Tony promised to stay until Mikhail came back and he would have done so even without Mikhail’s insistence. He knew only too well the fear that ruled all of their nightmares.
Mikhail took longer than expected to get back and Tony was surprised. Considering how reluctant he’d been to leave it was a wonder that he was taking his time like this. When he did finally make it back it was 3pm and his color was heightened with some sort of emotion.
“What?” Tony asked him.
“Natalia knows we put a bounty on her,” Mikhail said.
“How?” Tony said dread squeezing his heart.
“You put out a general APB like that someone’s likely to talk to the wrong person. Now that she knows, we have to be ready.”
“Possible scenarios?”
“She tries to shoot someone else? Comes to the hospital to finish Cara off?” Mikhail said. His breathing was irregular.
“So we triple the guard here and institute lockdown at home; at least until we get this chick.”
“You’re pretty sure you’ll get her?”
“Three million dollars and her people are not necessarily loyal to her. We’ll find her,” Tony said.
Mikhail nodded and then sat in the chair staring at his wife. “She’s going to be fine,” Tony told him.
“I know. She has to be,” Mikhail agreed.
Just then Cara’s heart monitor flat lined and something was beeping out an urgent call. The room was suddenly filled with doctors and nurses rushing about and giving urgent instructions. Someone came to lead Mikhail and Tony away and drew a curtain around Cara’s bed. Mikhail was so pale he looked bloodless but showed no other sign of distress. Tony put an arm on his shoulder and held on, trying to imbue him with some strength; give him a little comfort. It was the longest fifteen minutes of their lives before a doctor came to say that they’d gotten her stabilized again. As he said so, Mikhail collapsed in upon himself in relief; luckily he fell onto a chair and Tony followed him, bending down to rub his back and reassure him that Cara was alright and she would get better.
“She’s a strong woman. She’ll get through this,” he said.
“I know. I know,” Mikhail whispered still rocking himself in the chair, eyes closed. Tony didn’t want to leave him alone and so he didn’t leave until Roman came by. Then he went home to be with his own family.
*****
Tony was pacing his office the next day when Natasha or Natalia or whatever her name was, walked in. He stopped in shock glancing at the phone and wondering if he should try to get security but he knew that by the time he picked up the phone she’d have disappeared or he’d have a hole in his chest.
“Well?” he demanded instead.
“Well, I see you’re not less hostile yet. In fact, I hear you put a price on my head. How very rude of you.”
“Yes, what was I thinking trying to defend my family against a psychopath like you?”
“Psychopath? I prefer morally challenged myself.”
“Whatever. You didn’t expect us to just lie down and take it did you?”
“Well, I hoped…but no. I didn’t expect that. That’s why I made this little contingency plan. Thirty million cash, by the end of today or your child is dead.”
Tony stared at her unable to believe what he was hearing. “And where am I supposed to get thirty million by the end of the day?” he asked.
“How is that my problem again?” she said. “Get it, or prepare to bury your child.”
She walked to the door and opened it even as Tony dived for the phone and hit the button to summon security. When he turned back to look at her, the doorway was empt
y. Not for long though, as security came swarming at his call. The entire building was checked, top to bottom but Natasha or Natalia was not found. The police were summoned and Tony reported that he’d been extorted for thirty million by the end of the day. Roman was pacing behind his desk even as he spoke to the policeman. His color was high and he looked agitated but he didn’t say much.
“How did she get in?” Roman asked as soon as the police left.
“That’s the million dollar question,” Tony replied.
Chapter 7
“I have to have that thirty million ready,” Tony told his father as they tried to strategize to find a way out of this mess.
“I know. Can you get your hands on that kind of cash?”
“I have stock I can cash in; we have to be ready,” Tony said.
“You do that, I’ll tap the grapevine, see what jumps out,” Roman said.
“You know according to 24 when there’s a credible threat to the president they put him on Airforce One and fly him around until the threat is passed,” Sophie said.
“So what are you saying? We should get on Airforce One?” Solomon asked in disbelief.
“I mean that this Natasha chick can’t find Benjy if he’s up in the air,” Sophie said. Roman was studying her intently.
“That is actually a good idea. A controlled environment might work,” Roman said.
“Except if she already has something planted like on a timing mechanism which can be used to eliminate the threat without her actual presence,” Solomon pointed out.
Everyone in the room glared at him. “Way to bring the mood down Star”, Sophie said.
Solomon shrugged, “Just covering all the points.”
“Or she could have penetrated security,” Elijah said from his place in the corner.
“We would need decoys,” Solomon pointed out.
“This isn’t a video game you know that Solomon don’t you?” Tony said glaring slightly.
“I know. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use the knowledge that it gives us,” Solomon shrugged.
“Who can we trust implicitly?” Elijah asked.
“The people in this room?” Roman queried looking around at Sophie, Tony, Elijah, Solomon and Mikhail.
“I think the people in this room are all invested in keeping Benjy alive yes,” Tony agreed. “So apart from planes, what other controlled environments are there?” He continued.
“Bomb shelters? Underground bunkers?” Solomon said. In spite of the circumstances he really seemed to be enjoying himself.
“I get the feeling you’re not taking this as seriously as you might,” Sophie said leaning forward.
“I am. I’m just trying to use what I know to trigger some solutions here,” Solomon replied.
Mikhail looked up finally. He wasn’t much of a talker and with Cara in the hospital he was saying even less. “I insert people in the system all the time. Make them go from being nobody to somebody. It shouldn’t be too hard to do it the other way too,” Mikhail said “The channels already exist.”
“How much time would you need to do that?” Tony asked.
Mikhail shrugged, “Like I said, the channels already exist.”
“Who should disappear down that rabbit hole then?” Solomon asked.
“It’s a temporary rabbit hole just until permanent solutions are found so I’m thinking all of you,” Tony said. Sophie opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again. Tony was watching her the whole time and his eyes softened with understanding. They stared at each other communing without words and then Sophie looked away. Mikhail stood up.
“I need to make arrangements,” he said and left the room. There was a general silence for a time and then Roman took a deep breath.
“So meanwhile how do we get Natasha out of the picture permanently?”
*****
Curtis drew up to the house; he knew that Sophie wasn’t home but he was hoping to see Robbie. He hadn’t been able to get in touch with him recently because of the heightened security protocol in place around the Romanov home. He wasn’t answering texts either.
The guards at the gate did a thorough check of him and his car even though no-one was home. He had no idea where Sophie and her family were holed up; she was another one who wasn’t answering her phone. He knew that she was kind of in hiding while this crazy woman was on their trail but he was worried and he needed to do something.
He drove up to the house and paused to see if anyone would come out to search him again; hopefully Robbie. But nothing happened. He walked up to the door and rang the bell. To his surprise, Robbie answered.
“Curtis,” he said in surprise.
“Robbie! Thank God, I was worried about you,” Curtis said, the words pouring out of him without his full permission. Robbie smiled and then looked behind and around him.
“You know that the Romanovs aren’t here right?” he said to Curtis.
“I know. There’s some stuff I need to collect for the baby and Sophie,” he said. “Take it to their location.”
“Is that wise? Someone could follow you to them,” Robbie said.
Curtis shrugged. “I’ll be careful,” he said. Robbie studied him skeptically but widened the door to let him in.
“So what do you need?” he asked leading the way up the stairs.
“Just some personal stuff. I have a list on me,” Curtis said studying Robbie. “How have you been doing?”
Robbie shrugged, “I almost got two of my charges killed; and we haven’t managed to locate the shooter. How do you think I’ve been?”
“Do you wanna talk about it?” Curtis asked softly.
“Not really. I don’t do well with talking. I’d rather find some answers,” Robbie said.
Curtis nodded his head in agreement. “I get that. You feel like you failed and you just wanna make it better.”
Robbie nodded his agreement, lips pursing. “But I can’t. Not really,” he said.
“Maybe you can’t make it better but you can make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“Yeah, that’s what we’re trying to do here,” he said.
Curtis stepped into Sophie’s room collecting bits and pieces and putting them in a bag. Robbie watched silently as he gathered their belongings. Curtis was thinking how tall and handsome he looked, and desolate and alone. He just wanted to reach out and gather Robbie into his arms and just hold him. He wondered if Robbie would sock him in the jaw if he did that. Once he was finished he turned to Robbie and nodded to indicate that he was done. Robbie moved aside to let Curtis pass but the latter paused as he came up to Robbie and then he threw caution to the wind. He stepped up to Robbie grabbed his head and mashed their lips together. His tongue snaked out and rubbed against Robbie’s lips in invitation. An invitation Robbie was all too happy to take. He leaned in to Curtis’ space, wrapping his hands around Curtis’ neck and kissing him back. Curtis made a happy noise and really went to town on Robbie’s lips, hands wandering all over Robbie as if he could not get enough. It was he who broke the kiss eventually though, stepping backwards drunkenly and breathing hard.
“Wow,” he breathed.
Robbie smiled his agreement but seemed too out of breath to speak.
“So er, I’ll see you?” Curtis asked him. Robbie nodded his agreement, smile widening.
*****
As Curtis was setting himself up to be trailed by whoever Natasha had watching the house, six black SUVs with tinted windows were converging on a certain garage owned by the Romanov Group where Solomon, Sophie, Elijah, Benjamin, Katarina and Sam were waiting. Sophie, Benjamin and Elijah got in one SUV while Solomon, Katarina and Sam got in the other. Moving vehicles had been determined to be the best way to keep Natalia off track. The other four SUVs were to act as decoys. The window was not only blacked out but bullet proof as well as was the reinforced bodies of the cars. There were two armed guards to every car. The route was not pre-planned; they would drive around the city at random until they got word tha
t it was safe to stop.
“How long do you think before we can go home?” Sophie asked Elijah. He shrugged and grimaced.
“If all goes according to plan…who knows?” he said.
“Do you think this is how people feel when they go into witness protection?” she asked.
Elijah laughed, “I don’t think witness protection can afford these cars.”
“Or the armada that goes with it,” Sophie agreed.
Elijah nodded.
“Is it bad that I find it all comforting?”
“No. Everyone would like to have the maximum protection that they can for their families.”
*****
There was one person who could not be moved around in a vehicle for the day so her security detail was tripled. Cara was still unresponsive and Mikhail was at her side, knife concealed beneath his jacket, ready to defend her with his life. He couldn’t use his phone in the ICU but they were radio silent anyway. Who knew how Natalia was tracking them.
Roman walked into the room placing his hand briefly on Mikhail’s shoulder.
“Everything is in place,” he murmured softly. Mikhail nodded but didn’t say anything.
“I have to go meet Crowley now. If I don’t see you again…” Roman trailed off and Mikhail looked up at him. They regarded each other for a moment and then Roman removed his hand from Mikhail’s shoulder nodded and turned away. He walked out of the room without a backward glance. Mikhail watched him go and then turned his attention back to his wife.
*****
Tony sat in his office staring out of the window and wondering if he would miss the view at all. The April Shower was his favorite restaurant; it was the place where he and his wife had their first date. It was his first truly successful venture. Still, he was ready to let it go if that’s what it took to make sure his family was safe…for good.
She walked into the office not long after these musings. Tony knew it was her because of the clickety click of her heels. Tony suddenly realized that the women in his life were inclined toward sensible shoes almost to a man…or woman. Whatever. He turned around in his chair to face her.
“Natalia. How nice to see you.” He said his voice heavy with irony.