Chapter 5
Mia continued to her Jeep with Cullen by her side. She was still reeling from whatever had happened when she touched him. It almost felt electric. But it had been warm, and made her long to move closer to him.
Somehow, she’d managed to hold steady and not give in. It’d been close, though.
The night air had a sharp nip to it that cooled her now heated skin. They climbed into the vehicle. She noticed how Cullen took in everything around him with one glance. He was so much like his father, and he didn’t even know it.
She started the engine and put the Jeep in drive. They exited the base and drove along the streets toward the docks. She wasn’t exactly thrilled that they were headed there.
Her relationship with Sergei was . . . difficult at best. He wasn’t a man to be messed with in any form. Sergei was very old school and valued loyalty above everything.
But he also killed without hesitation.
“You don’t like going to the docks, do you?” Cullen asked.
She wasn’t sure how to answer his question since there was so much history between her and Sergei. “The docks are a dangerous place, but Sergei might be able to help.”
Cullen didn’t say more, but she felt his gaze on her several times while she maneuvered through the streets. She didn’t take him straight to the dock entrance, but rather to a bridge overlooking the area.
She stopped the Jeep and turned off the engine to look out over the lights that lit up the area. He exited and strode to the railing of the bridge.
Sighing, she followed. As she came to stand beside him, she pointed to the warehouses. “There are a few that aren’t being used, but they are all patrolled nonetheless. Businesses pay top dollar to Sergei to make sure their products are kept safe.”
“If I were a Russian holding an American captive, I’d turn to my countrymen for help,” Cullen said.
“The problem is Sergei.”
Cullen’s hazel gaze swung to her. “Exactly who is Sergei?”
“Sergei Chzov. As I said earlier, he controls the docks—and a large portion of Dover. Nothing is done without his approval.”
“So we need to talk to him.”
“He won’t give up another Russian.”
A small frown furrowed Cullen’s forehead. “How do you know so much about the docks and Sergei?”
“My freelance work has put me in contact with Sergei a few times.” It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t the entire truth either, but for now, it would suffice.
“Perfect. That means you can talk to him. Every man has his price, even a man like Sergei. We need to find what his is.”
She shook her head. “He has power and money. There is nothing we have that he wants.”
“I highly doubt that. It won’t hurt to pay him a visit and learn what we can.”
“Are you even listening to me?” she asked in frustration. “It wouldn’t be in our best interests to alert the group who took Orrin that we might know where they’re holding him.”
“That’s exactly what we need to do.”
She blinked, taken aback. “So they can move your father?”
“So they know we’re closing in. They’ll make a mistake that way.”
She still wasn’t convinced. The hit on the team had been done quickly without alerting the base. This “group” didn’t seem the type to make such mistakes.
Cullen leaned an arm on the iron railing. “So far, the Russians have had the upper hand. They suspect we have the bioweapon. It’s time we let them know we’re not going down without a fight.”
“It might well kill your father. They’re holding him because they think he’ll give up the location of the weapon.”
“He had you send it to Callie because he knew she’d keep it safe.”
Mia slid her gaze to the many warehouses. There was no way around it. He was determined to see Sergei, and she was going to have to talk to the Russian leader. By now, Sergei knew of the fiasco with Camilo.
No doubt there would be an “I told you so” session. She was ready to admit that Sergei had been right about the Colombians, but she’d taken the chance in an effort to find Orrin.
And the money had been good, as well.
At least she didn’t have to worry about the Colombians now. With Camilo dead, their attention would turn to finding another leader.
“What if Sergei is part of the Russian group who took Orrin?” she asked.
“Then we’ll know that soon enough,” Cullen replied. “Information is to our advantage. Unless there’s a reason you don’t want to talk to Sergei.”
He was getting suspicious. She faced Cullen and met his gaze. “He likes to show his power. I’m merely pointing out that we’re going to be walking into a place with everyone against us. I’d like to walk out, because if we don’t, who is going to help your father?”
“We’ll be walking out of there,” Cullen promised.
“The same cockiness as your father.”
He merely smiled. “You call it cockiness. I call it confidence.”
She could only shake her head as he got back in the Jeep. Mia joined him and started the vehicle, but she didn’t drive off. “We’ll never get to search those warehouses without Sergei’s consent.”
“We’ll have to sneak in.”
“He’ll double security.”
“Then we’ll adjust. We’re going to search those warehouses with or without Sergei’s help.”
What Cullen was going to do was get them killed. She would have to keep him in check when they saw Sergei.
She drove across the bridge and turned left toward the docks. There was plenty of activity all around, even in the middle of the night.
When they reached the gates, she rolled down her window and recognized two of the four men standing guard, though she didn’t recall their names.
“Can not stay away, huh?” one of the Russians asked with a heavy accent and a smirk.
She flashed them a smile. “I need to talk to Sergei.”
“On what business?” another of the Russians asked.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Cullen eyeing the men walking around her Jeep. “That’s between Sergei and me.”
“He is a busy man.”
She wanted to roll her eyes. Why did it always have to be the same dance each time she visited?
“And I’m a busy woman,” she replied tightly.
One of the Russians snorted. “We’ll see about that,” he said and brought his cell phone to his ear.
He turned away so she couldn’t hear the conversation. She wasn’t at all comfortable with the men circling the Jeep. They didn’t usually do that, which meant Sergei was on high alert.
“Relax,” Cullen whispered. “It’ll be fine.”
“You don’t know Sergei.”
“I know men like him. They’re all the same no matter what nationality they are or where they’ve set up shop.”
She hoped Cullen knew what he was talking about. In all her dealings with Sergei, she’d managed to come out on top. How much longer could her luck hold out? Not to mention she was coming to him with a request. Something she didn’t like doing and went out of her way to avoid.
“Do you have any weapons?” Cullen asked.
“There’s a gun under each seat, one in the glove compartment, and another in the center console. There’s a knife tucked in the side of each door.”
Cullen reached down between his seat and the door and found the knife that he easily slid into his boot before pulling his pants leg back down.
“They’ll search us.”
“Which is why I’m not getting a gun,” he said with a wink.
So much like his father. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and glanced at the man talking on the phone. He didn’t look pleased as he hung up and turned to her.
He sent her a glare and motioned to one of the others to open the gate. Mia gave him a big smile and waved with her fingers before driving off.
“He didn’t like you,” Cullen pointed out.
She shrugged indifferently. “I might’ve made him look the idiot the last time I had dealings with Sergei.”
“Which was when?”
“A week ago.”
All too soon, she pulled up to the building that housed the dock offices. The door opened, and two men in black leather jackets walked out.
She shut off the Jeep and blew out a breath. “Let’s get this over with.”
“You don’t have faith I’ll get us out of this?”
“I have plenty of faith.” That one day, Sergei might be responsible for her death. Then again, she was the one who kept taking his job offers.
Cullen winked at her and unfolded his tall frame from the vehicle. She was slower to follow. She knew better than to bring a weapon to see Sergei. His men always found them, and they were never returned.
She opened the door and exited. Cullen stood at the front of her Jeep, staring at the two men. She walked to the three of them. “Hi, boys. I believe Sergei is waiting for us.”
“In a moment,” said the one on the left.
She never liked waiting, but it was worse when it was Sergei. He could have someone in there, or he could be getting ready to have a showdown of some sort. One never knew with a man like him.
Each of the men checked Mia and Cullen for weapons, taking the knife from Cullen before returning to their spots against the door.
Cullen leaned back against her Jeep and folded his arms over his chest as he yawned. She was so glad this didn’t seem to affect him. Then again, how could it? He had no idea the kind of man Sergei was—or why she was a little scared of the Russian.
For thirty minutes, they waited in the damp before she saw more men exit the side of the office. They wore dark suits. One held a briefcase. They glanced her way before getting into three black Audis.
There were still two Russians guarding them. The one on the left opened the door to the building. “Now you may go in.”
She cast another look at the men who were leaving. They were big and had an Eastern European look about them. They could be the men who’d taken Orrin and killed his team.
It was just another reason she didn’t want to talk to Sergei. Then again, he knew everything there was to know about Russians in the area. Sergei could impart information—but there would be a price.
She didn’t think Cullen was going to like the cost. She knew she never did. And the few times she’d come to Sergei, she hadn’t had a choice. It was just how the Russian liked it.
She much preferred it when he came to her. Though, that had been a while. Now, she would be indebted to him. Something that needed to be remedied. And soon.
Mia entered the building, combing her fingers through her hair. The one thing she’d learned about Sergei was that he liked women.
She intrigued him because she was a female in their world. She didn’t take any bullshit, knew how to talk her way out of situations, and didn’t hide the fact that she was a woman. It’s how she’d won him over the first time.
It was how she kept winning him over.
One of the Russians led the way, while the other remained a few steps behind. She spotted the guns hidden beneath their leather jackets.
They approached another set of doors guarded by two heavily armed men, who watched them warily. As they neared, the two guards stared at her until she was through the double doors and standing inside the plush office of Sergei Chzov.
“Mia!” Sergei said with a big smile and open arms.
The Russian was in his late sixties with a thick swath of snow white hair atop his head. He was tall with wide shoulders, meaty hands she’d seen choke the life out of people, and vivid blue eyes.
“Sergei,” she replied, smiling. It was hard not to like him, even if he was a ruthless killer. Every time he saw her, he was grinning, welcoming her as if she were a part of his family.
And in some ways, she was.
What did that say about her? That she was just as ruthless? That she had no problem working with gangsters? Or that she was strong enough to keep her wits about her with such men?
“Sit, sit,” he urged, pointing to the burgundy leather couch as he rose from behind his desk and walked toward them.
She stopped by the sofa, but she didn’t sit. Sergei’s gaze shifted to Cullen. The Russian’s steps slowed, and immediately the men—all seven of them—palmed weapons.
“Who is your guest, Mia?” Sergei asked.
She released a breath. “This is Cullen Michaels.”
“Loughman,” Cullen corrected her.
She gaped at him, confused as to why he would give his real name. So much for her trying to keep the knowledge of who Cullen was from the men who’d taken Orrin.
Sergei folded his arms over his chest. “Which is it? Michaels or Loughman?”
“Loughman,” Cullen replied. “Perhaps you’ve heard that name before.”
“Perhaps. What concern of it is yours?”
She grabbed Cullen’s arm and pulled him down onto the couch. As soon as they sat, Sergei’s men lowered their weapons, though they didn’t put them away.
“Sergei, we need your help,” Mia said.
His blue eyes slid to her. “A favor?”
“A favor,” she said past the lump in her throat. “I’ll owe you.”
“Something you swore would never happen again,” he replied with a grin. Then he dropped his arms and sank into a chair. “It must be grave for you to break such a promise. Tell me. I am curious to know what could rattle you.”