Chapter 23 - Viktor
Riley progresses well through her self-defense lessons, but I still don't let her out of my sight. We barely leave the house and when we do, we take guards with us and avoid easily accessible spots. We mostly visit my family, which is nice because Riley gets along with the girls so well. I also check on Anton, who is still recovering from his injuries. We visit him after one of our daily self-defense lessons.
Riley gets out of the car and looks around, and I realize how observant she needs to be to protect herself. It’s not a way to live. She should be free to go wherever she wants, but she can't because this Vulture guy, Jimmy, is after her. The creep has nearly been caught three times outside my house by my guards, so he isn't giving up. I know that Riley will never be safe until Jimmy is dealt with. I want to attack, but Rigor has made it clear we're supposed to lie low until they make their next move. I don't agree with that. I'm absolutely certain that if I eliminate Jimmy, the Vultures will recognize their inferiority to the Milovs and leave us alone.
I need a plan, one that doesn't involve Rigor, because whatever I propose, he won't accept it. Anton is out of the picture, and Roman would report to Rigor immediately. He's Rigor's second in command, and his loyalty knows no bounds. I don't feel like I'm being disloyal to Rigor, but I know that going against his instructions will have consequences. The question now is, what is my plan?
I'm drawn back to the present as we walk into Anton's penthouse apartment. He's been hiding out here for the last few months. We take the elevator up to the top and a guard lets us in. Anton is lounging on his sofa, drinking a beer.
“It's eleven in the morning,” Riley says to Anton, taking his beer and setting it down. “Have coffee like a normal person.”
“When did you get so cocky?” Anton asks, but he smiles. He winces as he looks over his shoulder. “Maria, please bring coffee for my guests.”
Riley grins and sits down, crossing her legs. “Since you're my brother now.”
“Oh, stab me in the heart, Riley. I thought I still had a chance with you,” Anton jokes.
I look at him. “Want me to break your ribs after all?”
“No, no. That's okay.” Anton holds up his hands.
I sit down, and Anton asks Riley about her classes. While they talk, I try to think about my plan. What am I going to do? I need to tail the gang without them knowing, but if they're following us around, then they know my every move. I need to surprise them. First, I need to know where they are. What I need is two of me.
Maria brings us some coffee and sets it down on the table before hurrying away. I lean forward and pour each of us a cup, passing it to Anton and Riley while they talk. I watch Riley while sipping my coffee. Riley is talking animatedly about how she's improved her marks and how excited she is to complete this year of studying.
“Do you guys have plans for the summer?” Anton asks, looking at me.
I blink at him and then shake my head. “Sorry, lost in thought. Summer. Um… I think we might go away for a week or two. Somewhere nice and cool.”
Riley smiles. “I want to learn to ski,” she admits.
Anton nods. “You'll be a natural.” He drinks his coffee before smacking his lips. “It's nice of you guys to stop by, but honestly, I'm fine.”
“You haven't left the apartment since you got back,” I point out. “You're going to lose your mind.”
“It's not like any of us is spending much time away from our homes,” Anton says.
Riley sighs. “It's so tiresome. I wish this was all over already. I'm ready to live my life, not hide from it anymore. I'd love to go back to campus.”
“I know,” I say softly. “But it's not safe.”
“I know,” she says sadly. She finishes her coffee and sets the cup down.
“We should get going,” I set my cup down. “Behave yourself, Anton.”
“Don't do anything I wouldn’t,” Anton says with a grin.
Riley smiles and leans down and kisses his cheek. “Feel better.”
“Riley, you spoil me,” he teases.
I take her hand and lead her out. We've only been here for half an hour, but I don't want to linger too long. I lead Riley back to the car, where Martin is waiting for us. He opens the back door, and we climb in. Martin drives us back to the mansion, and Riley mentions she's going to nap. I go to my office and sit in front of my computer. I need a plan.
I rock back and forth in my chair with a sigh. I consider using the secret entrance at the back of my property to sneak out and follow them, but they know we're onto them, so they'd be watching for me. I need them to think I'm not a threat. I sit up and realize what I have to do. I go to a spare bedroom where I store things in the closet. I bring down a piece of luggage and pack it with random items to make it seem heavy. I also include a disguise in what looks like my cabin bag, one I can use once I'm sure I'm no longer being followed. I don't disturb Riley. I take the luggage downstairs and tell Martin to drive me to the airport. As we make our way there, I lean forward.
“You're going to drop me off and leave. I will Uber back.”
“Yes, Sir,” Martin says.
“I need it to look as though I've completely left. Make sure the back entrance to the mansion is open. I'll come through there.” I sit back.
Martin pulls up to the airport and I get out, getting my luggage. I wheel it into the airport and go to the ticket counter for international flights. I quickly book a ticket to Russia and check in my big piece of luggage. Once done, I walk through the checkpoints until I'm through to the section of the airport where only passengers are allowed in. I go to the bathroom and change into my disguise. I pull on a grey wig of chin-length hair. I change my clothes into more rough-looking worn-out clothes. I change my shoes. I deposit the backpack in the trash and walk out with just my ticket in hand.
I go back through the checks, using various excuses that I'd forgotten something. Once out, I arrange an Uber and direct it to the street behind my mansion. While we drive, I keep looking back, making sure we're not being followed. I think it's worked. As long as they don't spot me at the house, I can pull this off. I can't tell Riley, though. I don't want to put her in danger, and I don't want her to think she can help. I'll just keep a low profile. The mansion is far enough away from the road, and obscured by trees, so no one will really see into the windows. I like my privacy. They're probably keeping an eye on the front gate to see when we come and go. The only people who know about the back entrance are Anton, me, and Martin.
I haven't even told Riley about it. It's for emergencies only.
And this is an emergency.
The Uber pulls up to a garage door and stops. I get out and wait for the Uber driver to drive off before I open the garage and go in, shutting it behind me and locking it. I walk around a sedan and I get rid of the disguise. I don't want Riley to see it. I walk back to the housekeeping, out of sight. I enter through the back entrance and go up to my office, sitting down as Riley comes in.
“Where were you? I was in here earlier and you were gone,” she says.
“I went to go sort out some work.” I get up and kiss her softly. “Are you hungry?”
“Not yet.” She hugs me tightly. “Maybe later.”
I stroke her head softly and nod. Riley lets go of me and goes to her desk, powering up her laptop. “I am waiting on one more result to see if I am back to straight 'A's.”
I smile. “I'm sure you got it. You've worked so hard to catch up.”
“You have so much faith in me,” Riley says with a warm smile.
“Well, you're easy to have faith in. You're amazing. I'm going to have to go out a few times this week. I want you to stay home and stay safe.”
“Where are you going to go?” Riley asks.
“Just family stuff. Work that I need to sort out,” I say.
Riley nods and goes back to her laptop. I kiss her head again and return to my laptop. I start researching possible locations that the Vultures gang has used as meeting spots. My computer is turned away from Riley, so she can't see what I'm doing.
“Results aren't in yet,” she says, standing. “I'm going to go watch a movie. Are you going to be long?”
“I'll try not to be,” I say. “Go pick something good and enjoy it.”
Riley leaves, and I return to my research. I take longer than I expect, and I spend most of the rest of the week just doing research. I use software to trace individuals, scan social media, and tap into family contacts to locate and track gang members’ phones. Riley seems to sense that I'm somewhat absent, but she leaves me be. She doesn't say anything.
If her results have come in, she hasn't mentioned it to me, and every time I remember to ask her, she's not around. By the time I'm with her again, I've forgotten. Then I feel bad when I remember once more. Riley is practicing her shooting alone because I don't want to be seen, and shooting guns will definitely attract attention. She doesn't know that, though. She just thinks I'm really busy with work.
By Friday I've made headway, and I've noticed a pattern. Most of the cellphone traces go to a section of warehouses every day. This must be their new meeting spot. I send Riley to Gwen's house and sneak out the back. I pull up down the side street and see Riley go past with Martin and guards on her way to Gwen. I wait and sure enough, an unmarked car pulls out and starts following them. I wait and pull out before I lose them and I follow the unmarked car. The car follows them until they get to Gwen, and then they park down the street for a few hours while Riley visits Gwen. It makes me so angry. I want to walk up to the car and shoot them all, but there's a bigger picture here.
I don't. I wait. Another unmarked car pulls up behind them, and they drive off. This is my cue. I pull out and follow them. They don't seem to notice I'm following; I’m good at what I do. We drive to the warehouse district, where the cell phones have been pinging, and I park the car. I take a duffel bag out of the trunk and walk the rest of the way, quickly locating where they are. I keep watch from behind another warehouse. They don't have guards outside, but that doesn’t mean the building isn’t being watched.
I put the duffel bag down gently. I need to decide what to do next. Do I just blow up the building? Is Jimmy even in there? How will I know? I could sit here and watch until he comes, and once confirmed, I can blow up the place. I am ready to get settled and just wait for Jimmy to show up before I set up the explosives. It will give me time to see if they have any external guards I missed. I watch the people come and go, keeping out of sight.
Without warning, the building suddenly explodes. I'm thrown backward from the blast. Debris rains down and I scramble to get up. This is going to attract the cops and they're going to find me here with explosives and think I did it. I don't know who did it but apparently, I'm not the only one who has a beef with the Vultures. Someone grabs me from behind and pulls me backward. I turn around to punch them and freeze.
“We need to go now,” Anton says. “Come.”