Chapter 5
MILA
“Cut down fourth. You won’t be able to miss it.” Tyler’s calm voice comes through my earbud as I cut a corner on the Kawasaki crotch rocket Ivan had waiting for me.
It doesn’t ride as easily as my IZH, but it handles nicely.
“You might want to go in on foot. There’s a lot of action you don’t want to get in the middle of.” He directs me to a hidden alley just ahead where I can park the motorcycle behind a dumpster.
“The target’s Hellcat is coming in from the north. Keep your eyes peeled and head down. Can’t have you dying on me, you still have to find your seven minutes.” His warning is standard.
It’s almost a good luck saying by now.
The thought is silly, but presses us to the future. Rumor has it, in the moment of our death, our minds replay a movie of the best times of our lives. A seven minute reel of bliss that flickers through before we die.
I haven’t found mine.
Yet, neither has he.
The sounds of a fight start to work their way through the hot afternoon air.
Fuck this place is like the surface of the sun. So much harder to work in than the forests of Siberia.
I’d walk through hell itself to get my brother free.
So, I wipe the sweat from my forehead and work my way closer using whatever cover I can find.
“He’s off the camera, so close.” Tyler pauses. “He had passengers, so watch for bodies.”
Great.
No getting in Nikolai's personal space today. But, I want to see how he moves.
I’ve learned that I can tell a lot about someone by how they fight.
If they hang back, and shoot from hiding, it usually means they’re a bit of a coward and cautious.
Running forward, but using strategic spots, indicates they have a level head. Not one to take unnecessary risks, but they will get the job done.
Is that a fucking sword?
One of the biggest men I’ve ever seen pushes into the secluded parking lot swinging a machete at the group of bikers.
Another man, wiry with tattoos up the sides of his head jumps into a crowd, arms flailing as he rides the bodies into a jumble.
The only one who fights like I’d expect is the third who has dark curly hair. He moves like a boxer, beating back any that get too close.
It’s interesting that not many firearms are being brandished.
I bet it’s because of the heavier police presence in this town.
But the bloody blades of the beast of the man I’m here to find swing with mighty force, clearing a swath in front of him.
A head flies free from its body and rolls to the ground before the owner’s body slumps beside it.
The wild man gleams a silver tooth before kicking it against the wall.
“Nice one, Niki!” he cackles before running headlong into another throng.
He certainly doesn’t have a style I’ve seen before.
Wild as shit, I’m surprised he hasn’t been killed already.
Nikolai flashes the crazy guy a broad grin.
The first I’ve seen after following him for nearly a week. Of course my mark is the twenty-first century’s Henry the Eighth. The only time I’ve seen him crack a smile is when he’s chopping off heads.
“Are you catching this through my glasses?” I whisper to Tyler.
This Nikolai is like a damn tank, bulldozing through and leaving a wake of dismembered and bleeding bikers in his path.
Crowbars and baseball bats bounce off of him, and he barely blinks.
“How in the fuck am I supposed to torture a guy who is immune to pain?” I can’t even fathom how much he’s taken already, but he looks completely unfazed.
“You did say that Ivan pointed out your ‘assets’,” Tyler laughs through the speaker.
“Screw you. You don’t see how big this guy is.” I bet he has a dick bigger than my arm.
Hmm.
Maybe this won’t be all bad?
“Well, it’s either get close to him, however you can, or Daniil…” He doesn’t finish.
We both know what he’s implying.
The thought of my little brother being in the hands of that savage asshole Ivan makes me sick to my stomach.
It took me two days before I could close my eyes and not keep hearing his screams of pain.
They had to drag me out fighting.
My tongue tests out the split in my lip. It’s finally healing over. A lasting reminder of the ring on Ivan’s hand.
I watch Nikolai’s broad back, the muscles exposed through the tears in his tight T-shirt.
He’s a monster.
A brute.
And I have to get closer.
“Mila, your contact is requesting a meet,” Tyler sighs. “You’re gonna have your hands full with this mark.”
I can see every inch of it.
“On my way.” Following my footsteps, I retrieve the yellow bike and let Tyler lead me to the rendezvous.
“Are we good with plan B?” I ask Ty as I get off my Kawasaki.
“All set up. A whole new identity is ready for you. I’ll send all the details across now. Remember it, to the letter.”
“Got it,” I reply, cutting the call.
A dark haired man with narrow eyes leans against the corner of the building with the newspaper tucked under his left arm.
The prearranged signal.
I wonder if he has KGB ties. That’s an old school tell.
These guys, you can always spot the ones who’ve been in the Bratva for generations. They’ve picked up the habits of their enemies.
“Looks like rain.” I give him the code phrase.
Again, straight out of an old government playbook.
The man squints and takes a long slow stare up and down my body.
I regret wearing the tight leathers and tank top for riding in his heat.
He spends way too much time staring at my chest before his mouth twitches beneath his trimmed beard.
“Follow me.” Turning on his heel, he leads me through the coffee shop to a small room in the back.
Shutting the door, he unbuttons his jacket before sitting.
He better know I could kill him twenty three ways without breaking a sweat.
Crossing his leg, he makes a show of unfolding his paper.
“My name is Kirill. This came in today for you.” He tosses a photo down, showing my brother with an extended hand.
It’s missing the ring finger as well.
I grab the polaroid and ball it up before throwing it back into the man’s face. “You show me this and expect me not to want to end you?”
He leans forward, his crisp pleated pant leg falling around his shiny black shoe when his foot hits the floor. “You can try. But, if I miss a check in call, Ivan will know what happened.” His thin lip turns up in a smirk before he sits back in his chair.
“It’s been almost a week, and yet you’ve made zero contact. My boss is not a patient man. If you hope to ever get a niece or nephew from your brother, I’d suggest accelerating your timeline.” His dark eyes flick down to my chest again. “That is, unless you can persuade me to make a case on your behalf.”
Gross.
“I got this. I have a plan.” I want to cross my arms, but know it will only push my breasts out for him to ogle further.
Instead, I stand. I’ll let him stare at my best asset as I leave.
“Don’t take too long,” he calls after me. “Or your brother will never enjoy finger foods again.” His snicker echoes down the hall before the door closes.
Asshole.