by Beth Abbott
“So, you take advantage of the fact that they want to keep that part of the Baltic clear, so they can concentrate on monitoring Russia’s military presence?” Drago smiled. “I like the idea. But how do you get the cargo into Kaliningrad in the first place? It’s not as though you can drive there directly. You have to cross through at least two other countries first, starting with either Belarus or Latvia, and then passing through either Poland or Lithuania before getting into the Kaliningrad Oblast.”
“I commend you for your knowledge of the region.” Lebedev raised his glass to Drago and took a small sip. “But can I just reassure you that our transit arrangements are sound. We have, how shall I say, ‘greased the wheels’ along the relevant transport routes we use.”
“Ok, so once you get the cargo out of the Baltic, what then? How do you deliver it to the UK, for example?” Drago asked, his mind racing as he wondered why this all seemed so simple.
“Who said anything about me delivering the cargo to the UK, my friend? If it was so simple getting guns into Britain, don’t you think I’d have set up my own supply chain by now?” Lebedev frowned as if he thought Drago was going nuts. “I’ll get the cargo to Kaliningrad, but it’s up to you to arrange a merchant vessel to collect it, and ship it through the Baltic, and into the North Sea. I’ll give you the co-ordinates to the warehouse at the docks, and you do the rest.”
Drago should have guessed it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Ok, that sounds easily doable.” He nodded. “How soon can you fill the order?”
“A few days?” Lebedev shrugged. “I have some of what you’re looking for already in stock locally, but I need to bring in more AK’s as well as the fifty cals, rocket launchers and rockets.”
“How much?” Drago asked, causing Lebedev to scowl.
“I’ll give you a price once I know how much I have to pay to acquire what you want.” He explained. “I usually pass them on at around ten to fifteen points above what they cost me, to allow a profit margin and a finder’s fee, but don’t worry. It will be a fair price.”
Drago nodded and held out his hand.
“Sounds like a good deal to me.” He smiled at Lebedev.
“Not quite so fast, my friend.” Lebedev’s hand stayed in his lap. “I’m sure Orlov has told you that there is a waiting list of people who want to do business with me.”
“Something like that, yes.” Drago admitted.
“Well, I like to ask people to help me out with little… ‘favours’, shall we call them?” Lebedev smiled. “Would you like to do me a favour, Drago?”
“Obviously it depends on what you want.” Drago shrugged. “But I’m not opposed to the idea in principle.”
“Then, here’s what I want.”” Lebedev leant forward. “Next Friday I have a ship leaving Murmansk, headed for the west coast of Africa. Before it reaches the North Atlantic, I have some special entertainment planned for some of my potential business partners.”
“Who are your potential business partners?” Drago asked.
“Men such as yourself, who are hoping to buy my weapons.” The Russian smiled.
“Why do you have the entertainment on the ship?” Drago frowned. “Can’t you just throw them a party in Moscow?”
“This entertainment is rather special.” Lebedev smiled. “My guests and I fly up to Murmansk by helicopter, and spend the weekend being entertained on the ship. Each evening we have a good meal, and we watch some… well, I suppose you could call it MMA fighting mixed with boxing. It’s a bit like cage fighting without the cage, you might say.”
“You watch men fighting.” Drago repeated. “Can’t you just hold the event somewhere in the city?”
“The rules of these fights don’t exactly comply with what the Marquess of Queensbury had in mind.” Lebedev smiled. “Besides, to hold this sort of event in the city would cost me too much money in bribes to the Moscow authorities. It’s easier to do it offshore, and it also gives my business partners bragging rights to say they’ve attended one of these events, even if they don’t get the arms deal they were looking for.”
“How often do you do this?” Drago wondered.
“Oh, every few months, or so.” Lebedev guessed. “We have to allow enough time for the weapons to be sourced.”
“How many teams take part?” Drago asked. “And how many men per team?”
“Four teams, each of four men.” Lebedev nodded. “Two fighters from each team go up against each other on Friday, with the same again on the Saturday. At the end of the fighting on the Saturday, the best two teams go through to the final on the Sunday, when any two fighters can be selected. Whichever team wins earns the arms deal. The weapons can be collected the same night from the docks at Kaliningrad.”
“That sounds doable.” Drago conceded.
“Remember, there are no weight categories or limits, so, if I were you, I wouldn’t offer up anyone smaller than you. They’ll be crushed.” Lebedev grinned.
Drago’s mind raced.
The only guys he knew of that were anywhere near his size were the Guardians, and he wasn’t sure how happy they’d be to get beaten up for the cause.
“Do they have to be Russian?” Drago asked, his mind already going to Hollywood and Kellen. “I have some American friends who might fit the profile.”
“God, no.” Lebedev laughed. “We get quite a few non-Russian fighters taking part. Usually ex-military turned mercenary types. They make for good fighters. My friends would be delighted to see your American friends fighting our home-grown talent. It would add some spice to the event. There’s a good deal of money bet on these fights.”
“Ok, I’ll see what I can come up with and let you know.” Drago nodded. “Can I confirm within twenty-four hours? I’m not sure where they are at the moment. I’ll have to track them down.”
“Sure, sure!” Lebedev sounded quite excited now. “Right, well, I think I’ll go and have my cock sucked. Feel free to enjoy the amenities, gentlemen. Or go back to the tables and donate some more money to my poor empty coffers. Orlov has my number for you to confirm your participation if you want to go ahead with the deal.”
Without waiting for a response, or even a handshake, Lebedev turned and headed toward one of the big velvet curtains, snapping his fingers as he did so.
Two young girls appeared from nowhere, dressed in the skimpiest underwear Drago had ever seen.
“Shit, do you know what you’re letting yourself in for?” Orlov breathed as they descended the stairs.
“What do you mean?” Drago said quietly, aware that there were probably ears listening to their every word.
“The reason they do this at sea, my naïve friend, isn’t because Moscow isn’t convenient. It’s because it’s easier to dispose of the bodies overboard after the fight.”
Drago glanced at Orlov to see if he was joking, but the lack of smile told him Orlov was being deadly serious.
Shit!
How was he going to get the Guardians on board with this one?
He pulled out his phone and typed out a message to Hannah Simons.
“Can you get me on a flight from Moscow to London before morning? Need to brief you about the latest situation, face to face.”
Chapter 8 – Kellen
Kellen sat at the conference table with Yuri and Kris, alternately staring at the clock and the door. It was unusual enough to be called in on a Sunday morning, but for the person who called the meeting to be AWOL was unheard of.
“What time did Hannah tell you to be here?” Kris asked, making Kellen smile.
“Same time as I told you she did the last time you asked me, five minutes ago.” He answered patiently. “Nine o’clock.”
“It’s ten-thirty.” Kris stated the obvious, nervously tapping his pencil on the table.
“Stands to reason.” Kellen nodded. “Seeing as it was ten twenty-five the last time you mentioned it.”
Yuri grinned at Kellen and rolled his eyes.
“Did I ever tel
l you my baby brother isn’t exactly known for his patience?” He asked, reaching over to snatch the pencil from Kris’ fingers.
“Hey! I was using that!” Kris protested. “It was calming my nerves.”
“It may have been calming your nerves, but it was gnawing on the last of mine, so quit it, Ok?” Yuri dropped the pencil on the table, growling at his brother when Kris went to pick it up again.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” Hannah’s voice came from the doorway. “My sincere apologies for our lateness, but we detoured to collect Drago from the airport and there was a delay with his flight.”
As Kellen glanced up, Drago stepped into the room, followed by Danny, JT and Tuck.
“Hey guys.” Drago grinned at them. “Missed me?”
Kellen stood up and gave the guy one of those man-hugs that said he was glad to see him but wasn’t gonna get all girlie about it.
“Yeah, missed you like a dose of gastroenteritis.” Kris grinned.
Kellen sat back down as the others made their way around the table to the empty chairs.
“Hey, Kellen.” Tuck took the seat next to him. “How’s Hollywood doing?”
“He’s doing Ok, all things considered.” Kellen nodded. “Niko’s still stuck in the High Dependency Unit, being pumped full of antibiotics to help her with the pneumonia, and he’s crazy worried about her but trying not to show it.”
“How serious is it?” Tuck frowned.
“Pretty serious.” Kellen confirmed. “Double pneumonia is no joke by anyone’s standards, but coming after an operation like it has, and with Niko being undernourished for so long, she’s got the will to fight it, but her body doesn’t have the strength.”
“Is there anything any of us can do?” Tuck asked.
“Not really.” Kellen shrugged. “We’re taking it in turns to keep Roman occupied, and everyone in the Alpha Company family has been amazing, taking him to parks, and to the movies with their kids. It’s a constant series of play-dates for him.”
“Well, you just let me know if there’s anything I can do, y’hear?” Tuck insisted. “She’s family now, and that means whatever Niko needs, she gets.”
“Sure thing.” Kellen nodded.
He knew Niko didn’t understand what being ‘family’ meant yet, but she’d find out soon.
“Ok, can I have your attention.” Hannah interrupted the conversations that had sprung up since her arrival. “Drago has made contact with Sergei Lebedev as planned, and they’ve agreed an arms deal, in principal at least, which will hopefully give us access to one of his bank accounts, once we’ve transferred the payment for the weapons, and from there, hopefully I’ll be able to go through his entire financial network to wipe out his money and shut him down. With a bit of luck, we should be able to get the arms shipment at the same time.”
“Go Drago!” Kris laughed.
“Yeah, the deal was the easy part.” Drago winced. “It’s what I’ve got to do to seal it that poses the problem.”
“Don’t tell me, they want you to provide sexual favours for Lebedev and his crew?” Kris grinned. “I knew that blond hair and pretty face of yours was going to get you a few too many admirers!”
Drago snorted.
“If that was all it was, it would probably be less painful.” He winced.
“So, what do they want you to do for them?” Yuri asked.
Drago sighed, and Kellen had a nasty feeling they weren’t going to like what was coming.
“Lebedev is organising a weekend of entertainment for potential clients, and I’m supposed to come up with a team of four men to fight against the teams put up by the other clients. It’s over three nights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if you get that far.” He explained. “Lebedev described it like cage fighting without the cage.”
Kellen glanced around the table. It didn’t sound so bad to him.
“Orlov explained to me that it’s one of those ‘anything goes’ type of fight weekends.” Drago continued. “No weapons of any kind, just fists, feet and anything else you can use to inflict damage.”
“It sounds manageable.” Kellen confirmed.
“It sounds barbaric!” Hannah replied. “Men beating crap out of each other is ridiculous. Someone could get hurt.”
“Someone could get killed is more likely.” Drago said quietly. “These fighting weekends are held on board one of Lebedev’s ships, and he flies his business clients out by helicopter to watch. It’s all part of the hype. But it’s also a good way of disposing of the bodies of any of the fighters who don’t make it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” Hannah stood up. “Absolutely not! That’s not what the Guardians are about, and we’re not putting our men in danger like that.”
“Honey, the Guardians were set up to interrupt and bring down the major players in the European trafficking business. Lebedev is right at the top of the tree.” Danny reminded her. “And as much as it pains me to point it out to you, there’s not that much difference between sending our team out to face bullets or RPG’s and asking them to face another guy’s fists. In fact, some people might argue that fists are preferable.”
Hannah glared at him.
“I said some people, Hannah.” Danny grinned. “Obviously, not you.”
“You said you needed a team of four?” Tuck turned to Drago. “Who did you have in mind?”
“I was hoping for Hollywood and Kellen, as Lebedev seemed pretty happy with the thought of a couple of Americans on the card.” Drago smiled at Kellen.
“At the thought of some Russians beating the shit out of us, you mean.” Kellen corrected him.
“Something like that.” Drago nodded. “Any other two will be fine.”
“Logan and Evan are already involved in something else, so they’re not going to be available for a few weeks.” Hannah said absently.
“Another mission?” Kris frowned.
“Something unrelated to the Guardians.” Hannah fudged. “They’re on loan back to Alpha Company until further notice.”
Kellen looked over at Yuri to see if he knew anything about it, but judging by the confused expression on his face, it was obviously a mystery to them all.
“Hollywood is out of action at the moment as well.” Hannah confirmed. “He’s taking a few weeks out to care for Niko, and with her being so poorly, I’m not inclined to pull him back in.”
“Niko’s still sick?” Drago was instantly on the alert. “I thought you said the operation was a success.”
“It was, but pneumonia was always a big worry, and it’s hit her hard.” Hannah explained. “The doctors have been doing their best, filling her with antibiotics, but nothing’s worked yet. She could turn the corner and start to recover any time, but until she does, it’s a worrying situation.”
“Ok, so that cuts us down to three Guardians.” Drago frowned. “I have an old friend from my Special Forces days who might be available. People used to call Abram my big brother, as he was half as big as me again. I don’t think the Russian military will mind releasing him for a job like this.”
“Sorry, Drago, but you’re still one short.” Kris interrupted him. “Yuri won’t be fighting.”
Kellen looked over at the elder Bellikov brother and noticed him blushing.
“Conscientious objector?” He grinned.
“Not exactly.” Yuri snorted. “Severe concussion and a rebuilt eye socket.”
“Yeah, and one punch in the wrong place could kill him, so he’s out.” Kris folded his arms across his chest, as though daring anyone to argue with him.
“Ok, drama queen, take it down a notch!” Yuri snorted. “It’s not quite as dire as my baby sister makes out, as she’s known for her fits of overprotective bullshit. To use Danny’s expression, Kris is acting like a big girl’s blouse.”
Kellen turned just in time to see Kris flipping his older brother off.
“Regardless of his motives, Kris is absolutely right.” JT interrupted. “Concussion and a rebuilt eye socke
t rule Yuri out of this from the get-go.”
“Hold on a minute! We haven’t even asked Kris and Kellen how they feel about getting involved in this.” Hannah pointed out. “It’s not in their job description, that’s for sure, so they both have the right to say no.”
All eyes turned to Kellen and Kris, and Kellen was hard-pressed to keep a straight face.
“I started doing martial arts as a teenager, did wrestling in school, and kickboxing is my go-to in the gym.” He shrugged. “It will be good to see if I’ve slowed down any.”
Kellen turned to Kris to find out what his take on it was.
“Yuri and I used to box regularly before his injury.” He explained. “Plus, I’m a fourth Dan black belt in taekwondo and used to compete at national and European level. I even entered the world championships one year, but I had to pull out because we were on an operation.”
“That was more than a decade ago.” Yuri pointed out.
“Maybe, but I train regularly when I can.” Kris shrugged. “I’m still in pretty good shape.”
“That still leaves us one man short.” Danny pointed out. “We’re going to have to go wider than the Guardians if we’re going to find a fourth man. We might have to use someone from Alpha-Stalwart.”
Hannah turned and glared at her husband.
“DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!” She hissed at him.
Danny snorted a laugh.
“As flattered as I am that you think I’m still up to it, Hannah, I wasn’t actually thinking of me.” He grabbed Hannah’s hand and kissed it.
“There’s only one person I can think of across the Alpha-Stalwart family that has the right skills.” Tuck said quietly. “Krav Maga and hand-to-hand combat training are probably the best qualifications for this sort of fighting.”
Hannah gasped.
“Seriously? You’re thinking of putting Candy up for this?”
Tuck burst out laughing.
“Oh, for the love of god!” He gasped. “Fuck, no! I was not going to suggest putting my wife in a cage full of animals! Jeez, Hannah!”