10. The Mission
Chapter ten
The Mission
Kazimir
Hours later, night descended upon us as we rumbled down the road. The murky swamp sprawled out on either side of us like a haunted, liquid wasteland.
Wassily sat behind the wheel. His hands gripped it tightly. “Are you sure this is the way?”
“Keep ahead.” Rafael sat in the passenger seat and pointed forward. “It looks like nothing is out here, but it is a whole lot of something. There are men high up in the trees, watching and reporting back that we are traveling down the road.”
The dark sky blanketed the thin, winding ribbon of a road that sliced through the marshy landscape.
Thankfully, our SUV’s headlights cut through the darkness, casting long shadows that danced and twisted along the swamp.
Over forty SUVs drove behind us with my men and some French. We had brought enough weapons to make a military unit envious.
Meanwhile, I kept two stupid gift-wrapped boxes on my lap.
Back in Moscow, Jean-Pierre had warned us that I would need to meet with the Alligator Don eventually, and that he would want gifts.
Therefore, David had made sure I left Moscow with an expensive bottle of vodka and a gold box of chocolate-covered prunes.
This visit would be under the guise of paying him respect. The very idea made me want to kill him.
What was an alligator to a fucking lion?
However, for my mouse, I would humble myself. I would swallow down my pride and give the swamp man his gifts and as much respect as I could muster.
I will play by their rules for now.
In the passenger seat, Rafael turned my way. “I must warn you about the Don.”
“Go ahead.”
“He is extremely over the top and constantly trying to show everyone that he is the man with the biggest dick in the room.”
Tisha snorted. “He sounds like a typical gangster to me.”
“Either way,” Rafael shrugged. “I am sure the Don already knew that you landed in Louisiana and had people watching your movements the whole time.”
I frowned.
“I am also certain that the Don knows you are heading this way. Therefore, we will see a lot of theater from him tonight. I ask that you be patient and let the show happen. It will make things easier.”
“As long as the show does not go on for too long and I get the Eye.”
Rafael nodded. “Remember. I will have your back with this situation. My cousin, Jean-Pierre wants continued peace among the Corsican and the Brotherhood. I will not let you or him down.”
Valentina spoke on my right. “And this Alligator Don will definitely have this Eye?”
I nodded. “According to Delphine.”
Rafael jumped into the conversation, “Did my cousin tell you about the Don’s witches?”
“Witches and alligators. This is going to be quite the trip.” Tisha grinned. “Tell us about his witches.”
“They are twins—Genevieve and Evangeline,” Rafael explained. “When the don perceives that he has enemies, he uses them to curse the person. They are super loyal, although we may not see them tonight.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“They live in a renovated church in New Orleans and usually never leave it, unless the Don requests.”
Valentina frowned. “I should have been with you earlier. I am still mad that Maxwell tricked me. Next time I see him, I will punch him in his cock.”
On my left, Tisha chuckled. “If you are Kazimir’s number one, why would you take an order from Maxwell? Orders for you would only come from Kazimir.”
Valentina leaned forward and scowled at him. “Shut the fuck up before I throw you in the swamp and let these alligators feed on you.”
Her threat, no matter how harsh, had no effect on Tisha who only smirked in response. I could feel the undercurrent of tension threatening to spiral out of control.
I cleared my throat. “Stay focused.”
They went silent.
Already I missed King David. Not only would he have had a proper plan to get this Eye, he would also have kept everyone in line and had visuals of my mouse being sent to my phone.
How is she? Please, God let this trip help her.
Every bump in the road jolted through the vehicle and sent vibrations up my arms.
At least the steady hum of the engine was a comforting purr in the otherwise overwhelming silence, a reminder that we were just visitors in this wilderness.
My phone rang.
I pulled it out, saw the screen, placed the device against my ear, and smiled. “I was just thinking of you.”
Valentina watched me and raised her eyebrows.
On the other line, King David laughed. “I hope it was good thoughts.”
“It was thoughts of appreciation.”
“Then, you miss me already?”
I gazed at Tisha and then Valentina. “You have no idea.”
“I heard there were problems at the witch’s property.”
I quirked my brows. “Who told you?”
“Baba.”
I rolled my eyes. “Surely, it was a vision since she headed out of there with the kids.”
“Yes. It was a vision.”
“When I returned to the hotel, I was told that she had taken men, the wet nurses, Emilio, and Paolo out to the Audubon Zoo.”
“Perhaps, because it is a world-class zoo.”
“She did it because she was avoiding me.”
“That too.”
“Talk to her, so that when we have our moment to converse it is a pleasant one.”
“I can do that.”
“Any information on Paolo’s monster?”
“That was why I called. I have one lead. Have you ever heard of a man named Gennadiy Leonidovich Belyaev?”
“I have not.”
“What we know is that he is a disgraced former police officer who was thrown off the force and then began later helping the Brotherhood.”
“And now?”
“Missing.”
“But he is involved with this threat to Paolo?”
“I believe so.”
“Stay on it.” I frowned. “And the Butler?”
In front of me, Rafael leaned to the side, surely spying on my phone conversation.
Tension rode David’s voice. “I have him under control.”
“Remember. All you need to do is ask. It would just be one bullet, David.”
Rafael turned around and glared at me.
I curved my lips into a smile.
David chuckled. “Again, Kazimir. It is all under control.”
“Good.”
“Misha has your location. I see you are exploring the great depths outside of New Orleans.”
“How I wish it were simply exploring. I am on a mission to get an alligator’s eye.”
“Well. . .Baba said your evening was going to be interesting. I have Misha’s people keeping an eye on you.”
“Thank you, David.”
“I will talk to you later this evening.”
I hung up.
Rafael continued to watch me with that angry expression on his face.
I put the phone in my pocket. “Do you have something to say?”
“I am here to help you navigate New Orleans, Kazimir—”
“Then, do that.”
“However, I will not allow you to threaten or harm my cousin, Giorgio.”
“Then, I am lucky that you cannot stop me.”
Rafael narrowed his eyes. “We have all agreed to stay out of this situation with Blue and him, I politely ask that you do the same. I think she is a beautiful and smart woman that will soon make the correct choice.”
I leaned my head to the side. “You met Blue?”
“Giorgio brought her to Nice when Jean-Pierre did a surprise proposal for Eden and a huge celebration that week. We all were there.”
I considered the information, remembering that there had been a week when Blue took a short vacation. I hadn’t realized that Giorgio had been missing also.
But, did David know too?
Wassily spoke, “There is some sort of barrier up ahead.”
I caught sight of a huge green gate flanked by stone and iron.
“It is the Serpents’ first gate to their property.” Rafael turned back around. “There is one more gate after this, but the true test is if we can get into this one.”
“We must get inside.” I leaned forward. “My mouse needs this Eye.”
Continuing to look ahead, Rafael placed his hand on the dashboard and drummed a nervous rhythm with his fingers. “The Alligator Don and his gang, the Serpents have lived in this bayou all their lives. They are not used to outsiders and do not like them. Usually. . .they will beat the outsiders up and throw them in the swamp.”
I snorted. “We will have to explain to them that we are not just any outsiders.”
Valentina chuckled. “Just point to who I must kill.”
The SUV slowed to a halt in front of the gate, the headlights illuminating a worn wooden sign that read “Serpents’ Territory.”
A tall, muscular man with a shaved head and a thick beard stepped out from the shadows. He held a Glock 19 and headed over to us.
Rafael pressed the button to lower the window and spoke in French, “Hello. You must remember me. I am the one the Don says is the funny little French man.”
Bald Head bobbed his head. A rough, gravelly voice left his cracked lips. “What do you want?”
“We must see the Don.”
Bald Head tilted forward and assessed all of us in the car. “We?”
“These are my friends from Russia. They want to pay their respects as is expected of all that come to his city.”
I tried not to roll my eyes.
Everyone thinks they control a city, until I come around and take it from them.
Bald Head directed his gaze to all the SUVs behind us. “None of them can come through the gates. Just this vehicle.”
Rafael nodded. “Understood. We only need a few of us to pay our respects.”
Bald Head grunted and glanced at each of us one more time before stepping aside and motioning for us to pass.
I looked at Tisha. “Tell our men to stay out here, but be ready to storm through any gate, if they don’t hear from us in twenty minutes.”
Nodding, he took out his phone. “I will remain mindful of the time.”
The gate creaked open.
As we drove through, the sounds of the swamp became more prominent—buzzing insects, hooting owls, and chirping of frogs and crickets.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Ten men materialized from the shadows behind the wall. As expected, each man cradled a lethal weapon—assault rifles, sidearms, and more Glock pistols.
Rafael spoke, “There should not be a problem where your men will need to storm through the gates—”
“If he does not give me this Eye, then I will kill him, his serpents, frogs, and anything else he loves.”
Tisha laughed.
“The Don is backed by the Cartel.” Rafael eyed me. “My understanding is that you have been lucky enough to not have many dealings with them—”
“No. Let me correct you.” I glared. “ They have been lucky enough not having had to deal with me.”
“If we kill his people, the Cartel will come to investigate.”
No longer laughing, Tisha turned my way. “While I am not a fan of this pansy, he does have a point.”
“Does he?”
“If your mouse and sons were not here, then I would have boldly said let the Cartel come.” Tisha shrugged. “However. . .they are here. And if the Cartel comes, your sons, your fiancé. . .well. . .they will be the first targets.”
I gritted my teeth.
Wassily drove us further down the winding road, each turn revealing more of the Serpents’ territory. It was a sprawling compound of shacks and huts, some of which were built on stilts above the water. Each dwelling was unique, constructed from a mismatch of weather-beaten timber, corrugated iron, and what seemed like salvaged scraps. Yet there was an unmistakable uniformity to them all.
The second gate appeared.
Once we approached, it automatically opened.
When we passed over the threshold, two groups of heavily armed men watched us with suspicion and hostility burning in their eyes. Many were draped in loose, earth-toned attire that blended with the swamp’s surroundings.
Finally, we arrived in front of a massive wooden structure, more so a huge compound than house, stretching out into the depths of the swampy wilderness. A behemoth birthed by nature and raised by men, it stood defiant in the heart of the bayou.
Towering wooden walls wrapped around the compound, like an intimidating shell safeguarding everyone within.
No conventional lights illuminated this fortress. Instead, large, ferocious fires blazed in strategically placed pits. Their flickering glow danced on the murky waters surrounding the compound.
This is ridiculous.
Massive men guarded the entrance. Each built like a brick wall. They wore their brutish expressions as badges of honor. A cold, detached readiness flashed in their gazes.
Unfortunately for them, they were not the scariest men I had ever seen.
Tisha grinned. “Is this it?”
I smiled.
“We must be careful to not step on these little ants.”
I snorted.
Valentina grabbed the gifts off my lap. “You may need your hands.”
“But, let’s hope that I will not.”
Tisha spoke, “Do you have a plan to get the Eye?”
“Money. Land. Power. He should want one of those things.”
Tisha bobbed his head. “That would make things easy.”
Valentina looked Rafael’s way. “Cutey, what do you think?”
Rafael glanced over his shoulder and blinked. “Are you talking to me ?”
She chuckled. “Is there anyone else that is a little cutey in this vehicle?”
Rafael blinked again. “I do not know how to answer that.”
I scowled. “Do you think it will work with the Don or not?”
Rafael let out a long breath. “I must be honest with you. The Don is an asshole. Therefore, I honestly expect the worst.”
He better be on his best behavior with me.
Wassily parked the SUV.
Rafael kept his voice low. “Also, they will take our guns before we enter.”
“I assumed as much.”
One by one, we stepped out of the vehicle. Men rushed to us, taking our weapons and checking for others.
I handed over my gun and further took in the space around me.
The air was thick with the musky scent of damp earth and stagnant water. A pungent perfume filled my nostrils. Every breath was too intimate a taste of the wilderness.
Odd, unnerving noises sounded—the soft splashing of water in the swamp that hinted at reptilian predators lurking just out of sight.
And even more, I could feel the moisture in the air, clinging to my skin, making my linen shirt uncomfortably stick to my back. It was a dampness that seeped into everything. I desperately yearned for air-conditioned air.
Get this damn Eye and get back to Emily and my sons.
I couldn’t help but glance up at the moon, a silvery crescent half-hidden behind a shroud of clouds. It cast a ghostly glow on the water, painting the swamp in shades of silver and black. The sight was mesmerizing.
Please, God. Let me get this Eye.
One tall guy got in front of us. “Come see.”
And then he walked off.
Valentina gazed at Rafael. “Come see what?”
Rafael shook his head. “ Come see means Come here.”
Valentina let out an exasperated breath. “I already have problems with English and now I will need to learn a new dialect?”
“As most would say in New Orleans, ‘they talk funny ‘round here.’” Rafael headed off.