Dad sent Karen the Mediator to check on me. I said I had a ton of homework.
My little sister Megan brought an armload of beanbag kittens into my room, but I was too emotionally wrecked to play with her.
As I lay on the floor, swaddled in my ratty old comforter, I chewed my fingernails down to the quick and tried to convince myself to talk to Dad about my arrangement with Vladimir. I knew it was crazy not to, but I was terrified Vladimir would fire Dad—or worse—if I told him the truth.
Weighing my options, my family was better off if I kept my mouth shut, financially and physically. The thought of what the boss would do if Dad got up in his face made me sick. He carried a gun. Dad and his New York temper were definitely better off not knowing what was going on for that reason alone. I hoped Dad wasn’t unwittingly involved in anything illegal.
Since my Saturday morning Russian smack down, I was so downtrodden I had completely lost my appetite. I couldn’t stomach more all weekend than a handful of stale raisin bran I had stashed in my room.
By Monday I still couldn’t shake Vladimir’s crass assessment of my character. Ryan probably thought I was a shlyukha, too. How could anyone think I was skanky? I was a virgin. So I drank and sat on Ryan’s lap…Then I remembered: Do you have tattoos all over? Did I really say that to my boss? Maybe there was more skank in me than I realized.
I told Karen I had cramps and cut classes on Monday. I couldn’t get tattoos out of my head. All the Russians had them. I spent the day searching the Internet for Russian organized crime. It took hours to filter through the prison tats of violent pornographic images, iconic religious motifs, and propaganda that revealed the Russian’s secret criminal codes.
I had never given much thought to the ink Vladimir and Boris had engraved on their hands, but I did remember the watch tattoo the boss had on his wrist. Its meaning: time served in full. Vladimir had spent time in prison. Up until what I had witnessed on Friday, I would’ve never believed someone as sophisticated as Vladimir had a criminal past.
Both the guys had ring tattoos, so I spent some time figuring out the symbolism of each one. I hoped I would never have the occasion to see either of them with their shirts off, but I was dying to know what brand of evil they had inked on the rest of their bodies. Every single image I found had a specific meaning. Star tats on the knees meant they would bow down to no one, stars on the shoulders meant they were high ranking members of a prison gang, and a knife tat like the one Boris had on his neck meant he had killed someone in prison and was available for hire—a hit man.
A lot of the images I found were, oddly enough, beautiful in their own way. The old school tats featured Russian cathedrals and monasteries on the bearer’s back, and were given to convicts during the Soviet era. Each spire represented how much time or terms the prisoner had served. Boris probably had a lot of ornate bulbous towers engraved on his skin.
After I had my fill of the tats, I searched Russian organized crime in Brooklyn, because Dad had said Vladimir had lived there at the same time we did. It turned out an entire community of Russians immigrated to Brighton Beach near Coney Island. According to multiple websites, it was a hub for Russian organized crime.
The crimes associated with the Bratva ranged from drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling, and the usual offenses one would expect from the criminal underworld. Then, I stumbled on to something much bigger associated with the Russians—highly sophisticated cybercrimes and widespread scams led by the super intelligent ringleaders.
These Russian masterminds had implemented brilliant banking schemes as well as tax and insurance fraud. And supposedly they were behind Internet hacking cases that were so well planned and executed, many of the people involved had scored millions and millions—without ever being caught.
Well, it didn’t take a genius to figure out where Boris and Vladimir landed on the Bratva pie chart. Boris headed up the traditional way of doing business, and the boss led the intelligence side of the new technology-driven Russian mafia.
After I absorbed all the information I could stomach, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready to face the Russians. Boris would King Kong on me if I failed to report to him after practice. Skipping work was not an option.
It would have served me well to have forced down a protein bar or a shake before tennis practice, but I wasn’t of sound mind. Rakhi and I held strong and wouldn’t give up our crowns in an intense queen-of-the-court drill. Slamming balls was therapeutic. We stayed alive round after round, but when I went for a wide backhand shot, my legs gave out. Down I went. Coach tossed me a sports drink and asked what was up. I blew the whole thing off like he was overreacting. I tripped over my own feet, I explained.
“You’re weak.” He glanced down at my shaky hands. “The pressure of playing on court one getting to you? I can knock you down to three if you need a break.” I knew he was more concerned about me, rather than my tennis game, but the words “knock you down” still stung.
Coach had been a pro at the club for twenty-plus years. He’d handed me my first racquet and taught me how to swing when I was in grade school. I’d played for him at the junior level, all through high school, and I’d found my way back to him in college. Court one was reserved for the top players. It was the most revered spot on the team, a competitive pressure cooker, and I would never let anybody knock me off my doubles pedestal.
I chugged the Gatorade and assured Coach everything was fine. I knew I looked like hell, so I said I needed to rest. He let me go, but I wasn’t convinced he bought that excuse either.
Now—because of the Russians—I was bleeping on Coach’s fuck-up radar. There was no way I would let the boss and his locked-and-loaded sidekick screw up my court one status. As I marched to the car, I assessed my situation.
Vladimir wanted to spend time with me, but I didn’t give a damn about him.
If I had my way, I would walk away from our arrangement and never look back.
The boss, however, couldn’t handle losing his ex-girlfriend’s little ghost.
Translation: I had the upper hand in our bullshit storm.
I was only a few minutes late for my rendezvous with disaster. I got into the car without speaking to my ill-tempered, grabby keeper. The Russians wanted to spy on me? Pelt me with insults? Threaten to teach me a lesson? Game on. They’d knocked me down for a round, but I was back in ready position, bouncing on my toes, hands up, ready to throw the next punch.
I was out of hand Friday night, but Vladimir had no right to berate me the way he did, and Boris crossed the line when he manhandled me like some asshole who owed him a C-note for a bad gambling debt. If I didn’t stand up for myself, then I would be setting the precedent that I was beneath them. It was time to find out how the Russians would handle a taste of my poison.
Boris studied my pale face when I slid into the car. “Why did you ditch classes?”
I didn’t answer.
He stared at me, threatening me to change my attitude. “You’re going to try this shit on the pakhan?”
No reply from me.
More death rays from him.
Once we got to the house, I skipped a shower. I would never be clean enough for the boss anyway. Instead, I pulled a stack of graded papers out of my backpack and, using a handful of kitten-themed magnets I’d brought from home, proudly plastered my over-achiever test scores all over the fridge. When I covered every inch of stainless steel, I sat down at the bar and got to work on an English lit essay.
Boris poured himself a cold shot of vodka. Then he moved to the fridge to study my work. He didn’t utter a word. He was probably devising an action plan to make me talk. I could just imagine his internal gangster dialogue: She will beg to speak after I cut out her tongue. “Want a drink? The boss wants you to learn how to handle your alcohol in a safe environment.”
I resisted the urge to guffaw and kept working.
“Boss will be here soon. Better shape up.”
I yawned.
Boris l
eft the room, probably to stop himself from tossing me to the wolves on the basketball court. After I finished my homework, I started dinner. I had the notebook out Boris had given me to make lists. I kept myself busy doodling a picture of the lovebirds Igor and Natasha in the margins. I worried about how Vladimir would react when I failed to greet him at the door and wag my tail like a golden retriever, but I refused to waver. I had to stick to my game plan. It wasn’t like my situation could get any freaking worse.
The Big Chill was my weapon of choice with Dad. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe it would work on Boris, but I was optimistic I could wear down the boss. Ideally, he would grow tired of my bullshit and put an end to our arrangement, but still keep Dad on the payroll. I heard the garage door open. Vladimir was home early. He probably couldn’t wait to see me so he could flay me some more. Was I prepared to go to war with the pakhan?
Stay strong. Show no fear.
I focused on the vegetarian chili I was stirring on the stove. When the boss came in he didn’t say a word, but I felt him standing behind me.
He didn’t speak.
I didn’t move.
He wrapped his hand around my elbow and gently turned me around. He had a bouquet of two-toned red and pink roses in his hand. “Can you ever forgive me, Carter?”
I hadn’t seen this coming. No one had ever given me flowers before.
I dug my nails into the tips of my fingers. I couldn’t look at him. He set the vase on the counter and gave me a hug. When I didn’t hug him back, he picked up my limp arms and wrapped them around his body.
“I worry about you. You’re so beautiful. Don’t you see how the boys look at you? I couldn’t think about anything but you since you left the house.” He stroked my hair. “Then today, your papa said he was worried because you stayed in your room all weekend.”
My breath caught in my throat; I squeezed my elbows against my ribs.
He lifted my chin. “He confided in me about your problem.”
There. A kill shot to the head. Dad had told him what happened to Sophia. In sixth grade, I had gotten slapped with a detention for talking in class. I didn’t want to get into trouble, so I begged Sophia to pick me up so Dad wouldn’t find out.
Icy rain fell from the November sky and the temperature had dropped below freezing, but Sophia promised she would hurry so we would get back before Dad got home from work. Soaking wet, shivering, and chilled to the bone, I waited and waited and waited…
I covered my ears when a line of fire engines and police cars and ambulances raced past the school and shielded my nose and mouth from the noxious odor of burnt rubber and scorched metal that hung in the air. It wasn’t until later I realized where the fire was coming from—and what had been burning.
On her way to pick me up, Sophia skidded off the road and slammed into a tree, which caused her car to burst into flames. She had survived the initial impact. It was the fire that killed her; she had been burned alive. The accident happened so close to the school, I could smell the wreckage.
My problem, according to my shrink, stemmed from the guilt over my sister’s accident. My doctor labeled the stupid things I do ‘self-destructive,’ and tells my dad I feel unloved, so he’ll keep writing her checks. I do have self-esteem issues, and I do lose my appetite when I’m depressed. But I’m not punishing myself. That was a load of crap.
“I miss Sophia too. Every single day. How can you possibly feel responsible for her death? It wasn’t your fault, Carter. You’re a perfect, beautiful soul.” He rested my head on his shoulder. “Your papa said you were hospitalized after the accident. You didn’t speak, didn’t eat.” My tears spilled free and dripped on his dark gray suit. He squeezed me tighter. “Moy slomannyy angel, what can I do to make this right?”
“Nothing. It’s no big deal. Don’t listen to Dad. He exaggerates everything. I need to finish dinner.” The thought of Dad and Vladimir sitting at work and talking about me behind my back made want to scream. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me go.
“I want to take you out. Let’s get you cleaned up. We’ll go someplace nice.”
“Dinner is ready.” I picked up the wooden spoon and stirred the chili.
Vladimir put his hand on top of mine, scooped up a bite, and gave it a taste. He pursed his lips. “It’s awful, angel.”
I laughed, surprised by his candor. It did kind of smell like the inside of my tennis bag.
“There’s your beautiful smile.” He picked up my hands and lifted them to his heart. “For me, let me take you out to a nice dinner?”
Awesome. Call me a whore, point out you know my darkest secret, and then make everything better by buying me dinner.
“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I didn’t bring anything to change into today.”
He held out my arms and examined my hideous green and yellow tracksuit. “Hmm, I might have something for you to wear.” He put his hands on my shoulders and steered me out of the kitchen. He turned me around in front of the guest bedroom. “As I said, I couldn’t think of anything but you all weekend. I told Boris to pick you up so I could see you, but as my sovietnik he refused.”
I wrinkled my forehead.
“I had to keep myself busy.” He opened the door, put his hand on the small of my back, and led me around the corner to a walk-in closet. On the floor, there were boxes upon boxes of fancy shoes, expensive purses filled the cubbies, and gorgeous designer dresses lined the walls.
All that stuff must have cost a duffel bag. I had to think of the best way to respond. I needed to turn this around. I felt much safer around Nice Boss than I did around the devil-eyed pakhan.
“What do you think, angel? Can you find a dress to wear tonight?”
Game Plan Change Up: I hugged him. “You’re too good to me.”
“You deserve it all and more.”
I pulled back. “It’ll take me a while to get ready. I need to wash my hair.”
“I’ll wait a lifetime for you.”
Chapter 14
Purr
Out of all the glamorous dresses to choose from, I decided on a long, dark red velvet one with a slit up the side. I paired it with Prada heels with straps that wrapped around my ankles and a gorgeous Gucci cross-body purse.
I admired my reflection and wondered if Ryan would recognize me as girlfriend material if he saw me dressed as a sophisticated woman rather than a buddy-buddy gym rat sporting baggy sweats and a long scraggly ponytail—my official weekday uniform. Then I wondered how Vladimir would see me. Was I just his precious Sophia’s spunky, fucked-up little sister who needed to be rescued…or in some messed up way was I her replacement?
I emerged from the bedroom with my hair waving over my shoulders. Boris eyed my attire and gave me his look. I put my hand on my hip. “Boss picked it out.”
“Ah, she speaks.”
I flashed him a sarcastic grin.
“He’s out back.” Boris held up a full-length shearling coat. I slipped my arms into the sleeves, and he issued a warning over my shoulder: “Behave yourself tonight.”
“If you’re referring to alcohol consumption, I won’t be drinking. No one serves underage girls outside of this house.”
“If you say so, dear.”
Out on the patio, the heat lamps were ablaze, and the scent of burning firewood filled the air. Vladimir changed out of his work clothes and donned a slick black European style suit with a crisp white shirt unbuttoned a few notches—he did have tats on his chest along with a couple gold chains around his neck. A blue-eyed inked devil peeked at me from behind his shirt.
“You’re stunning, Carter.” His gaze moved slowly up and down my body. “Something is missing, though.” Vladimir held up his hand and dangling from his finger was a gold choker encrusted with champagne diamonds. “It accentuates your beautiful eyes.” He motioned for me to turn around.
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could utter a word—
“I insist.”
I gave in
and lifted my hair so he could clasp it around my neck. Once it was secure, I let my hair down and brought my hands up to my neck to feel the necklace. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
My heart pounded and my stomach was all fluttery from the Molotov cocktail of emotions swirling in my gut. I’d been so lonely and depressed the last few days—because of Vladimir—and now I was filled with nervous excitement because he was treating me like his most prized possession.
He escorted me through the house and when we reached the kitchen, he lifted the car keys from the drawer. “This is a Ferrari night. Want to drive?”
“I don’t think so, Mr. Ivanov.” I resisted his insane idea all the way to the driver’s side. I gave up the struggle then, knowing I wouldn’t win. “I don’t have much experience.”
“I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” He sat me down and adjusted the seat so I could reach the pedals. He slid in on the passenger side and positioned my hands on the wheel.
“Put your foot on the brake and push the button.”
I did what he said. The engine purred.
“What do I do now?”
“Relax, angel. Listen to the sound of the engine. When it’s ready to go, you’ll feel it. The car has a mind of its own.”
He was right. Moments later, the tone of the purr registered lower. “Now?”
“You’re a natural.”
“Where’s the stick?”
“No stick. To reverse, hold down the brake and tap the paddles.” After a few more instructions, I rolled the Ferrari out of the garage, tapped it in drive, and pulled out onto the main road. Damn, it was intimidating. I felt like a jockey holding back a thoroughbred from breaking for the finish line, but after a few minutes, I got accustomed to the rhythm of a fine machine and got the beast under control.
When we rolled up to the valet, I spied the Cadillac parked up front. Boris must have left while we were out on the patio. I had the impression the big guy was not just Vladimir’s sovietnik. He was more like a bodyguard and was there to keep an eye on him—or me.
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