7. Sofia
SOFIA
Getting here without being seen was trickier than I thought it would be.
A few nights back, I had the brilliant idea to shadow a car or truck going up the hillside as far as we could, then hike it the rest of the way on foot.
Adam, of course, hated that idea, especially since if we didn’t get close enough, we might have a hard time escaping.
Looking at the house’s exterior online, however, I couldn’t see a way to get close enough unless we had some cover.
Then, a day and a half ago, Adam came up with a plan to reserve a moving truck.
There were other houses in those hills. It wasn’t out of the realm of imagination to spot a moving truck coming through.
So, renting a truck it was. Once we had the truck, the attire was all that was left.
That was also a fight. Adam thought we should be in overalls just in case we were stopped, but I vetoed that.
It was going to be more important not to be seen once we got there.
So skintight, long-sleeved, all-black outfits.
A few hours ago, we were standing in our hotel room and I was looking myself over in the bathroom mirror.
The soft black material of my yoga pants left very little to the imagination.
I ended up going back and forth as to whether or not I was going to wear underwear before opting to go without.
I need as much freedom of movement as I can get.
A black tank top and jacket and my long hair tied up in a bun and we were set.
Adam’s outfit is similar, but he opted for long sleeves and black jeans.
At the time that I saw him in the hotel room, I didn’t have the bandwidth to explain why tight fitting clothes are better when traipsing through wooded areas stealthily.
And so, we drove the truck up the hillside, passing by million-dollar houses of all different shapes and sizes, a warm glow coming from their windows.
People who lived in worlds different from ours.
Worlds where it’s reasonable not to ever worry about being attacked by men with guns at any given moment.
They’re like parallel universes where people can trust their delivery person or mailman not to shoot them in the face when you open your front door.
It’s a world that I thought we lived in up until I was around ten. Then I understood how different we are. Tonight is a reflection of that. This role that we’re playing is truly the only logical course of action. Above all else, Adam and I must avenge our father.
We parked the moving truck about a half mile away and in front of another home.
Far enough away to stay inconspicuous and close enough to make it back with a good sprint if need be.
We traveled through the short span of woods between properties in virtual silence, keeping an eye out for any patrols that might be present.
There were none. I guess somehow, the Archangels haven’t gotten wind of our plan to attack them. Good. We need this to be a surprise.
We’ve both got sniper rifles strapped to our backs and handguns at our hips. I decided at the last minute that the bigger gun, the AR-500, could stay behind. This has to be cold and calculated, not a firefight.
When we got to the tree line right before the gates, we saw a collection of cars along the long driveway going up to the house. I wasn’t expecting that and Adam immediately panicked.
“You said he’d be alone at this time of night,” he hissed at me in the darkness. “This looks like the whole army’s here.”
“It’s probably a meeting or something,” I told him. “We’ll just wait them out.”
And so we did. And now… now, we’re watching the last car drive off. It reaches the end of the long drive and Adam asks, “Okay. So, that’s it, then? Let’s go.” He goes to stand up from our hiding spot behind a fallen log. I grab his shoulder.
“Hold off a second,” I tell him, pointing to the windows on the first floor. A couple of them are still glowing with amber light. “He’s still awake. Let’s wait until all the windows go dark.”
He nods, the silhouette of his head rocking in the darkness. “You’ll sneak in,” he says, “and all I have to do is keep watch, wait for your signal.”
“Right. And if you happen to see Malkin leaving—”
“Get him right between the eyes. Like we practiced. I got it.”
I give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Exactly.”
We hunker down and wait. Softly, Adam sucks his teeth. “Hard to believe he lives alone in that big house.”
“We don’t know for sure that he does.” He’s referring to the fact that I have yet to find any article or anything otherwise about Malkin’s family.
He’s never been photographed with any women or children.
I’ve been operating under the assumption that somehow, he’s managed to keep his family out of the public eye.
But given that there weren’t even photos of family in the court when he was on trial all those years ago…
“You’ll never find him in there,” Adam says. “It’s huge.”
“Sure I will.” I point to one of the lighted windows on the bottom floor. “He’ll turn that light off when he’s ready for bed. We’ll probably see more lights flicker off as he moves through the house and then wherever his bedroom is will light up.”
“Unless he likes walking in the dark like a psycho.” He scoffs. “You’re cutting him too much slack.”
“I’m not,” I say, a little offended. “I’m being logical.”
“How can you be logical about a man who’s so obviously brutal?” Adam’s voice sounds deeper, angrier. He looks down at his gun in the darkness. “I hope he tries to run.”
I don’t disagree with him. I need him a little bloodthirsty right now. It’s better than the fearful rabbit he’s been throughout this.
“I’m going to start moving toward the house,” she says. “It’s been long enough and it’s at least a quarter of a mile across this lawn. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck.”
And I’m on the move. I stay low as I move along the tree line, watching out for any patrols. Curiously, there doesn’t appear to be any. It’s a little strange and makes me feel like I might be walking into an ambush. I can’t say I feel too good about this setup.
It’s been a week since everything happened, though. Titus might be slacking, thinking that his main competitor is dead and his children have left town. It’s possible that he’s been lulled into false security.
Still. Even my father always had someone posted around the front of our house and I don’t even see anyone there. It is dark, though. I shouldn’t take it for granted.
The wooded area starts to drop off and veer to the right about halfway to the house, so I take that as my cue to slip in through the gates.
The wrought iron bars are spaced apart just enough so that I can slide through fairly easily.
Once that’s done, I start jogging across the green grass toward the bushes around the house, hoping the whole way that any hidden forces don’t spot me.
I get to the bushes pretty quickly and without issue.
Damn. Malkin is slipping. This might be easier than I thought it would be.
The bushes flank part of the driveway and porch and some of the windows on the first floor.
I don’t know if any of them are unlocked, but that’s all right.
From what I can see, they’re the types of windows with the locks in the middle. I can get those open easily.
I move to the closest one and peer into it. Through the drawn curtains, I can see part of the couch and the coffee table. The furnishings look modern. Black lacquered glass coffee table, leather couches… It’s a little strange for a Pakhan, but what do I know? Titus isn’t sixty like my father was.
I reach in my boot and pull out my hunting knife, jimmy the lock, slip inside, hide, and wait for the opportunity. My heart is pounding hard as I jam the knife in the space between the panes and the glass in the center of the window, sliding it over until the lock comes free with a soft click.
Easy peasy—
The muffled sound of talking grabs my attention and I freeze for a second. The sound gets closer, so I hunker down under the window. Listening, I realize it’s coming from the other direction, toward the door.
Fuck. He’s on the move sooner than I was expecting. I might have to move through the dark.
The door opens. “Good nigh—”
A gunshot rings out and I jump, startled. The smell of gunpowder laced with blood fills the air.
And shouting. Somebody’s cursing. Malkin. I hear him speaking in fast Russian.
“Natalie. It’s all right. It’s…”
He stops. Oh, shit. Adam, what did you do?
The front of the house lights up and suddenly, I see shadows moving everywhere on the grounds. Dammit.
I could try to run back. If I stay here, they will eventually find me. If I try to run, they’ll shoot me down the second I’m spotted.
I duck behind the bushes as several men run up, guns drawn. One of them is a young man with a shaved head and dead eyes. Old bruises cover his face and he’s got a bandage over the bridge of his nose. They stop on the front stairs and Malkin says, “It came from that direction.”
Fuck, they’re going after Adam. I hope he’s watching. I hope he runs. As for me…
I’m too close to give up. I jump up to the window I just unlocked and I open it. Two seconds before I can get inside, I hear from behind me, “Stop!”
I look over my shoulder to see the one with the shaved head aiming for me. Another one stops him, grabbing his arm and pushing it down. “Alive, stupid,” he barks at him.
I throw myself through the window, but I only get about halfway before I feel arms around my waist pulling me back. I kick out, trying to catch whoever’s holding me.
“Come on, little rabbit,” one of them growls as he yanks me by the waist and pulls me back outside.
I tumble backward, falling on the hard ground.
By the light of the spotlight around me, I see they both have the same face.
Twins. One with hair and one without. The one without hair is the one with bruises all over his face. He scowls at me, his black eyes alight.
I scramble to get away and I feel arms grab at me.
I roll over, kicking away arms and hands.
One of them yelps out in pain as I get to my feet and start running.
I immediately hear footfalls behind me. It’s nothing but open expanse straight ahead, the front lawn of the property dipping off into the dark of night the further I get away from the lights of the house.
And then I hear gunshots. Instinctively, I fall to the ground and cover my head. In seconds, I realize I haven’t been shot and I try to get to my feet again. I’m yanked up by my arm.
“Little rabbit,” the one with the shaved head says breathlessly. “You can’t escape—”
I whirl around, elbows up as I swing back at him. It catches him in the side of his head and his head rocks sideways, but he keeps his hold on my arm.
“Fucking little bitch!”
I twist my arm out of his grip as he brings his gun up. I swing my leg up, connecting with his wrist as I knock it free from his hand. In this moment, I realize that I’ve gone around and around with this guy before. The faint tint of his bruised skin where I broke his nose looks more prominent now.
I follow the kick with a turn and a back kick, hitting him the chest. He goes flying to the ground. His twin runs up, gun pointed at me as he falls.
“I think that’s quite enough of that,” he says as he steps around his brother. The one with the shaved head twitches and groans in the grass for a second before getting on his hands and knees, coughing blood on the grass.
I put my hands up and say, “You’re supposed to take me alive, right? If I start running and you shoot me, your boss is going to be pissed.”
“He didn’t say I couldn’t shoot you in the legs,” he says. “Blow your knees out. It’s a long crawl to freedom from here, little rabbit.”
Fuck. I’m caught. I look around wildly for an exit and immediately see none. Shadows from the house are walking our way.
If this one gets close enough to me, I can disarm him. But after that…
He seems to know that and he’s keeping his distance, standing by his brother, who’s now getting back to his feet. As soon as he’s up, he takes a step toward me. “I’m going to rip your fucking limbs off—”
His brother stops him, blocking him with an arm to stop his path. “She beat your ass once. Don’t give her a chance to do it again.”
The bald one grumbles and steps back, letting his brother take over the interaction.
The other one looks at me and says, “Let’s make this easy, rabbit. Come along quietly.”
I shake my head. “No way I’m coming with you.”
He smiles slowly, directing his aim at my legs. “We can carry you back, if you’d prefer.”
The shadows behind him are getting closer. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Please, Adam. Don’t get caught. Somebody has to make them pay.
I take a step forward, hands still up. He keeps his gun on me as well as a safe distance and he walks me back to the house.