Chapter 15 - Valery
My brothers never let me get involved in anything related to the mafia side of our family businesses.
They shielded me from it all my life, and my little sister suffered even more intense levels of protection than I did.
I know they meant well by doing it, to keep us safe, but it was frustrating and infuriating, and I often rebelled against it, even though they weren’t aware of me doing so.
I was surprised that Jaroslav was so easily convinced to let me help in some way, but I’m really happy about it. I’ve always wanted to show off my skills, and this is my chance.
Detective work definitely beats working in a loud, messy, chaotic restaurant any day.
And since having the summer off from the restaurant, I’ve been wanting something to keep my mind challenged.
Although the stress of the new marriage and getting used to my new life has been pretty time-consuming in itself.
To be brutally honest with myself, I need this distraction more than I want to admit.
Things between Jaroslav and me… It’s difficult to say the least. My heart is ready to leap into the unknown and take all of the risks that terrify me to death, and my head is fighting that impulse at every turn.
I’m still trying to process what he told me about his reasons for leaving.
While they make sense and seem legitimate, I’m scared to accept his word for it.
I want to. I so very badly want to. But what if it’s just a story he made up to win me over again?
Then, on top of all of that, I’m so overwhelmed by how mind-blowing it was to be with him. Like, properly, intensely, terrifyingly perfect…
It’s a lot.
A lot is going on in my head, and I must wait for it to settle down before I make any rash decisions about my life that could leave me shattered and broken all over again.
I follow Jaroslav into the warehouse. He’s holding my hand, almost like he’s trying to keep me on a leash, to keep me safe.
But for now, I’m not fighting against it.
He’ll ease up in a little while, and I can take a proper look around.
He already gave me all the reports and security footage last night.
I spent a few hours reviewing them, and I already know what I want to look at while I’m here.
Several men hurry toward Jaroslav when they spot him, and he groans quietly. “I have to deal with a few things, little raven. It shouldn’t take long.”
“That’s ok, you go ahead. I want to look around.”
He scowls, reluctantly letting go of my hand. “Don’t go too far,” he warns me. I grin and tilt my head to the side. “Ok, dad, ” I say sarcastically, and the corner of his mouth curls upward. He chuckles and shakes his head. “Just stay out of trouble, Valery,” he says, a little more relaxed.
“Don’t worry about me. Do your thing. I’m just looking.”
“Sir, good morning, can you come and take a look at what they discovered in the break room…” As soon as the men start talking to Jaroslav and pull his attention off me, I slip away.
Because I watched the security footage so many times, I know my way around this warehouse. Retracing the steps of the suspected man who was noted on the videos, I move around from area to area and take notes.
My mind is swarming and busy while on the outside it looks like I’m just taking a quiet stroll.
Not thinking about my relationship with Jaroslav is a refreshing change I desperately needed and a change to prove to him that I’m more than just a girl… That I’m smart and useful… I don’t know why, but it’s important to me.
I roam the warehouse for over an hour while Jaroslav is busy, and finally, when he comes to find me, I get to report everything I’ve discovered.
“They came in through this damaged area of the roofing.” I point upward to a rusted section that has been further cut away.
“Alright. We did note that from the security cameras,” he says calmly.
“What you might not have noted, though, is the methods they used to cut the metal, and the way they maneuvered straight into the center of the warehouse. You see, your camera system is set up the same as my brother’s system.
Someone within your alliance, for example, would have a similar setup and would know that staying along the outskirts near the walls of the warehouse would’ve kept them hidden for longer.
But these people headed for the center first. Three men, not one. ”
“Three?” he repeats, knotting his brows.
“Yes, look here. The boot scuffs. All of your workers are wearing the same brand of boots. The sole pattern is different.” I point to the ground, and Jaroslav’s face floods with surprise. I grin, chuffed with myself.
Walking around with him next to me, I point out each point along the path that gave me a small clue.
By the end of it, Jaroslav is captivated and no longer seems to be doubting me.
“Alright, little raven…that is some really excellent work…”
“Wait, I’m not done yet. I want to share my conclusion.”
“Oh. Of course, go ahead.” He folds his arms across his chest and leans his hip against a nearby crate, his brows raised expectantly, albeit with skepticism.
I smirk. “The thing that I can conclude is that whoever broke in wasn’t someone you know.
Or an enemy you’ve had to deal with before.
The methods my brothers, or other members of your alliance, would have used are completely different.
” I go over how my brother’s men would have carried out the operation and make specific comments on key differences.
By the end of it, Jaroslav is shocked. He’s staring at me with his mouth open and his eyes wide.
“So, you think it couldn’t have been anyone in my alliance,” he remarks, furrowing his brows.
“Was that something you were worried about?”
“Yes. I mean, the alliances are still somewhat fragile, and we have to consider everyone as a suspect until we can rule them out. It isn’t a person attack on your brothers, but they were on the list of suspects.”
“Don’t worry, I understand. But it wasn’t them. That much I can guarantee.”
Jaroslav shakes his head, and he chuckles softly. “You’ve really surprised me, little raven. How in the world did you learn all of this stuff?”
I smile and push my shoulders back as I straighten up, standing taller.
“My brothers were so careful to keep me as far away from their operations as possible. They wanted to keep me safe. No matter how many times I asked them to teach me about the real family business, they would say no. So… I took matters into my own hands. I would sneak into the warehouse both during the day and at night. I would listen in on calls and meetings and learn as much as I could. I learned about their enemy’s attack patterns and my brother’s operational methods and attack methods.
It was so fascinating and exhilarating to be sneaking around…
I kind of got addicted to the thrill of it,” I giggle, my cheeks shading pink, thinking about how furious my brothers would have been if they’d caught me.
Jaroslav is watching me thoughtfully. “Imagine what you could have done if they’d allowed you full access to everything.”
Just imagine. Instead of sticking me in that restaurant, I could have been truly valuable to the family.
“I’m really impressed,” he tells me again.
“I just wanted to help somehow.”
“Well, you have. Now I want you to help some more.”
“Really?” I blurt out excitedly.
“I’m going to a meeting this afternoon with my brothers. I would like you to come with me and present your findings to them as well. You’ve touched on so many key pieces in your observations, I think you can really help this investigation. You might be the one to solve the entire thing!”
I glare at him.
“Are you… mocking me?” I ask, disappointment spiking.
He laughs loudly. “No, not in the slightest, Valery. I’m being dead serious. We’ve been hitting dead ends, and your new insight is invaluable. I need you to tell my brothers the same things you told me.”
“Oh,” I grin. This is really happening. But now my excitement is quickly being replaced with nervous anxiety. “I don’t really know how to do presentations.”
He laughs, slipping his arm around my waist. “Just tell them what you told me. You explained it brilliantly, and you were clear and specific. You can do this, I have no doubt.”
His words are reassuring and ease away some of my nervousness.
However, when we get to the meeting, all I have is nervous anxiety. Even my palms are sweaty, and I can’t stop fidgeting as we ride the elevator up to the top floor of their office building in town.
Jaroslav notices my tension and pulls me to face him, his eyes locked with mine, and a gentle expression on his face. “Take a deep breath, little raven.”
“Why?” I stammer.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Just do it. A really deep breath, then hold it for three seconds.”
I suck in a lung full of air, and he keeps his eyes locked with mine as he slowly counts to three. “Ok, now let it out slowly, and when you let it out, also let go of your nerves. Push them from your body consciously.”
I do as he says, focusing on his hazel gaze. He makes me take another two deep breaths and repeat the same exercise, and by the time the elevator doors slide open, my body is more at ease.
He pulls me close and whispers against my ear. “You’ve got this. I promise you.”
We walk into the boardroom together, and his brothers are all seated around a circular table in the center of the room.
I smile tightly. Everyone says hello, and then Jaroslav gently pushes me toward the front of the room, where there is a projection of the warehouse floor plan, lighting a white wall.
“Go ahead, Valery. Show them everything you showed me.” He hands me a light, pointed, softly squeezing my hand as he does so, the last bit of reassurance I need. His confidence in me gives me confidence.
With one last deep breath, I switch on the little red laser and point it toward the area where the roof was broken in.
I walk through the entire pathway I took Jaroslav on. Along each point, I comment on what I saw, why it matters, and how it affects their investigation.
Every now and then, one of his brothers pauses me to ask a question, then returns to their silent observation.
It’s hard to get a read on them as their stern faces and stony expressions are bland and focused on my presentation.
I can’t tell if they’re interested or just patiently waiting for me to be finished so they can get back to their real work.
The only one in the room who is sitting with a smile on his face is Jaroslav.
His arms folded across his broad chest, he’s leaning back comfortably in his chair with his legs stretched out in front of him.
He looks proud of me, and he’s the reason I keep going and don’t fumble my words or stutter over my explanations.
I’ve never done anything like this before, and honestly, it’s daunting having everyone so focused on the information I’m sharing. I’m scared I’m making a fool of myself.
When my detailed presentation is over, his brother, Bardil, turns on the light and stares at me with narrowed eyes.
I set the laser pointer down on the table and take a seat next to Jaroslav with my hands knotted on the table in front of me, waiting for someone to say something.
“Well?” Jaroslav says after a moment of silence. “What do you think?”
Zakhar chuckles and leans forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table. He picks up a pen and taps it against the surface. “I think she should join the brainstorming session.”
“That was fucking brilliant.” Georgy blurts out, his eyes tight on me. “How did you know all of that stuff?”
“I’ve studied the attack patterns of my family and of our enemies. It was something that fascinated me, and I spent a lot of time on it growing up.”
“Well, it’s certainly paid off. After that presentation, I feel confident ruling out an inside job.
She’s right about the MO. I never noticed the subtitles of their methods until she detailed them.
We don’t have to waste any more time looking into our allies, and we can now focus our full attention on outsiders.
” Bardil is nodding as he speaks, his brows raised.
“Thank you, Valery. So, do you want to join us in a brainstorming session? We were going to sit together, order some takeout, and throw ideas around to see if we could collectively come up with an idea of who is behind all of this.”
My heart somersaults in my chest, dancing with excitement. “I’d love to,” I reply, trying not to sound too happy. This is business after all, even though to me it is a fascinating puzzle that I can look at objectively. One that I’m dying to solve.
It’s like something has hooked into my brain, and now that they’ve welcomed me into the team, I won’t be able to stop thinking about it until I’ve solved it.
I grin, my body humming with energy.
“So, who wants to order from where?” Zakhar asks, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’m in the mood for pizza, but I reckon we get a selection of different takeouts and a few coffees from the bistro on the corner downstairs.”
“I want something from that Asian place. Pork dumplings, maybe some Thai green curry.” Bardil says.
“Jaroslav? Valery? What do you guys want? We’re going to be here a while. But I guess we can always order again later if it turns into a late-night session.”