Chapter 36
The Warning
Misha
When LaSalle called to warn me I had incoming, I was little surprised. I come back to Russia to double my efforts to find this menace who threatens everything I’ve worked to build. Vlad and Alexei have done well with tasks I have given them.
Now my part. I have not found her yet, but I need to take Sammy back to his parents before Tasha shows up at my door ready to shoot me over missing son. I’m not comfortable sending him back on his own, no matter what he has said.
Besides, his family is no longer in New York. The families are all headed to Locatelli Island. LaSalle bought Tasha the island for their fifth wedding anniversary. It has become an escape for everyone when we all need a time-out or a place to send the women when we want them out of reach.
We will be joining them. My wife happy. I have kept my family close to me in last two years. I have never trusted that we wouldn’t have to answer for the Krupin blood we spilled. Deja has yet another target on her back.
Da, my wife and children need to be where I am. Until this done, I can’t leave them in America without me. I will not lose another love. This why I’m trusting word of child.
“This will end,” I breathe into my vodka as I sit in my study staring into fireplace.
I still processing words Sammy spoke to me early as we sat in this very room. I’m in awe of my young friend. I felt like I was talking to his father the entire time.
“Tell me what you have seen, my friend,” I said to him as he sat on the floor with his legs crossed.
I sat and took in his every word. This all comes to an end this year. My problem is not his problem.
One of Logan’s worries can be put to rest. I believe everyone thought same thing. His vision from his birthday party involved the threat he sees coming in his own future.
Net, this is my problem still. Not his.
“This is about more than you, Uncle Misha. She has decided to return because of Aunt Deja. She’s the reason for the change. It’s because she killed her son that she can’t let it go.”
I sigh. “However, to make things right between me and the O’Briens, I have to let them in on this?”
“Yes, bringing them in will bring back the balance. Answers will be given, and everyone will have more understanding, allowing for forgiveness.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as I listened to what he had said and what he hadn’t. “You know truth, da?”
“Uncle Misha, I know many things. Some are none of my business and will never be spoken from my lips as it’s not my place.”
I smiled and nodded, sitting back in my seat. My mind spun with what this all meant. I can no longer ignore what’s been staring me in the face.
“Then tell me, my friend. How will this end?” I asked.
“That I can’t tell you. You have something to learn and rise from. What I can say … you cannot stop what’s coming. She will decide her fate.
“You will be there, but you can’t stop it. That rests in her hands. The secrets will come out whether you want them to or not. However, you should be the one to tell the truth to your wife, if no one else.”
I grind my teeth. I know he was right. I should have told her by now, but I know her.
She would want to fix this. I’m trying to keep everyone out of this. This my fight, no one else’s.
I snort. If that bitch Elizaveta wants to end this, we can end this. I will have her head once and for all. I grow tired of these games.
“Aye, what now?” Logan groans into the phone, sounding as if I’ve woken him up.
“We should talk. There is a way for us to get her to come to us. I will need Brooklyn and Deja’s help for this.”
I tell him what I was told. There no guarantee Brooklyn agree to this, but I try. If they don’t agree, I find way.
However, when Sammy involved no one ignore. They listen once they know it’s come from him. That one thing I sure of.
“Do ya know what time it is here? Ya’ve been holding out this long; what’s three more hours?”
“Da, you right. We talk on island. See you there?”
“Aye, I’ll be there. Misha?”
“Da?”
“No one in my family gets hurt again, or we’re going to have a problem.”
My temper flares. I grow tired of his threats. None of us saw what happened coming. You are either in this life or not. You can’t have both.
“You want to lock horns, we can. Don’t forget who I am, my friend.”
“Ach, I haven’t forgotten. It is because you are my friend that we haven’t already had a problem.”
With that, he hangs up. I snort, drop my phone, and throw my head back. My head throbs.
“Un-fucking-real.”
“You’ve been in here alone for an hour. Tell me what I can do.”
I turn toward doorway where my wife stands. As I take her in, I remember what I do this all for. I am better man for her.
“Come here,” I say.
Elizaveta
I look around my new accommodations. Better than last place but not by much. Will be glad when this all over. I want my home.
Can’t remember last time I was in Russia. Aleksandr was right; he saw this coming. More should have been done before he lost his life.
“Elizaveta, are you listening?” Miroslav says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Da, go on,” I reply, hearing my own exhaustion.
Power means nothing when you’re all alone. There’s so much I regret. Some days I wish I would have run off with my first love and lived a normal, happy, quiet life with him.
I shake that thought off and grind my teeth. Once I lost Maxim, I became different person. Life I wanted was taken from me then. If not for Aleksandr and Pavel, I would have lost my mind all those years ago.
“I have good news and bad,” Miroslav says.
I nod for him to continue. “Get over with.”
He sighs. “Nelson Nash is still alive and Ren Takahashi and his pet, Nanami were lost in the mission. They will be of no use to you when I’m able to bring you back into the light.”
“How did this happen? Ren shouldn’t have been involved. He was to remain in hiding until I gave signal,” I snarl.
“I hadn’t known he would be. He wanted to be the one to kill Nash, but it seemed like they knew they were coming. They were ready.”
“What is good news. You make my head hurt.”
“Spinelli has not pulled my cousin. I thought he would after you revealed you knew he had a spy inside the Alliance. We could use this, pull my cousin for our use instead.”
“No, that’s my insurance against Spinelli. If anything happens to me, he still pay for his crimes. Cousin stays put.”
Miroslav nods. “Okay, then you might want to know what I have learned. All the families are on the move to LaSalle’s private island. My cousin believes we can get the location.”
“This, I can work with. I still have plan to draw bitch out in open, but get me head of at least one son on that island. No more incompetence. Find someone who get job done.”
“I have someone in mind. I will take care of everything. Should I work on your next location and move?”
“Net, I handle this time. You take care of hit.”
I give him cold, hard stare to let him know he has burned through his opportunities to fail me. If he doesn’t get this done, it will be his life. I have lost my patience.