Chapter 6
Being in a room full of killers wasn’t a first for Cullen. Nor did he expect it to be the last. It was just another part of his job.
It was how still Mia had become that alerted him she was anything but comfortable. Which was odd, considering the way Sergei had greeted her. Or perhaps that was the very reason.
The longer Cullen was around Mia, the more he was sure she was intentionally keeping something from him. He hadn’t yet pieced together what it was, but it definitely had something to do with Sergei Chzov.
And then there was the Russian’s reaction to her mention of a favor. Mia didn’t so much as bat an eye. She was being entirely too careful in containing her emotions. A tell in itself.
He leaned back on the couch and rested an arm along the top cushions. Though he’d read a lot about the Russian mafia, he’d never seen it firsthand before.
The men who greeted them at the gate were Shestyorkas, or the lowest ranking members of the clan. The men who led them inside the building were Byki—bodyguards.
The seven inside Sergei’s office were Boyevik—warriors who made up the main strike force of the clan.
Sergei was the Pakhan—boss—but it was the man behind Sergei who caught Cullen’s attention. He watched everything, listening intently. He was a killer, and Cullen would bet his favorite rifle that the man was the Brigadier—captain and most trusted.
Mia glanced at Cullen but remained quiet while one of Sergei’s men carried over a tray of shot glasses and an unopened bottle of vodka.
Russians and their vodka. Cullen had gotten so drunk off vodka once that he’d actually thought he died. When he hadn’t, he wished he had. But there was no way he would turn away the Pakhan’s vodka, not when they needed his help.
Sergei opened the bottle and topped off three shot glasses. He handed one to Mia, who reluctantly accepted it. Cullen leaned forward and took the one Sergei offered him.
“To favors,” Sergei said, lifting his glass.
“To favors,” Cullen and Mia replied in unison.
Then the three tossed back the clear liquid. Cullen nodded at the smooth taste of the vodka as he set his glass down.
Sergei lifted a white brow and grinned. “You approve?”
“I do,” Cullen replied. “It’s very good.”
“It is my family brand,” the Russian said with pride. “The best in Russia.” He poured another round. “Now, Mia. Tell me of this favor.”
She finished her second shot and set the glass on the coffee table. “We’re looking for someone.”
“My father,” Cullen quickly added.
Sergei didn’t drink his second shot. He stared at Cullen for a long time. “Your father?”
“His name is Orrin Loughman, and we suspect he might be held in one of the warehouses here on the docks.”
For long minutes, Sergei held his gaze. “My docks?”
“If you know anything, it could really help us,” Mia said.
Sergei’s blue eyes turned to her. “You believe Russians took him?”
Cullen remained silent as he watched her tuck her long black hair behind her ear.
“Yes, we know Russians took Orrin,” she replied.
Sergei’s sharp eyes turned chilly. “And you think I’ll turn against my own?”
“I was hoping you’d help an old friend.”
Out of the corner of Cullen’s eye, he saw one of Sergei’s men move behind Mia. He wished he had a weapon. No doubt Sergei had one within reaching distance.
Perhaps it was time for Cullen to chime in again, and hopefully, diffuse the situation. “I’ve not been a good son. I lived my life without any regard for my father.”
“Now that he’s missing, you remember to be a good son?” Sergei asked, doubt in his gaze.
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s a dose of reality. My mother was murdered when I was seven. I blamed my father because I didn’t understand. I want the chance to talk to him again.”
“My mother was also murdered,” Sergei said in a soft voice. His eyes went distant for a moment.
Cullen exchanged a look with Mia. He wasn’t sure if he had made headway with Sergei, or made things worse by bringing up something so painful.
“Do you know who killed your mother?” Sergei asked.
He shook his head. “Every lead I investigated led to a dead end.”
“I found my mother’s killer. It was a rival family trying to gain control of the lands we protected.” Sergei tossed back his shot of vodka and softly set the empty glass on the coffee table. “The closure was needed. You did not get that.”
“I doubt I ever will,” Cullen admitted.
Sergei motioned for his men to leave. They all departed except for the quiet, motionless man who stood in the corner behind Sergei.
“Why was your father taken?” Sergei asked.
Cullen had hoped to omit the reason, but he should’ve known it would be the old Russian’s first question. “My father was sent to find something in Russia.”
Sergei sat straighter, his shrewd eyes narrowing slightly. “Sent by your government?”
“Yes.”
“Did he find what he was looking for?”
Cullen nodded.
Sergei blew out a breath. “What did he take?”
It was Mia who answered. “A bioweapon.”
“I see,” Sergei replied and ran a hand over his mouth and down his chin. “How do you know it was Russians who took him?”
“I flew Orrin and the team,” Mia said. “I suspected it was Russians the moment I knew what the mission was. It is simply by the grace of God that I wasn’t in the hangar when Orrin’s team was killed.”
Cullen pulled his gaze from Mia to look at Sergei. “I know it was Russians because they came after me and my brothers at our ranch.”
Sergei leaned forward, his look intense and focused on Mia. “Explain how you lived.”
Mia glanced his way before she answered Sergei. “I had a problem with the plane. I dropped off Orrin and his men at my hangar and took the plane to get checked. Had nothing been wrong, I would’ve been in the hangar with them.”
“And?” Sergei prompted when she paused.
“I returned to find Orrin gone and the team executed.”
Sergei turned in his chair and looked at the man behind him. “Ti znaesh chto nibut ob etom?”
The man only replied with a single nod of his head.
Cullen leaned over and asked Mia, “What did Sergei ask?”
“If the man knew anything about what I spoke of.”
Now they would wait to see if Sergei would impart any information. Cullen thought he might, but it depended on who the men were who’d taken Orrin.
Sergei slowly turned back to face them. He looked at Mia before turning his blue eyes to Cullen.
Cullen waited for Sergei to say something. When he didn’t, Cullen asked, “Will you help?”
“I am afraid that is not possible,” Sergei stated.
Mia’s shocked expression matched his own. “Sergei, please.”
“It will do you no good to bat those beautiful eyes at me, Dochenka Moya. I cannot help.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?” she asked, angrily.
Sergei swiveled his head to Cullen. “The men you seek are from Russia. They are dangerous. And deadly. If they have not killed your father yet, it is only a matter of time.”
“They want the bioweapon,” he said. “If they kill my father, they’ll never see it again.”
Mia’s head jerked his way, but he ignored her. He wouldn’t willingly turn over the weapon, nor would he allow Orrin to die for something that should have never been developed.
“If these men discover you are here, they will come for you,” Sergei cautioned.
“That’s what I’m counting on.”
“You would put Mia’s life in danger?”
Cullen had no such intentions. He opened his mouth to reply, but Mia beat him to it.
“They killed friends and kidnapped another,” Mia said, outraged. “I won’t sit by while the ‘men’ do all the work. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
Sergei slowly shook his head of white hair. “Not this time, Dochenka Moya. You were already spared. Do not tempt fate a second time.”
“Orrin is my friend,” she said.
Sergei reached over and patted her hand. “Then he is lucky. Did I ever tell you that you remind me of my Nastya? You have her beauty, her courage, and her stubbornness. It got her killed. I fear you are on that same road.”
“I have to find Orrin.”
Cullen saw the way Mia was physically affected by the idea of being excluded from finding Orrin. There was no way he could stop her. The only thing he could do was keep an eye on her.
“Mia won’t be denied,” Cullen told Sergei. “But I will protect her with my life.”
Sergei nodded, a sad smile in place. “I believe you, Cullen Loughman. But this is much bigger than just finding your father and the men who took him.”
“What?” There was something in Sergei’s words that made Cullen’s spine tingle ominously.
“I warned Mia not to work with the Colombians.”
She gave a shrug. “Everything worked out fine. Yes, the cargo was confiscated, and I was arrested. And my pilot’s license has been suspended. But Camilo is dead.”
“Camilo was not the head of the cartel as he led you to believe. I warned you about him.”
Cullen frowned as worry settled in his stomach like a stone. “What is it you know?”
“Camilo once ran the cartel, but another, more powerful group is uniting every criminal faction in South America and Mexico. That is who Camilo answers to.” Sergei paused. “They will be coming for you, Mia.”
“Who is this group you speak of?” Mia demanded.
But Cullen already knew. They were the ones who’d taken Orrin.
“They are called The Saints,” Sergei replied.
Cullen felt his stomach clench with dread. “The same ones who put the hit on Natalie and attacked the ranch.”
“And the same people who took your father.”
Mia’s hand came to rest on Cullen’s leg. He turned his head to her, their gazes locking. The Saints would be coming after her now because of Camilo.
How long before they learned that she was the pilot from Orrin’s mission?
Or worse, what if they’d known all along? What if Camilo hiring her had been a trap?
Then Sergei’s words penetrated his brain. Cullen looked at the Russian. “If The Saints are uniting all the criminal organizations, does that mean you’re part of it?”
When Sergei didn’t immediately answer, Mia gaped at him. “No.”
“They came with an offer,” Sergei admitted. “I declined.”
Cullen glanced at the man in the corner. “How long until they return?”
“Soon, I suspect.” Sergei shrugged. “I will either win or I will not.”
Mia was shaking her head. “This isn’t right. None of it.”
“It is the way,” Sergei said and poured himself another shot of vodka. “Money and power run the world, Dochenka Moya. I suspect The Saints have worked behind the scenes for more years than we could guess. They are making their move now.”
“Then help us,” Mia urged.
Sergei gave her a sad smile before he rose and turned toward his desk. “Lev, walk them out.”
Cullen rose to his feet and waited for Mia to do the same. She stared at Sergei for a long time before she stood and strode from the office angrily.
“She is a handful,” Sergei said from behind his desk. “But worth it.”
Cullen wasn’t sure why the Russian said such a thing. He nodded at the old man and saw Lev waiting. Cullen followed Mia out with Lev on his heels.
“This way,” Lev said in his thick accent, taking them a different route than the one they’d used to enter.
Everyone who saw Lev moved out of his way, getting as far from him as they could. Cullen had seen that kind of respect and fear before. It was always earned.
Which meant that everyone was probably more terrified of Lev than Sergei. Sergei might make the decisions, but it was Lev who carried out those orders.
They turned left, then right, and left again before they came to a door. But Lev didn’t open it. He faced them, his short black hair combed away from his face, and his blue eyes as intense as Sergei’s.
“Sergei would help if he could,” Lev said, his hand upon the door preventing them from leaving.
Mia lifted her face to him. “Who are these men that he’s afraid of?”
One of Lev’s black brows rose as he glared at Mia. “You misunderstand. Sergei does not fear anything. He is attempting to save you.”
“Me?” Mia repeated, surprise in her voice and on her face.
Cullen put his hand on her back. “He did say you reminded him of his daughter.”
She briefly closed her eyes. “If it is The Saints who have Orrin, we don’t have a choice. We have to find them.”
“I know.” Cullen lifted his gaze to find Lev staring at him.
“They will know you have been here,” Lev warned.
He understood what the Brigadier was trying to tell them. He gave a nod of thanks. “We’ll be on the lookout.”
“Do not return. Sergei will not see you again, Mia, until this has been settled.”
She took a step toward Lev. “If Orrin dies because you wouldn’t help, I’ll be back to exact my revenge on you and Sergei.”
Lev’s answer was to throw open the heavy metal door. Cullen gave Mia a little push outside. As he walked past Lev, their eyes clashed.
There was something about Lev. Cullen couldn’t put his finger on it, but the Brigadier seemed to want to help. The people who took Orrin must be powerful indeed to stop Sergei and his men.
Which made Cullen all the more curious. They hadn’t gotten any help from Sergei, but they did gain some information. It was too bad they couldn’t count on the old Russian. He could’ve been a good asset.
“We need to get weapons,” Cullen said as he caught up with Mia.
“Not a problem,” she said as she climbed into her Jeep.