Chapter 2 – Eduard
“They’re done packing up, Boss,” Ivan informed, rushing over to where I stood.
Being the biggest authority in this particular port might be enough to guarantee smooth shipment, but the Bratva never takes chances.
There were practically no hiccups we couldn’t handle—or ask someone to—but preventing them in the first place was an aspect of diligence we never neglected.
Besides, this shipment was special. There was no second thinking about my decision to oversee it myself, physically.
“Of course. Took them long enough,” I remarked, crossing the distance between the mini warehouse entrance and the car. “Send a copy of the manifest to Danil.”
“On it already.”
Good.
If there was anything I valued in my men aside from loyalty, it was mental speed. The ability to think on their feet. And Ivan was proving to have more and more of that with each passing day.
Not that I’d give him an award for it, but it was good to know.
I gave the crowded street a quick glance before getting into the car.
More of my men got into the car right in front of mine as Ivan turned around to the driver’s side.
“Any stopovers, Boss?” Ivan inquired once he shut the door beside him.
“No.”
“Straight to the airport,” he spoke, clearly instructing his colleagues through his earpiece.
My phone rang just as Ivan swerved out of the street parking.
George.
I picked up.
“Hello, Eduard. I have something for you,” he informed, his voice muffled.
I sometimes wondered why he bothered with that introduction every single time when we both knew he had no other reason to call me than crucial information.
“What is it?” I demanded.
“Lucien Navarro is holding some kind of art showcase right here in Chicago. I wasn’t sure if it was just another noisy cover-up, so I came to see things for myself. It’s real.”
Just the mention of that name made my face tighten and my spine even straighter.
“You, of all people, know that it’s a close call but not close enough.”
“No, that’s not all,” he revealed, his voice now less muffled. “I didn’t just come here to confirm the event. I just confirmed that he’d be here.”
“Are you sure of this confirmation?”
“Totally. I would have waited for him to arrive before calling you, but I know you’re in Chicago. I didn’t want it to be too late before I got the information across.”
“Good. I was just heading to the airport.”
“Ah, good timing. But his coming isn’t even all.”
“Next thing I know, you’re going to ask me to guess,” I remarked.
His small chuckle was enough humor for both of us.
“Lucien Navarro is on his way with his woman,” he dropped, his voice low again.
“His wife?”
“Exactly. The possession he hides away from everyone.”
Now, this is the kind of news that makes me smile.
“Where is the art show happening?”
“I’ll send you the address.”
“Thank you.”
I ended the call.
The text came in almost immediately.
“An art showcase in the heart of Chicago, Navarro is really bold,” I mused.
“Where are we going, Boss?”
“The Loop.”
“Change of plans. We’re heading over to the Loop,” he shared through his earpiece. “Should I call Mina to change our flight schedule?”
“Eventually. But not until I see Navarro at this showcase. We might need an extra seat, not just a schedule change.”
“Oh, he might be coming with us?”
A chuckle left my lips.
“The best things happen by chance,” was my simple response.
As we sped along the colorful streets, I thought back to when Navarro engraved his name in the Bratva’s minor enemies’ list.
“…after I remove every one of your finger and toenails, you’ll remember more than the bullshit you’re spitting right now.”
I walk in on Leonid yelling angrily at the guy I’d asked him to torture. And I was bored already.
“Leonid!”
He turned around to face me.
“Khozyain,” he greeted, walking over to me.
“What have you got?”
“He’s still being stubborn. Nothing more than where they sneaked the extra merchandise in.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” I stated, moving ahead of him to the said guy.
The bewildered look on his face made it clear to me that he didn’t get my point.
Not taking my hands out of my pockets as I circled the guy tied to a metal chair, I explained, “He’s barely bloodied.
What have you been doing? Canoodling? I could hear your angry shouts from the entrance of the building, but there’s nothing to show for it, is there?
That’s what happens when you let anger precede thinking. ”
Facing him, I went on.
“If your anger is untamed, you’re unbalanced.
We asked you to bring him to this particular warehouse because it’s far enough from civilization.
We gave you enough freedom so you don’t have to worry about his noise drawing attention.
And now, you’re wasting it, shouting like a madman instead of actually getting answers. ”
“Sorry, Khozyain.”
Being one of my men who knew all about using a gun but nothing about torturing without it, I wasn’t exactly expecting his first try to be perfect. Which explained my showing up.
But, more tutoring would come later; time was of the essence in knowing whoever the bastard behind this guy was. It wasn’t the first time someone had tampered with our shipment in recent weeks.
“What’s your name?” I asked the guy whose eyes were on the floor.
“Maximilian,” Leonid answered.
I clenched my teeth.
“One more unsolicited answer from you, Leonid, you’ll get a first-hand experience of my torture tutorial,” I warned.
“Look up,” I instructed Maximilian.
He did so right away.
“I can’t guarantee your safety, but I can make you not leave here in a body bag if you answer my question satisfactorily. Who do you work for?”
The quick flick of his eyes told me his answer before he said, “I don’t know. We just get instructions and carry them out. Our cash comes anonymously.”
“Right.”
Rolling my shirt sleeves up, I walked leisurely to the pliers on the long table and picked the one I needed.
“Leonid, hold his mouth open.”
His throaty cry filled the warehouse as I uprooted his premolar.
“I don’t do the same thing twice. It’ll be your eyes next, or maybe a bullet through your ear,” I pointed out, bending to his level. “Who sent you?”
“I…I don’t…we…” he stuttered as I picked another favorite tool from the table.
“Changed my mind,” I uttered, bringing the fat blade of the knife to his cheek.
“Please, please…I really….”
His words blurred into another animalistic cry as I slashed a gash from his high cheek to his jaw, blood dripping onto his dirty tee.
“Are we talking now?” I asked.
“Now, the thing is, even after you answer me, I might still do one or two for wasting my time. So, if I were you, I’d stop stalling,” I cautioned.
He nodded frantically.
Of course. I’m never wrong.
“I never met him, but the guy who gives us the machinery to sneak into your shipment has mentioned him once or twice.”
I raised my brow.
“He’s not Russian, is he? Tell me everything you know. You don’t want me to ask you again.”
He swallowed noisily before answering, “No, he’s not.
They call him Navarro. I don’t know if that’s his real name or not.
That’s all I know. Please, don’t kill me.
They must be looking for me by now, and they’ll surely kill me when they do; that’s what always happens.
I have to go into hiding with my kid. Please…
I’m all he has. His mom is dead…. Please, don’t kill me. ”
“If you think your sob story is your saving grace, you’ve made a big mistake,” I declared.
He looked resigned.
He definitely knew; he just tried to push his luck.
“Eduard?”
I looked around, and there was Danil, his face as stoic as ever.
“It’s Navarro. Can you believe the bastard?”
“Navarro…” he drawled. “But he’s too spineless to dare us.”
“He must have friends in high places,” I explained.
“He hasn’t caused enough harm for us to go after him. He’s not that important. We’ll run setup shipment, get the guys he uses, and send him a message through them.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Leonid, let him go,” I called over my shoulder as I left the warehouse with my brother.
We did exactly as planned, and it worked.
But what Navarro didn’t know was that I hadn’t gotten even yet. He made my clients undermine my work integrity more than once. Dragging him from his high chair was personal for me, not just the Bratva.
In another forty minutes, our three cars were pulling over behind the warehouse. Signaling for my men to assemble, I redid the buttons on my black suit.
***
“Lucien Navarro is the host of this event; only Harry and Viktor know him,” I started, the two men nodding in recognition.
“When you two see him, inform the others. We’re not here for him.
He’s coming with his wife. She’ll surely be heavily protected.
Toward the end of the event, Ruslan and Harry will attack some of his guys, create a distraction.
Alexei and Dimitri will stand by outside while Ivan and Viktor take his wife.
It must be quiet, so knock her out. Don’t hurt her.
She’s important; she must remain in one piece. ”
“Yes, Boss,” Ivan answered, nodding.
My forefinger flicked between Alexei and Dimitri.
“Once she’s captured and in the car, don’t wait for me.”
“Yes, Boss,” they chorused.
I wasn’t so disappointed when I got into the warehouse and there was no woman beside Navarro. She would probably show up soon. I, on the other hand, was okay with waiting. It gave my men the perfect chance to blend with the crowd.
Another thirty minutes passed before I saw Navarro step out. Then he came back a minute later with her.
I smoothly moved to the mezzanine just across from where they were flanked by his men, which made me laugh inwardly, considering that not even dozens of them could stop my men.
Looking over at the lady, she surprised me. It wasn’t her age; men in our line of work married much younger women every now and then.
It was how she stood out. Despite being dressed as brightly as the models strutting around, she looked too clean to be in this crowd.
Maybe this isn’t his wife?
My doubt disappeared the moment he said something with his lips almost touching her face. She relaxed into him, touching his chest with the smoothness of someone who had done it countless times. He held her like she was his most valuable property.
They’re intimate. She’s definitely the one.
I watch them chat like the lovers that they were. Lucien stepped away from her occasionally. Of course, the slimy bastard had his shady business to take care of.
Almost time.
The lady was left alone again. This time, she left their spot.
Then her eyes met mine.
I didn’t look away; I never needed to. People always looked away from me.
But she didn’t.
Her honey brown eyes stayed fixed on mine, showing no hint of fear. She looked creeped out, like she wasn’t used to being around criminals.
Why is that?
Anyway, that’s not my business.
Eventually, she looked away. Lucien got back to her shortly after.
“Start the distraction hit,” I instructed through my earpiece.
My eyes remained locked on them as I calmly timed my men’s actions.
Lucien left her more frequently, the look on his face telling me that my instructions were having the desired effect.
“You two, get in position.”
When Lucien steered her toward his men with his hand on her lower back, I told my men, “Take her. Make it as clean as possible.”
I watched as she crossed to the hallway with two of his men.
My teeth clenched as I saw one of his men attempt to bring out his gun. I didn’t want it to become a noisy affair. Luckily, Viktor took him down.
The lady’s blonde hair flailed around as she tried to fight Ivan off. Her struggle didn’t go on for so long, as they sedated her before carrying her off.
“Was it clean to the end?”
“Yes, Boss. She’s now en route,” came the confirmation.
Now, it’s time for Navarro to come to me.
Time for him to panic and make wrong decisions.
Time for him to play into my hands.