Chapter 29
MILA
It’s so hot, my shoes stick to the asphalt while walking across the intersection.
Dread knots in my stomach as I get closer to the meeting spot with Kirill.
How is he not covered in sweat standing out in the sun with that dark suit on?
His crisply trimmed beard drops with his curt nod before he turns on his heel and leads me through the coffee shop.
At least we’ve gotten past the need for code words. Those are so nineteen fifties.
Standing with the handle of the door in his hand, he gestures me through to the small room where we met last time.
“Two things.” He starts as he closes the door. “First, has he mentioned the name ‘Zoya’ at any point?”
My nose wrinkles. Another woman? “No. I’ve seen no record of it either.”
His cold eyes focus on my face for a long moment before he walks around the edge of his desk.
“Fine. Second topic. Rumor has it, they’re selling the diamonds.” He sits in his chair and brings his fingers together in a steeple.
“Yes. It’s happening on Monday.” I try to look leisurely and relaxed sitting across from him.
I hope he can’t hear my pulse racing in my ears.
“Excellent. This is our opportunity to not only get them back, but wipe out the Volkov brats once and for all.” A thin smile is the only emotion he shows under his cold stare.
“Killing everyone wasn’t part of the plan. I’m here just to get the gems.” Sweat prickles down my spine when I lean forward. “We get in, get them, get out. Everyone lives, everyone’s happy.”
Elena’s smiling face flashes through my mind.
There’s no way I’ll take her daddy from her.
Pain tightens in my chest. I don’t think I could hurt Nikolai if I wanted to now.
Kirill’s nose wrinkles. “Yes, I figured you’d say that. I saw you with him, hanging on his arm like a love struck teenager.” He eases himself closer. “Is his cock so good, you’ve forgotten your priorities?” He pushes a polaroid across the desk.
Shit.
Daniil holds up the stump on his left arm toward the camera.
His whole fucking hand!
Panic barrels through me, but I fight to maintain my composure. “You’re an animal.”
He tosses the picture toward me, and stands to move around in front of me. “No, I’m a man on a mission. And you’re beginning to get in the way. You need to tell me where the drop is to be made.”
I raise my chin and glare at him. “I don’t think you’re necessary. My deal is with Ivan, not you. You’re just a middle man.”
I jerk up out of my chair just as his hand grips around my throat and barrels me sideways to slam into the wall.
“Tell me, or your precious new boyfriend is going to die anyway.” His breath smells like old garlic and it suffocates me worse than his fingers around my neck.
“Fine,” I squeak out. My palm lands on the corner of his desk, and I grab the first thing I can reach.
“It’s on the corner of Third, and Get Fucked.” Driving the pencil in my grasp deep into his shoulder makes him groan and his teeth bare in a grimace.
But, he doesn’t loosen his hold.
“You’re going to regret that,” he grits and tightens his fingers.
Like hell I will.
Even as stars burst in my vision, my arm raises and lowers, sinking the thin weapon into his shoulder.
It’s only when I lower it and jab him into his belly below his ribs that he grunts and lets me go.
Taking a big gulp of air, I rush out into the hot Vegas street.
Blood covers my chest, and I can feel it caking the side of my face.
I dig out my phone and call my lifeline.
“Tyler, I gotta do this myself.” My throat is sore from where that asshole was squeezing it.
It wasn’t even the fun kind of choking.
“What are you talking about? All you have to do is tell Kirill?—”
“Screw him. I’m gonna get the diamonds and take them to Ivan. Maybe I’ll just kidnap Daniil and we can keep them. I don’t know, but shit just went south.” I glare at a woman walking by who spots the red spatters across me with a gasp.
“It’s suicide to just show up at Ivan’s unannounced.” Tyler has that lilt at the ends of his words he gets when he’s worried.
“No, it has to work. I’m finished playing by their rules. Ivan wanted me for this job because I get things done. Not because I follow a guidebook.” I slam the car door shut and speed out of the parking lot. “Be ready on Monday.”
My takeout order is ready. The entire excuse for me leaving was to get dinner.
If I get back in time, maybe I can clean up and change before Nikolai and Elena get home.
What a mess.
Rushing into the house, I drop the bag on the table before heading straight to the shower.
I need those diamonds.
But I also need Nikolai safe. I owe him and Elena that much.
I know what has to be done. Even if it does cost me my own life.