Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
AXEL
Tools clanged noisily around me, and the smell of motor oil and hot engines lingered at the back of my throat.
Without speaking or looking at any of the workers, I made my way to a private room at the back of the auto shop.
I hadn’t seen Yuri, my handler, for several weeks, but it felt like years.
He sat at the table in the middle of the dank, dimly lit room, and his eyes never left my face. “You look like hell. Are you okay?”
I sat down on the hard wooden chair across from him and crossed my arms over my chest. “How close are we to taking down Grisha’s family?”
“The information you’ve brought us about Grisha and his organization will be enough to convict him for ten years max. But you know our goal is to shut down his entire organization and put him away for life. Unfortunately, we need more.”
“I know,” I agreed in a flat voice.
“Any chance you can get closer to the family?”
I hesitated, for some reason not wanting to share details about my situation with Mila. “I’ve been invited to Zavidovo.”
Yuri’s eyebrows shot up. “The family weekend? How did you make that happen?”
“They’re trying to marry Mila off to Sergei.”
His eyes widened slightly. “What does that have to do with you?”
“After I returned her home, she told Grisha she was in love with me.”
Yuri didn’t even blink. “Is she?”
“She’s just trying to get out of marrying Sergei.”
“She orchestrated this?”
“Yes.”
Yuri sat back in his chair and stared at me without expression. “Unfortunately, she’ll still wake up married against her will to a man of her uncle’s choosing.”
I didn’t want to dwell on Mila’s fate. “The weekend gives me an opportunity to get closer to Grisha. Did you get me the background on Mila’s parents?”
He pulled a thin file out of his bag and pushed it toward me.
“There’s not much to tell. It looks like Mila’s father didn’t want to be part of the family business.
He took his wife and fled to Canada. They mysteriously died in a car accident when Mila was a teenager.
Grisha was there the next day to pick up the pieces. ”
I opened the file and looked at the one family photo stapled to the inside of the folder. Mila was maybe twelve in the photo. She looked happy and was smiling alongside her parents. “You think Grisha had something to do with their death?”
“We can’t prove anything.” A slight pause. “I need to tell you that we’ve been in contact with the Canadian government.”
“About what?”
“The Volkov family is the most ruthless Bratva family in Vancouver.”
“Grisha’s mortal enemy,” I said dryly.
“They were concerned about the intel that Grisha might be sending Sergei to Vancouver.”
“They should be.” Sending Sergei was like pouring gunpowder onto a burning flame. Everything would get worse for the Canadians and the Volkov family when he arrived. I predicted chaotic violence.
I had enough on my plate. I didn’t need to worry about something that was happening thousands of miles from my own problems.
“Contact me after Zavidovo, especially if you learn anything more about the Vancouver situation and when they’re sending Sergei.”
“Will do.”
“And get some sleep.”
I gave him a tired smile as I left.
I was concerned about my upcoming weekend with Mila and her family mostly because I wasn’t sure if Grisha would buy our act.
If he didn’t, it wouldn’t go well for me or Mila.
But the payoff, if he did believe us, could help me finally get closer to him, which would ultimately put him away for good.
I made my way through the darkening streets, crisscrossing repeatedly until I was sure no one had followed me.
Only then did I make my way back to my place to try to get a few hours of sleep.
Friday afternoon
As I slowly drove up the long drive lined with trees toward Lesnoy Bereg, the impressive retreat emerged through the mist like a citadel born from the forest itself.
It looked luxurious, sprawling, and decadent, even in its restraint.
The late afternoon light rippled through the trees, casting long shadows on the road.
I didn’t look forward to spending the entire weekend in close quarters with Grisha and his family.
One mishap from Mila or myself and we could easily be exposed.
We’d both be under careful watch this weekend as Grisha tried to determine the depth of our relationship.
I could feel Mila’s contempt, earned or not, like a hot current beneath the surface.
She professed to her uncle that she loved me, but how long before he saw the truth of things between us?
I walked into the extravagant foyer of the lodge, momentarily taken aback by the opulence of the place. High ceilings, three massive fireplaces, and a wall of windows that offered a spectacular view of the lake.
The front desk clerk handed me my room key. “Your other party has already checked in.”
That didn’t surprise me. I had expected to bunk with another member of Grisha’s security detail. “Thank you.”
I was focused on my phone when I let myself into the room.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” a small voice gasped from across the room.
Mila stood in the doorway of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body and her long hair dripping wet on her shoulders. Beneath all that enraged indignation was breathless fear.
“The front desk sent me to this room.”
“Get out!” She took a small step toward me, but her entire body trembled.
“Your uncle’s testing us,” I said, without emotion.
She froze at that statement and then spun back into the bathroom and slammed the door.
I didn’t unpack my bag or even take off my coat. I simply moved to the chair closest to the door and waited for her to come out.
It didn’t take her long. She reappeared a few moments later, dressed in casual baggy clothes with her wet hair twisted up in a bun on the top of her head. Her face was freshly washed and free of makeup, making her look impossibly young.
“You can’t stay in this room.” Her voice was quiet but strong.
I liked a woman with a backbone, and she had a lot of conviction, but I wasn’t leaving this room until she understood the consequences of those actions.
“And when your uncle realizes that you kicked me out? What’ll happen when he realizes that this thing between us is just a ruse so you can avoid marrying Sergei?”
“Marrying Sergei isn’t an option,” she retorted hotly.
I stood up and picked up my bag, dropping it near the couch. “Then you need to sell this like it matters.”
She crossed the room and stood in silent protest, watching as I unzipped my bag. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your uncle is looking for signs that you’re happy. He wants to see that I’m what you want.”
She huffed. “You think that gives you access to me? Because I’m too afraid to tell my uncle that this also isn’t what I want?”
“I’m not interested in having access to you. I’m interested in not being punished for your games.”
“And that means you get to invade my privacy?”
I turned to her fully. “Get your head in the game. You need to start thinking strategically about how you want your uncle to view us as a couple.”
She crossed her arms, but she didn’t argue. She just stated her boundaries. “I need to get ready for tonight.”
We had been summoned to meet the family over drinks later that evening. “You have an hour. I’ll be back to pick you up.”
The evening function was held in a private dining room for all of Grisha’s guests.
I stood close to Mila, guiding her through the small crowd with a gentle hand on her back.
I never stood more than a couple feet away from her, always scanning, acting more like protective detail than lover.
This was a deliberate decision, considering we were being watched from all sides.
I secured us drinks and then stood close while the rest of the room took their time checking us out.
She whispered to me, “I thought you were supposed to act like you’re in love with me.”
“Shall I grope you?”
“Why is everyone looking at us?”
“Just act like you’re enjoying yourself.” I took a sip of my soda water before smiling down at her. “See? This is me acting like I like you.”
She gave me a tentative smile back. “How this?”
Her smile was awkward as hell. In my peripheral, I saw Grisha watching us from across the room. I took that opportunity to lean down and whisper in her ear. “Your uncle is watching us, so now you need to stare into my eyes.”
She pulled her head back and looked up at me, her expression wary. “Like this?”
I softened my gaze and looked at her like I would a lover. I searched her eyes, dropped my glance to her mouth and then slowly lifted my gaze back to hers.
“This is me pretending to be interested in you,” I murmured.
Irritation flashed in her gaze. “This is so annoying.”
I pasted an indulgent little smile on my face and leaned forward so I could whisper. “No. It would be annoying if Sergei could control your every move.”
A trembling hand reached up and squeezed my arm. She lifted her gaze to mine, her expression one of open vulnerability and emotion. “How’s this?”
I studied her expression and responded with a bigger smile that I didn’t feel. “Better.”
Her eyes flitted to the side. “Is everyone still watching us?”
I ignored her question. Grisha was approaching the bar. “You want another drink?”
“Not really.”
“I’m getting you one.”
I left her standing alone as I made my way to the bar. Grisha didn’t greet me as I stepped toward him. Instead, he remained neutral, waiting for me to make the first move.
“Mila and I have been put in the same room. I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a mistake.”
He paused, and then he nodded as satisfaction spread across his face. “It’s not a mistake anymore. Consider yourself blessed.”
I looked over at Mila. She stood by herself, on the outskirts of the room, clearly an outsider in her own family. There was something so innocent about her.