Chapter 24 - Gela
“Can you hear me?” Valentin's voice is crisp in my ear.
I glance into my bag, pretending to search for something while I subtly press the nearly invisible earpiece deeper into my ear, and adjust my hair to fall around it.
“Yes,” I murmur.
“Good. Leonid is across the street, and I'm in the black SUV parked at the corner. Just play it cool and let things unfold as they do. We're right here if anything goes sideways.”
“Got you,” I say in a confident voice, even though the anxiety in my stomach has me in knots. If I didn’t have him watching over me, I would’ve been a complete mess.
I take a sip of my coffee and glance again at the door. Alex is running a little late, but that only gives me more time to brace myself.
Alex and I met a couple of times over the past two weeks, and he emailed me last night about an ‘interested client’ who would like to meet me. I already have a hunch who this client is, and the Yuri brothers stayed up all night preparing for anything that might happen.
“He's coming,” Valentin says into the earphone. “Be aware.”
I immediately pull up my laptop and pretend to look busy, and when I hear the door open, I look up and wave him over.
He spots me and waves back, weaving between tables to reach me.
“Gela! So sorry I'm late. “Traffic was a nightmare.”
“No problem.” I smile as he takes his seat. “I was just reviewing the mock-ups for your campaign.”
Alex flags down a waitress and orders an espresso before turning his attention back to me. “So, how are those coming along?”
I push the folder across the table. “I've finalized the digital strategy portion. Take a look and let me know what you think.”
While he flips through the pages, I'm hyperaware of the earpiece in my ear. One wrong move, and I could be in real trouble if caught.
Yet, at the same time, I thank the stars that Valentin’s around the corner, ready to step in if anything goes wrong. Without him, I couldn’t do this.
“This looks great.” Alex points to one of the graphics. “The social media angle is exactly what we need.”
“I thought you'd like that.” I smile. “So, anyway, when’s the potential client coming? He’s joining us here, right?”
I lean forward, look excited, and play the perfect part.
“So.” He leans forward, too. “There’s been a change of plans. I’m so sorry to spring this on you, but my friend is a real busy guy. He was wondering if we could go meet him, instead.”
The trap is so obvious it might as well have flashing neon signs. In my ear, I hear Valentin hiss out a ‘yeah, right,’ and I make sure not to smile.
“Right now?” I ask, pretending to be flustered.
“I know, it throws off your schedule. But, he’s pretty nearby.”
“Play along,” Valentin whispers. “We're ready to move at a moment's notice.”
I chew my lower lip and act like I’m thinking, before giving him a nod and a polite smile. “Sure. This means a lot, and I really do need new clients.”
“Excellent!” He claps his hands, and I swear I see a look of relief in his eyes.
I call for the bill and start gathering my hands, throwing Alex another grateful look. “I'm excited to meet him.”
Alex throws down some cash at the waitress and looks like he’s in a hurry to get out of here as he ushers me toward the door. “My car's just outside.”
As we walk out of the café, I see a couple of Valentin’s men in plainclothes. Under usual circumstances, I’d be scared as hell. But with these guys around, I’m starting to feel like I’m made for this mission.
I slide into Alex's car, and then we’re moving.
“We're tracking you,” Valentin assures me through the earpiece. “Just keep acting innocent.”
***
Ten minutes later, we pull up outside a desolate-looking building with no people or cars parked outside. My hands feel clammy when I step out of the car.
“We’re … meeting your client here?” I ask incredulously, just like I would if I didn’t know what was going on here.
“He values his privacy.” Alex looks sheepish as he leads me inside.
When we step in, I notice it's a warehouse that's been converted into a kind of den. There’s expensive leather furniture, bookshelves, dim lighting, and even a bar.
And no windows.
My eyes flicker to the man standing by one of the bookshelves, with his back to us as he peruses the titles.
Alex clears his throat, and the man turns slowly, like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and then, my eyes meet none other than Viktor Zakharov’s.
“Mrs. Yuri,” he says, “how nice of you to join us.”
“You…what are you doing here?” I force a tremble in my voice and take a step back, my eyes darting to the door.
“Don’t even think of running, Mrs. Yuri,” Viktor hisses. “There isn’t a person for miles who will see you, let alone hear your screams.”
Like hell. The bastard doesn’t know there’s a whole army out there, listening in to every word he says.
“You!” I look shocked as I turn to Alex. “You set me up!”
“Now, now, let’s not make this unpleasant.” Viktor walks over. “We’re only here to talk.”
“I don’t have anything to talk to you about!” I snap.
“Thank you, Alex.” Viktor dismisses him with a wave, completely ignoring me in the process. “That will be all for now.”
I watch Alex scurry out like the rat he is, leaving me alone with Viktor. In my ear, Valentin whispers, “We're moving into position. Keep him talking and find out all you can about his plans.”
I stand there, watching Viktor with a wariness as he proceeds to pour himself a drink.
“Want one?” he asks.
“I'll pass.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugs and motions me to a chair.
Even though I know I have backup, my legs tremble as I walk over to sit. He sits across from me, sprawled out on a couch.
“This is your last chance to make the right choice, Mrs. Yuri. I need you to work with me instead of against me.”
“Please.” I sound and look desperate. “I don’t even know what you want from me!”
“It's simple, really. I need access to your financials and your client list.”
“Whatever for?” I shake my head. “That’s none of your business!”
“It is my business when I need to fix your annual fee for what you’ll pay me in protection money.” He sips his drink. “The other tenants in your former office building understood the arrangement. They paid, they stayed in business. You chose... differently.”
“Protection money?” I pretend to look furious. “The only person I need protection from is you! And I no longer work in that building, do I? Why the hell should I pay?”
“Because you worked there once and didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain…because you owe us a debt.”
“When I took the place on rent, I never knew what I was getting into!” I cry out loud. “This isn’t fair. Please…just let me go.”
“Like hell I’ll let you go. Pay me what I’m due!” His face twists with rage. I lean into it, pretending to cower in my chair.
“Okay, okay,” I say softly. “I’ll send Anton the details, and your brother can decide what to charge me for the time I stayed there. Just don’t hurt me, please.”
Viktor's face twitches at his brother's name. “Anton doesn't handle these matters.”
“But, isn’t that his building?” I ask, wide-eyed, feeling like I’m onto something. I'm taking a risk, but the slight widening of his eyes tells me I've hit something. “I was told, when I took the office on lease, that I’m to deal with his team.”
“You're mistaken,” he says sharply. “Protection is my territory.”
“I see.” I finally let myself have a small smile. “So Anton doesn't know you're running your own side operation, does he? That does make sense, now that I think about it.”
Viktor slams his glass down on the coffee table. “Watch yourself, Mrs. Yuri. This could have all been easy, but you've made it harder than it needs to be, and for all the trouble you’ve caused me, you’re going to have to get me information on the Yuris.”
“You said nothing about that.” I stand my ground, trying to get a rise out of him.
“Well, now you know. My brother heard about my men who were found dead in his building. Do you know how long it took to convince him it was an accident? That they were in the wrong place at the wrong time? If only you’d listened then…”
“Those men came at me with guns!” I shout, the anger rising like the wind inside me. “You started it!”
“And you’ll finish it, now. I need more power, Mrs. Yuri. Pay me the protection money, and get me information on your new family.”
“So that's what this is really about,” I say, putting the pieces together. “You’re working behind your brother’s back, fighting for control.”
“My brother would understand if he knew what I was trying to accomplish,” Viktor snaps, standing now. “The Yuris have been encroaching for years.”
“You’re going rogue, just admit it.” I smile.
Viktor's face darkens dangerously. “You think you're clever? Your husband won't always be there to protect you.”
He takes a step toward me, and my heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat. But before he can get any closer, the warehouse door slams open.
Valentin, Leonid, and Miron walk right in, looking like they’ll kill Viktor if he so much as lays a hand on me.
“I think that's enough conversation for today,” Valentin says smoothly.
Viktor freezes, his eyes darting between Valentin and me.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he hisses.
“Oh.” I pretend to flick some dirt off from under my nail and lean back on the couch. “I overheard you and Alex talking a couple of weeks ago. You thought you could play us? Well, guess what?”
“We played you right back.” Valentin gives him a cold smile as he finishes off my sentence. “Let me tell you something, Viktor. You so much as threaten my wife again, I’ll break every damn rule we have in our world to make you pay.”
“I…I wasn’t…” Viktor pales as he stands to defend himself.
“Don’t lie.” Leonid gives him a sharp look. “We recorded everything.”
“You what?” Viktor looks at me, and I remove the earpiece from my ear, throwing it across the floor.
He sits himself back down.