by SC Daiko
A shot rings out and the watermelon is pulverized.
Trembling, Eva hands the Glock over to me. "I did it, but I didn't like it," she shudders and removes the earplugs.
"Good girl. I'm proud of you." I smile briefly and holster the piece. "Come with me and I'll show you where the firearms are kept. I'll also give you a key to the cupboard."
I take her hand and lead her upstairs to my office. After pointing out the appropriate cabinet, I hand her the key I retrieve from the middle drawer in my desk. "This is a worst-case scenario, Elousha. I will guard you and Kir with my life."
Without warning, she lets out a sob. Tears stream down her face, and she gulps them down. "Sometimes I wish I'd never met you." She hiccups. "But then I wouldn't have Kir." Another sob. "Now I'm worried I'm gonna have another melt-down. I don't know if I'm strong enough to handle all this."
I rock her against me, kissing the top of her head and breathing in the green apple scent of her beautiful hair. "You're the strongest woman I've met." I walk us backwards to my executive chair, sit and gently pull her into my lap. "I love the way you stand up to me, Elousha. Never had a girl do that before." I kiss the tears from her cheeks, lift her chin and kiss her sweet lips.
She breaths out a soft sigh before opening her mouth so that I can deepen the kiss.
I love her.
I love everything about her.
My chest aches and the lump in my throat threatens to choke me.
Eighteen
Eva
As a surprise, Gleb booked Catrin and me a spa day while he, Brash and Daniel have gone fly fishing for trout in Gore Creek. We've left Kir at home with Mama, Olga and Dmitry; Yuri has gone with the men, of course. Security at this luxury Beaver Creek hotel is first-rate, apparently. I’m enjoying not being watched over by a bodyguard for the first time in what seems like ages.
Daniel's wife pushes her blonde bangs off her forehead as she relaxes into the foaming waters of the jacuzzi. "This is bliss."
"Sure is." I close my eyes and let the swirling water ease the stiffness in my body.
I'm still affected by what went down yesterday. Silly of me, really. I mean, Gleb is a beast; he needs to be bestial to survive in the world of organized crime. Teaching me to fire a gun was totally in character.
I shouldn't have let it freak me out so badly.
I catch Catrin staring at me. "Penny for your thoughts?"
I give her a confused look and she flashes me a warm smile. "It's what we say when we want to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another person, especially when they appear pensive." Catrin's tone is soothing. "Your English is so good I forgot it isn't your first language."
I angle myself away from her. How much does she know about Gleb, and how much should I reveal?
Catrin shakes her head. "I didn't mean to pry."
I struggle to find the right words. "So many changes in such a short time, I'm a tad overwhelmed."
She lightly strokes my forearm. "I saw a different Gleb this morning. I've known him for over twelve years and I've never seen him this happy."
I sit up straight and clasp my hands to my chest. "He's a challenge," I blurt out.
"So is his brother," Catrin snorts out an ironic laugh. "Daniel's nickname was Brute." She stares at me, looks away, then meets my eye again. "Can I be candid?"
"Sure." I swish the warm water through my fingers.
"The Sokolov men are dark. I see the characteristics in my own sons, Andrej and Nikolai." A frown clouds her face. "Even Brash can be volatile at times."
"Wow, Brash hasn't shown that side to me." I hear the disbelief in my voice.
"He went through a bad patch when he and Daniel moved to the States." Catrin's mouth twists. "The Sokolov men also love deeply." She meets my gaze. "Gleb has fallen for you as well as his son."
Fallen for me?
I take a deep, calming breath. It would be outta line to tell her how the Beast bought me from my father and how he made me wear a revealing uniform in his club. He only changed his demeanor when he found out about Kir.
My heart stutters. "You're wrong. Gleb loves his son, but he doesn't love me."
"What makes you think that?" She turns her head to the side.
I stare down at my hands. "He hasn't told me he feels that way."
She huffs. "If I know Gleb as well as I think I do, he's just being protective. Another Sokolov characteristic..."
"He said our living together is only temporary." I lift my chin. "I'm okay with that, really I am," I lie. I shoot her a questioning look. "How much do you and Daniel know about his businesses in New Jersey?"
She purses her lips. "We know they aren't strictly legit. Also, that he's a mobster. Obvious from the fact that he's surrounded by security all the time and drives a bullet-proof car with tinted windows. And the fact that he sent Brash home to us earlier than intended made us think something was up."
It's clear she and Daniel don't know the full story about Vadim or Moscow, and I'm not going to be the one to spill the beans. Thankfully, we're interrupted by the arrival of one of the spa attendants. "We're ready for your treatments, ladies."
Catrin and I spend the rest of the day being pampered. We both enjoy a relaxing facial followed by a revitalizing massage. After a bite to eat in the hotel restaurant, during which we get to know each other better by sharing information about our backgrounds and families. I steer her clear of any talk about my relationship with Gleb. Our hair is washed, trimmed and styled in the salon, and then finally we're treated to a manicure and pedicure.
"I feel like a million dollars," Catrin's smile crinkles her mouth while we stand waiting for the parking valet to arrive with Daniel's Range Rover. "I can't wait to arrive back at Gleb's, so I can give a cuch to that cute little boy of yours."
"Cuch?" I lift a brow.
She laughs. "Welsh word meaning cuddle."
I laugh with her as she gets behind the wheel of the car. I like Daniel's wife, I've already decided.
Shame this is probably the first and last time I get to hang out with her.
Back at Gleb's place, Catrin and I decide to take Kir for a walk in his buggy. We stroll up the road outside the house with Dmitry keeping a discreet distance behind us. I breathe in the crisp mountain air. "It's so beautiful here," I gush.
"Wait until you see it covered with snow. It's incredible." Catrin grasps my hand. "Do you know how to ski?"
I tell her I don't, resisting the urge to come clean and say I won't be returning to Colorado. A shiver goes up my spine as I think about what Gleb will have to face when we go back to New Jersey; there's a tight sensation in my shoulders.
He's so freaking confident he has what it takes to win the war, except what if he doesn't?
What if he's killed?
I know I shouldn't be thinking these thoughts, but what would happen to Kir and me then?
My breath bursts in and out and I clutch at myself. I was supposed to have lunch with Natasha. I should have tried to contact her, but I didn't. I was too wrapped up with moving in with Gleb.
"What's wrong?" Catrin asks.
"N... n... nothing," I stutter.
A sudden sound of snapping twigs and branches, and belly freaking lurches.
Dmitry runs up from behind, gun raised.
Shit!
I bend and shield Kir with my body.
Catrin lets out a sharp gasp.
"It's an elk," Dmitry shouts, holstering his weapon.
Relief floods through me as a large bull, with antlers at least three feet wide, breaks out from between the aspens.
"A young one," Catrin says, releasing a relieved breath. "It's the rutting season, and he's probably following a mature bull and his harem."
The elk stares at us and turns to go back into the trees.
"Let's go home," I say, suddenly feeling the need to be behind closed doors. "It's a little exposed out here."
It's an easy walk down the road and presently we're going through t
he front door of Gleb's house. I call out, "Mama," fully expecting her to appear and greet us.
Except she doesn't.
My heart hammers in my chest.
With trembling hands, I unstrap Kir from his buggy. Balancing him on my hip, I start going from room to room with Catrin and Dmitry, calling for Mama and Olga.
Every room is empty.
Nausea grips my stomach muscles.
What the hell is going on?
We go upstairs and try the room Mama shares with Kir. The door is locked, and I rattle the handle.
"Mama," I shout.
"Thank God you are back," her voice comes from the other side of the door. "We saw someone snooping in the back yard. It scared us, so we ran up here."
Blood drains from my face. I hear the lock turning, and she opens.
"Why didn't you call?" I ask, hugging her close.
She stands back and gives me a sheepish look. "I left my phone in the living room."
"And I forgot to charge mine," Olga murmurs.
Wide-eyed, I stare at Dimitry. He's already pulled his cell from his pocket and has pressed speed-dial. "Boss," he says, "you'd better come home asap. I think we might have an intruder."
I strangle the sob that has risen in my throat.
Nineteen
Gleb
Dread clutches at my entrails, but I steel myself not to show it. "Put the house on lock-down," I bark. "Take the women to my office. It has a bullet-proof door and windows. Pass Eva onto me."
I hear a hubbub of muted voices as the phone is transferred to her.
"Gleb," she says, and I hear the fear in that one word. "How long before you can get here?"
My pulse thumps. "About forty-five minutes. Try to stay calm. No one will hurt you."
Kir sets up a wail in the background.
Dammit!
There's a pain at the back of my throat and I have difficulty swallowing.
"I'll be with you asap, Elousha."
"Okay," she whispers.
"Give Kir a kiss and a hug from me."
I end the call and quickly explain the situation to Daniel, Brash and Yuri. We'd returned all the trout we caught to the river already, so the only thing we need do is take off our waders and race for the Merc. No time to pack away our rods; we leave them where they are with the cool box.
Tension gripping me by the balls, I take the wheel. Daniel rides next to me with Brash and Yuri behind. The tires spin as I head out of the parking area.
"I'm getting a sense of déjà-vu," my brother's voice rasps in my ear.
"This is nothing like twelve years ago," I growl. "Everyone is safe."
My words sounded more confident than I felt. What if Vadim has found out about my Colorado bolt-hole? I thought I'd covered my tracks, buying the place with a fake ID, using cash to purchase my car and keeping a low profile whenever I'm here.
Maybe I shouldn't have taken Eva out for dinner the other night?
I'm a fucking idiot...
My gullet burns and heat spreads through my stomach.
Traffic is light in Vail, thank God, and within minutes we're on the final leg of the ride home. I step on the gas. Silence reigns as I drive like a bat out of hell. I sense the strain in the atmosphere. We're all shitting ourselves but not admitting to it.
Finally, we're home and I slam the SUV to a stop. I leap out and punch in the security code to unlock the front door, then run upstairs, calling out to Dmitry.
He's standing outside my office, gun in his hand.
"I took a shot at him," he points to a window at the end of the corridor. "Don't know if I got him or not, but all has gone quiet since." He pauses for a beat. "I checked the intruder detection system and discovered the fucking wires had been cut."
Shit!
The door bursts open, and Elousha rushes into my arms. "You okay?" I ask, stepping inside and scanning the room for my son. Thankfully, he's asleep in Ludmila's lap, pacifier in his mouth, oblivious to the mayhem going on around him.
"We were so scared," Eva breathes. "Especially when we heard Dmitry fire his gun."
I stand back and hold her by the shoulders, making firm eye contact. "You need to stay in here a little longer while I check around. Can you do that for me, Kiska?"
Face pale and eyes wide, she bites at her bottom lip and nods.
In the periphery of my vision, I catch Daniel and Brash with their arms around Catrin. Ludmila is making whimpering sounds, but Olga, a true Bratva wife, is simply standing stoically behind Eva's mom.
"Stay here," I say to everyone. "Yuri and I will search the house and yard."
Daniel protests, saying he wants to help, but I don't give in. "Not going to happen. Too fucking dangerous. If Dmitry shot whoever it was, the target might not have gone down. Or else the intruder is still out there."
Gritting my teeth, I switch into beast mode, battening down my emotions and searching from room to room with Yuri, gun raised.
There's no one in the house.
We carry out a systematic search outside, covering each other's back.
"Boss," the word is a guttural sound in Yuri's throat.
I go up to him, and he points downwards.
Blood.
A trail of blood.
Leading toward a grove of aspens in the far corner of the yard.
Stealthily, weapons at right angles to our bodies and trigger fingers at the ready, we stalk toward the trees.
Fuck, a body is lying in the dirt.
Dressed in black and wearing a balaclava.
The body emits a high-pitched moan.
Within seconds, Yuri has the fucker's arms held in a vice-like grip.
"You're hurting me," a woman's voice moans in Russian.
Holy shit!
I reach down and pull off the mask with one hand, still pointing my gun with the other.
Jesus, it's fucking Natasha.
"I've been shot in the leg," she whimpers.
"What did you fucking expect," I spit out, "cutting the wires of my intruder detector then sneaking around like a fucking thief?!"
She shakes her head slowly. "I was looking for Eva..."
"To fucking kidnap her? Did Vadim send you?" I look Natasha up and down. "Why would he use a woman like you?"
"Please," she snivels, "I'm only a messenger. And it wasn't Vadim who sent me."
"Pick her up," I bark at Yuri. "Take her to the garage, assess the damage to her leg and tie her to something. I'll just go tell Dmitry what's happened."
Yuri does as I command. I leave him to tend to Natasha's wound and run upstairs. I gesture for Dmitry to get away from the door, so no one can hear us. "Don't let anyone out yet, and if they ask say you know nothing," I whisper before going on to tell him about Natasha.
Numbing myself to any emotion that might weaken me, I hurry down to the garage. Yuri has tied the bitch to a chair, rolled up her pants and is bandaging her calf. "Just a flesh wound," he grunts. "She'll live."
I stare at Natasha.
Will I need to intimidate her, or will she squeal right away?
I don't torture women, but she doesn't know that. I pull back her bleached blonde hair and shove the muzzle of my Glock against her throat.
"Who sent you?" I snap.
She shakes her head.
I shove my piece harder into the soft flesh at the base of her neck. "Squeal or I'll shoot."
She shakes her head again, and I move my finger to the trigger. I've never taken a woman out, nor do I want to.
I fucking hope she believes I'm capable of it.
"I'll count down from ten. You'd better talk before I arrive at one," I grit out. "Ten... nine..."
I've gotten all the way down to two, keeping my gaze fierce, when she blurts out, "Moscow... Moscow sent me."
Holy fuck!
"I got orders to get close to Vadim. He's pissed Moscow off, taking more than he was due from a drugs shipment."
"So...?" I furrow my brow.
"I was suppo
sed to have lunch with Eva. Pretend it was just a girl thing." Natasha stares at the opposite wall. "Moscow wants you to take over from Vadim in Fairwood. He's become a liability. They'll take him down and will protect you if you agree to work more closely with them."
I ball my hands into fists. Most of the Vory are affiliated with the home country. Moscow is a shadowy puppeteer making everyone dance on its strings.
"Your old classmate Roman Aulov sends his regards, by the way," Natasha gives me a smirk.
Fuck, she knows.
She knows Roman and I were at Harvard together.
She knows that despite working for the Russian secret services, he's also linked to organized crime.
I remember long discussions with Roman when we were students. He predicted the Vory pakhan gangsters of the twentieth century would evolve into the merchant-adventurers of today, mafia bosses clever enough to avoid law enforcement being able to prove any connections to their crimes. "They will become the best capitalists ever," he'd said, and it's true. Our weapons of choice are fraud, corruption and blackmail. Except, occasionally, not all problems are solved without the use of weapons, and in some cases the only way to resolve an issue is the one where 'no person means no problem'.
I rub the short beard on my chin. Something doesn't add up, however. If Natasha needed to pass the message on, why didn't she just contact me?
I shoot her a distrustful look. "How did you get here?"
"I took the shuttle service from Denver, and then I walked."
"Yuri will drive you to the airport and put you on the first plane to New Jersey," I mutter.
She cocks her head to the side. "What should I tell Roman?"
I run the hand not holding a gun through my hair. "Tell him I'll think about it." I pause. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and see to Eva."
"Your son is very cute," her words make my stomach churn, "Moscow knows about him, but not Vadim," she adds.
I lower myself to her height and scowl. "Are you fucking threatening me?"
"No, Gleb," she says looking up at me with shining eyes. "I wouldn't dream of doing that."