Dirty Passions

by Wright, Kenya

  Not many women could get me to stir in my seat. This one had.

  Baba continued, “No good will come from that Devil either. You should get rid of both.”

  “I won’t. Anything else from your cards?”

  “There is more.” She turned over the next one. “The High Priestess.”

  I assessed this next one.

  A woman sat in front of a thin veil decorated with pomegranates, wearing a blue robe with a cross on her chest. A horned crown adorned her head. Two pillars stood behind her—one black and the other white. A crescent moon lay in her lap.

  “The Magician and the High Priestess are both in one reading. Lots of power. Lots of illusions.” Baba tapped her jeweled stick against my desk’s surface. “God is on your side, if you will let him do his work. If not, then you will die alone.”

  Baba circled the priestess with the gem. “She is the guardian of the subconscious mind and the teacher of sacred knowledge. She sits at the threshold of the conscious and subconscious mind.”

  “And is she someone around me?”

  “Maybe or maybe not, but the priestess shows up in your readings, when the veil between you and the underworld is thin.” Baba set the jeweled stick down. “Your answers to all solutions will come from within, from your deepest truth. All you have to do is follow your heart and look to your soul, and all solutions will come. The Devil will disappear. The illusions will be revealed. And the thing that you want most of all will be right there.”

  “Hmmm.”

  My phone rang.

  I pulled it out of my pocket. “Yes?”

  Pavel spoke, “Emily is heading to the Vnukovo airport.”

  I clenched my jaw. “Shut it down.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I hung up the phone and returned to Baba.

  The old woman studied me. Humor creased every wrinkle. “If you want her back, then get rid of the bombs.”

  “I stopped.”

  “They need to leave Paris.”

  “Is that what your visions and cards say or are you pleading as a fellow Parisian?”

  “All of the above.” Baba gave me a sad smile. “I told you days ago that your mouse brings you love. She gives you balance. Without her, you will only have death and madness. Do you want the fate of those before you?”

  I thought of Uncle Igor sitting on his throne with his dead wife lying underneath. My throat went dry.

  “Have you heard the expression that behind every great man is a great woman? It is true whether most men want to believe it or not.” Baba wagged her finger at me. “And the woman in question usually is a wife or a mother.”

  She smiled. “Maybe even a grandmother, but the observation is that no man gets to be great all alone and within a vacuum. Some woman, somewhere, had a hand in that man’s survival and success.”

  I tapped my fingers against the desk, not knowing what I should do with my hands.

  She gathered all of the cards together, grabbed her stick, and rose. “That’s it.”

  “That wasn’t much.”

  “You will be back.”

  “I doubt it. You can return to Paris, if you want.”

  “While you bomb the city? I think not.”

  “I’ll stop bombing.”

  “But will you remove the bombs?”

  I leaned forward. “Will she return, if I do?”

  “Of course.” Baba smirked. “You know a lot of things, lion, but women aren’t as complicated as the world says they are. It’s all lies in the end. Propaganda. We are not that difficult. She left because you bombed Paris. Stop and she will return. Get rid of the bombs, and she will be in your arms. It’s all quite simple.”

  Deep within my chest, my heart ached.

  Her smile left. “But you want revenge.”

  “I do.”

  “When you were alone, you stored your rage in the undercarriage of your heart. Now she’s deep within your heart, and there’s no room for anger anymore.” Baba walked away. “Call me, when you want the next reading.”

  “You were wrong before. . .about the baby.”

  “Baba is never wrong.” Chuckling to herself, she glanced over her shoulder. “You should give Emily a gift too. Women like gifts. Flowers are a good choice. But for a bombing. . .you should consider diamonds.”

  With that, she left my office.

  If she had been a man, I might’ve killed her just because she made me feel childish and stupid. Sighing, I waited for Pavel to call. My mouse could not get on any plane. She couldn’t leave the city.

  But she’s smart. She’ll think of something. She always finds a way.

  I scanned the emptiness of my office. With her absence, she’d made this place a desolate space.

  I should have begged her to stay.

  Minute by minute, I grew undone by her absence.

  Although it annoys me, Baba is right.

  Long ago, my heart had been stone. Callous and cold to the touch. And then for the first time I met my mouse’s gaze, and every part of me came alive. Her eyes served as galaxies to get lost in. Cosmos constantly crashing constantly into each other. Never burning away but glowing and getting stronger.

  Already, I miss her, and it hasn’t even been an hour. How could she leave me breathless like this, from so many miles away?

  Deep inside, I knew what I had to do. I wished there was a book that taught someone how to swallow their pride. Today would be another first for me.

  You’re always teaching me, Emily. I think I’ve learned my lesson, but are we truly done.

  Chapter 3

  Hide and Seek

  Emily

  I stood in line, waiting to get to Aeroflot’s counter. It was the largest airline of the Russian Federation. Kaz had told me long ago that the Russian Government owned 51% of the company.

  Max was at my side. “Did you notice all the airlines closing over there?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What do you think that’s about?” Max scanned the airport. All around us people yelled and screamed at airline clerks. I caught a few curse words here and there. And still more airlines put up closed signs with no warning.

  “Check your phone and see what’s going on around the airport.”

  “Yo.” Max pointed to the airline counter that we were waiting for. “They just put up a sign. Can you read it?”

  I squinted. “I’m barely able to understand it. I suck at reading Russian. I’ve got a few road signs, but not much else.”

  It didn’t matter. One of Aeroflot’s clerks strolled over to me, passing several people that stood in front of us. “Ms. Chambers?”

  How did she know my last name?

  I blinked. “Yes.”

  “Ms. Chambers, the airport is closed at this time.” She pursed her lips. “Due to this inconvenience, we believe the Omni hotel would be able to accommodate you.”

  “Thank you.” I flashed an annoyed smile and grabbed Max’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  He gave me an odd look. “The Omni hotel.”

  Kaz had worn a wicked smirk. “I like the Omni hotel. Just the right amount of luxury. Good security since the brotherhood owns it. Stay there for this evening. I’ll have Zahkar make the arrangements.”

  “You don’t tell me where I’m going.”

  “I do.”

  We headed away.

  I zipped up my jacket. “The Omni hotel was Kaz’s recommendation.”

  “So, he’s the reason why the airport is closed?”

  “I’m sure of it.”

  “If he can shut down an airport, then he can close bus terminals and ports.”

  “Probably.”

  “If he can block all ways out of Moscow, then where do we go?”

  I stopped near the exit of the airport. Through the double doors, I spotted Pavel waiting by his car. He held a white sign with my name written in English. He’d taken out his ponytail and let his hair flow in the breeze.

  Currently, I wanted to grab him by the hair and sh
ove him on the ground.

  Don’t be mad at Pavel. He didn’t do anything.

  Groaning, I looked back at Max. “I have no idea where we can go.”

  Boris hurried through the double doors. “The lion’s men are outside.”

  “I noticed.” I bit my lip. “Kaz shut the airport down like he said he would. Max and I think the bus terminals will be closed, if we go there too.”

  Shocked, Boris widened his eyes. “Probably.”

  “Kaz said I wouldn’t be able to leave by train, bus, or anything else. I don’t know where we can go without him blocking it.”

  “Kapotnya.” Boris leaned his head to the side. “That may be the only place. The brotherhood controls the district, but in the end. . .everyone would protect you.”

  “I don’t need protection from Kaz. I just want a place to hide until I can figure out the next step.”

  Boris motioned toward the doors. “Then, let’s go to the district.”

  “For this to work,” Max jumped in, “we’ll need to go in a way that they can’t follow or find us.”

  I checked Boris. “Any secret ways to get to Kapotnya?”

  Boris gave me a wicked smile. “You like tunnels. There’s an old sewer system that doesn’t work anymore. Some go down there to sleep when the winters are brutal. I’ve slept down there myself. I can get us there. It might be a bit stinky.”

  Max frowned. “Are there rats?”

  I grinned and walked off. “Of course there will be rats.”

  “Man. . .” Max moaned in annoyance. “I’ve been living the good life in Saint Petersburg. I return to Kazimir and you, and now I’m bombing cities and walking through sewers.”

  I winked at him. “Welcome back.”

  We left the airport, passing by Pavel and his stupid sign.

  I got in the back of my car. Boris drove. Max manned the passenger side.

  We hit the highway minutes later.

  Boris checked the rear view mirror. “Once I get rid of Pavel and his people, I’ll take you to the first opening to the tunnel. Luckily, it’s outside of the district.”

  “Yeah. Luckily.” Max pulled out a joint and lit it. “An old Russian sewer? It’s probably not just rats down there. I’m definitely going to need to be high for this.”

  Speeding up, Boris drove in and out of lanes, making some vehicles swerve.

  The silver gray Mercedes S600 cruised down the freeway, travelling south. I lounged against the soft leather. I could barely hear the 389 horsepower or 6-liter engine, but I could feel the power of the car. One hundred thousand pounds worth of German engineering.

  Boris increased the speed.

  The Mercedes leapt forwards. This was a beautiful machine that chuckled at high speed limits.

  I turned around and gazed out of the back window. “We’ve got some good distance between Pavel and his men.”

  “Good. I’ll try to lose them now.” He sped us up, jumped in front of a diesel truck, slid our car across two lanes, and then sped us off the exit.

  “Damn. I should’ve wore my seatbelt.” I checked the back glass. “They’re still on the highway.”

  Being chased was nothing like in the movies. The sexy actors commanded high end cars heroically, taking on crazy stunts to get away from the bad guy. Reality was far removed from the cinematic version. One simply had to drive fast, keep their eyes on the road, and do their best not to piss themselves.

  I checked the back again. “Hell yes. I don’t see them now.”

  Marijuana smoke clouded the vehicle’s space.

  I turned back around and put my seatbelt on. “Max, open your window please. Do you think it’s a good idea to hotbox the driver as he rushes us away?”

  “My bad.” He rolled down the window.

  I checked my phone.

  Kaz had not called.

  Worry hit me, but I pushed it aside.

  We’re over. He won’t stop the war.

  I did a search of Paris to see if Kaz had done more bombings. Footage showed the horrific destruction of the mall explosion. Firefighters had drenched the massive hole with water. Although many people stood around, the area was silent. It appeared the whole city was stunned and quiet. The country had gone into shock, like a limb briefly paralyzed after a massive bruising blow. The plaza was the epicenter for many and now it was gone. It was only a large black hole.

  Kaz had brought down horror on Paris.

  But so far, he hasn’t brought more bombs.

  I checked the number of injured and dead. Surprisingly, Kaz had been right. No one died in the explosion, but there were thirty that had been injured so far and in the hospital. Living is better than dead.

  My phone vibrated.

  I checked the screen.

  It read unknown.

  Is that Kaz? Who else could it be?

  I answered, “Hello?”

  A man’s voice filled the line. A French accent dotted his words. “You fought for my safety. Thank you.”

  I furrowed my brows. “Jean-Pierre?”

  “Are you happy that I didn’t die in the bomb?”

  I thought about what he said, when I first picked up. “Wait. You’re watching us?”

  “I am.”

  “He won’t be happy that you have cameras in our home.”

  “Is it your home still?”

  I tightened my grip on the phone. “I would focus on staying safe, instead of stalking me.”

  “Friends stalk friends, Emily. Clearly you’re not used to a strong friendship. I have people following you now. They say that the airlines wouldn’t allow you to buy a ticket.”

  I looked out the back window and still didn’t see Pavel or his men. “Coincidentally, they were closed.”

  “Of course they were. You could have told me about the bombs. I thought we were friends.”

  I stared out the window on my side, watching the other cars pass by. “I was pregnant, Jean-Pierre.”

  Silence hit the line.

  And then he broke the quiet. “Was?”

  “I miscarried this morning.”

  Jean-Pierre’s voice cracked. “Did I. . .did I do it? Emily, Jesus. . .did I—”

  “No. I don’t blame you.”

  “But the lion does?”

  “Yes.”

  All humor left Jean-Pierre’s tone. “That’s fine. I can understand why he would want to kill me.”

  “Good. Because there’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “But I watched the footage in his war room. You made a good point with him in your argument. France should not have to suffer. Now I understand more about the argument. In some place I was confused.”

  “Stop watching us. Get those goddamn cameras out of the house.”

  “I have an offer for you.”

  “What offer?”

  “A plane will arrive in five hours. My people will meet you at the airport. Many men. You will be safe.”

  I imagined the French coming to get me. And then I considered all the nukes and bombs exploding all around us. “I don’t need help, Jean-Pierre. In fact, that would make things worse.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve heard all paths outside of Moscow are locked down. Highways, small roads. He has them blocked with military or police. Apparently, no one has ever told the lion about the power of a simple card and flowers.”

  “Bye, Jean-Pierre.”

  “Mouse.”

  I stiffened. “What?”

  “I am very sorry for your loss. If you need me, I am here. I don’t know what you’re going to do or where you are going, but I am here for you.”

  “Thank you, Jean-Pierre, but you should focus on saving yourself.” I turned the phone off.

  Max veered my way and blew out smoke. “Please, tell me that wasn’t the French guy.”

  “It was.”

  “Motherfucker, just trying to die soon, huh?” Max puffed some more of the joint.

  “Yeah.”

  “You think Frenchie wants a taste of that
Emily love?” Max tried to hand me the joint.

  I waved his offer away. “No. Jean-Pierre is in love with Eden. I think he’s calculated and understands the power of us being friends equates to keeping the love of his life safe.”

  Boris checked me in the rear view mirror. “You said something about him having cameras in the house.”

  “Yes. Somehow he saw Kaz and I yelling in the war room. He said he has men on me now, following us.”

  Boris cursed in Russian.

  Max chuckled. “Don’t worry. Em always has creepy ass dudes after her. You’ll get used to it too.”

  I put my phone in my pocket, hoping Kaz didn’t hear that call. With me gone, I was sure he would have someone monitoring me now.

  “We need to get to that sewer.” Max blew out more smoke. “We’ve got the Russian’s following us. We’ve got the French watching you. Shit is getting crowded.”

  “What a crazy day?” I leaned back in my seat, trying to get as much rest as I could, before hitting the sewers. All I had wanted to do was lay in Kaz’s arms, and now I was running from him.

  And what the hell am I going to do about Jean-Pierre?

  Five minutes later, Boris entered a garage, went to the first level, and parked. “Here we are.”

  Max put out his joint. “Where’s the entrance?”

  Boris pointed to the corner of the garage. “The sewer cap over there. It’s rigged so anyone can lift it up.”

  “And rats can slip in too.” Maxwell scrunched his face in disgust. “How long is the tunnel into Kapotnya?”

  “Ten minute walk.”

  “That’s already too long.” Max opened the door and left the car.

  I exited too. “Are you going to complain the whole way?”

  “Yes. I am.”

  I grinned. It was good to have Max around. Due to the pregnancy loss, I felt more sadness than I ever thought possible. And with my leaving Kaz, I underwent a roller coaster of emotions—numbness and disbelief. Anger, guilt, and sadness.

  Boris headed over to the sewer cap and lifted it.

  Following him, Max bent over and looked down into the hole. “Man, it stinks in there and it’s dark.”

  “Don’t worry.” I patted his back. “You’ll fill it up with enough weed smoke to get rid of the smell and make all the rats go to sleep.”

  “I’ll go in first.” Boris turned on the flashlight app on his phone and lowered into the hole. “There’s a ladder. I can catch you, if you need me to, Emily.”