Chapter Twenty-Two – Maria
Adrenaline.
Shortness of breath.
Heart racing.
Fear.
I drove through the streets, and my heart beat more harshly with every passing mile. The GPS led me to the designated location, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation. As I passed the old sign that read ‘Brooklyn Yards’, I knew I was getting close.
The warehouses and factories that once thrived with activity now stood as crumbling relics, their brick facades cracked and worn. Rusting steel beams and twisted metal scraps littered the grounds.
The graffiti-scrawled walls and faded signage were an eyesore, their peeling paint and rusty hues a stark contrast to the vibrant city just beyond the yard’s perimeter.
Fucking scary, that’s what this place was.
As I turned a corner, I felt a shiver run down my spine as I gazed out at the decaying landscape.
Growing up, I had heard rumors of secret meetings in the old yards, a gathering of shady figures and illicit dealings. But never in a thousand years would I have believed I’d be one of those shady figures draped in a sleazy dress and nude heels: bait for a mobster to trap a monster.
In the backseat, Polina slept peacefully, wrapped in a warm blanket. I glanced in the rearview mirror, my heart aching with love for the little girl.
After three more turns to the left, I pulled up to the abandoned warehouse. Finn was already in a dull gray suit, matching pants, and black polished shoes, flanked by his men.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, my heels clicking on the pavement, my eyes locking onto Finn’s. The air reeked of decay and abandonment, a pungent mix of rust, mildew, and forgotten dreams.
The only signs of life were the scavengers: rats, pigeons, and the occasional stray cat, all scrounging for scraps in a desperate bid to survive.
He opened his arms, and his eyes swept over my figure with a lick of lust. “You look as stunning as ever. What’s the occasion?”
Ha. Ha.
He sure had a sense of humor.
Deliberately, I became agitated. “Look, I did what you asked.”
“Easy there, tigress. Or should I say, vixen?” He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’ll do what I promised. I’m a man of my word. Your escape has been arranged. You have tickets booked to Oahu, Hawaii. You’ll be far away from all this mess.”
I fought not to recoil as he approached me with burning eyes. He brushed my hair behind my ears and lowered his face to mine. “You know, I really did like you. You’ve always been so pretty, so sexy….”
His arm went around my waist, and he pressed me against the bulge between his legs.
God . I wanted to gag.
“I could fuck you right now, if it weren’t for all these men watching—”
“Okay…” I drawled, slowly loosening his arm around me. If I had to stand there one more second and endure the torture of being that close to him, I was going to blow our cover.
“We can do that some other time,” I said in a hurry. “There’s no time. You should get the girl, and I should be on my way before anyone notices something’s off at the house.”
He licked his lips but backed off with raised hands. “Later, then.” He looked behind me, peering at the car. His grin grew wider and turned wolfish. “You sure she’s in there?”
I nodded. “She’s right there.”
Finn sneered, gesturing to his men. “Get her.”
Their heavy boots pounded on the asphalt as they approached the car, their guns drawn. My heart hammered harshly, and my chest heaved.
When they removed the covers, they were met with a surprise. Instead of Polina, they found a fake doll, its plastic eyes staring blankly up at them.
Finn’s face turned red with anger.
I paused, waiting. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest, and my palms were sweaty.
Then it came.
“You bloody, lying, two-faced whore! You fucking little piece of shit! You tricked me!” he roared, his gun trained on me, looking like the monster he truly was.
Adrenaline. Shortness of breath. Heart racing. Fear.
My body responded to the tense situation, and my senses heightened as I faced Finn.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, making my heart race like a runaway train. I felt a shortness of breath, as if my lungs were constricting. Fear crept in, its icy fingers wrapping around my spine. But I refused to let it consume me. I stood tall, my eyes locked on his, my mind racing with the next move. I had to stay focused, had to keep Polina safe. No matter what happened, I had to see this through.
What was it Roman had said about me being a terrible actor?
Nonsense.
In my opinion, I could shine on Broadway if given the chance.
I smiled sweetly, my heart pounding in my chest. “You should have known better than to trust me.”
And then, all hell broke loose. The silence was shattered by a deafening crackle, like the sky itself was splitting apart. Roman’s men emerged from the shadows, their guns blazing. They’d been surrounding the dilapidating buildings. Gunshots echoed through the air, and the shots came in rapid succession.
Finn’s men fell like flies, their bodies crashing to the ground. I watched in awe as Lev led the team, taking them one after the other.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the shooting stopped. The silence that followed was oppressive.
Roman emerged from the shadows, his eyes blazing with fury—dark suit, silver gun, and stormy eyes that promised death. If the Grim Reaper was good-looking and sinfully delicious, he had to be Roman Varkov.
He had been listening to our conversation through the tiny microphone he had hidden in my clothes, and clearly, Finn’s advances toward me had struck a nerve.
He strode toward Finn, his movements swift and deadly.
Finn’s eyes widened in terror as his fist connected with his face, sending him crashing to the ground.
“Pick him up.” His tone was brittle, icy, and biting. Lev picked Finn up. And his fist went flying again. And again. And again.
Until a thread of liquid red flew from Finn’s mouth, soiling his jacket and shoes.
But he didn’t move an inch.
Roman growled, his voice low and menacing. “Nobody fucking touches what’s mine, bastard.”
Finn cowered, trying to scramble away, but Roman was too quick. He pinned him down and pressed his cigar against Finn’s busted lip.
He screamed in agony as Roman applied pressure, his eyes bulging with pain.
I’m going to kill him.
If he didn’t stop, he really was going to kill him. I had to do something, and quick.
“Stop!” I cried, rushing toward them. “Roman, please…please, don’t kill him! We need him alive. Roman!”
And his eyes flicked toward me, his expression unyielding. But he hesitated, the fiery flames smothered, and his grip on Finn loosened slightly.
He let him go, and my hand flew to my chest in relief.
Then, he ordered Lev to do something in Russian.
Before I could squeak, the blond flung his leg and bashed Finn’s rib.
Roman snarled, “Who do you work for?”
Finn hesitated, his eyes darting toward me, then back to Roman. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He knew he was in a precarious position, and I could see the fear written all over his face.
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered, trying to play dumb.
“Lev….”
Lev’s foot went flying to his jaw. He screamed in anguish, and my heart clenched. Not in pity but rather in disgust at the sight and the gruesome memories it jogged.
Roman’s expression hardened, and his eyebrow arched. “Don’t play dumb. I know you’re a spineless leech, sucking off some poor guy with bad intentions. Who is it?”
Finn’s eyes flashed toward me again, and I could see the desperation in them. He knew he was running out of options, and I could sense his reluctance to give up his boss’s identity.
“I…I can’t,” Finn whispered, his voice barely audible.
Roman’s face darkened, his eyes blazing with anger. “You’re going to regret not answering me,” he growled, his fist clenched and ready to strike. “Lev!”
Lev grabbed the man from the ground and swung him into a pole nearby. I swore I heard a bone crack.
“ Fuck! God….”
“You’re going to die either way, dammit,” I mumbled loud enough for him to hear me, and I cursed under my breath. “Just spit out his name already.”
The reality that he was going to die in Roman’s hands crumbled his resolve. He whimpered, and his eyes darted toward me, finally surrendering. He coughed, sputtered, wheezed.
“Benjamin Quinn,” he stammered finally.
I froze, and Roman’s eyes widened with the slightest hint of shock.
Then, his eyes narrowed, and his jaw ticked. “You can’t even so much as look at her, son of a bitch.” He glanced at his watch before unfastening it and handing it to Lev. “You’re going to regret ever crossing me, Finn Jameson.”
And his fist connected with Finn’s face once more.