Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Svetlana didn’t know if she should cry or rampage. All those years of staying off social media, cautioning her crowds against taking pictures during the performance so they wouldn’t spook her bear, and there Svetlana was, her image broadcasted to millions.
Perhaps Idris had the right idea. Maybe they should leave Russia.
“Oh shit. This is bad.” Idris stared at the screen, which had split between the announcer and a bespectacled man with thinning hair.
“Worse than having the KGB looking for us?” was Yuri’s sarcastic retort, whereas Svetlana asked, “What’s wrong?”
“That man is the reason the KGB was after us in the first place.” Idris pointed to the screen. “It’s Dr. Levy, the fucker who experimented on me.”
“A fucker who is apparently in Russia,” Yuri interjected. Then he began translating for Idris. “He’s claiming Svetlana stole some bears from a facility he runs and is offering a reward for knowledge of their whereabouts.”
“He’s blatantly lying to the public,” Svetlana huffed.
“Which is to be expected from that asshole.” Idris growled. “I’ll bet he and the general are the reason why the KGB were after Yuri.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“He shouldn’t. I’ve been laying low since I got here, and I used a different name on my passport and Visa.”
“Don’t be so sure he doesn’t suspect. Everyone knows there are two bears now, and if Ivan reported to this doctor before his death, then he’s probably looking for you, too. After all, I doubt there’s many guys matching your description who can also transform into a bear,” Svetlana mused aloud.
“Fuck me. I hadn’t even thought of that,” Idris grumbled. “But it makes sense. Probably explains why they killed Ivan.”
“How does it make sense? Wouldn’t it have been more useful to keep a KGB agent working for them?” Svetlana questioned.
“Not if he was going to cause problems. Chances are, rather than risk Ivan blabbing, they eliminated him.”
“And they’re blaming me for it,” Svetlana spat. “They’ve made it impossible for me to show my face in public.”
“Guess it really is time for us to leave Russia,” Yuri said with a sigh.
A statement that brought sadness, as Svetlana did love her country, but what other choice did they have? “Leave how? Even if we managed to get a fake passport, my face has been seen by millions. Getting across the border will be almost impossible.”
Idris rubbed his chin. “I might be able to call in some favors to help you with that. My buddy managed to get me into the country. Maybe he can get you out. In the meantime, we need to change your appearance, dye your hair, see what you can do to change your features with makeup. The fact it’s swollen still will help. ”
Good suggestions, yet Svetlana’s annoyance grew. She pressed her lips tight rather than rant about the unfairness. “Since I can’t go out, someone will have to buy me some bleach.”
“They say blondes have more fun.” Yuri tried to be helpful.
“Not the time,” she grumbled. She glanced at Idris. “Let’s say your friends can get us across the border, where should we go?”
His shoulders rolled. “You tell me. I’ve only been on this continent a few months. Name a place and I’ll see what I can do to get you and Yuri there safely.”
“What about you? Aren’t you coming with us?”
Idris shook his head. “If Levy suspects I’m here, then chances are he’s provided authorities with my image.”
“Wouldn’t they have shown it on the news?” Svetlana pointed out.
“Do you think they’d want to publicly admit an ex-Canadian soldier is living here illegally?
” Idris shook his head. “I have to assume Levy’s told his KGB contact about me, meaning there’s no way I’ll be able to cross the border.
As you said, I’m distinctive. Even if I weren’t, I have to stay so I can locate Levy and put a stop to his sick experiments. ”
“While your quest for vengeance is quite noble, how do you think you will find him? Russia is huge. He could be anywhere,” Yuri reminded.
“I would imagine since he’s offering a reward that there is a way for people to get in touch.”
“This doctor is only offering payment if you bring information about bears. Planning to use yourself as bait?” Svetlana’s asked it mockingly, but Idris nodded.
“I might, as a last resort. Me being captured and turned in for a reward would definitely bring him out of hiding, but I’d rather not take the risk if it means I can’t accomplish my mission.”
“The mission being killing Dr. Levy?”
Idris’ slow smile, both deadly and sexy at once, matched his cold promise.
“He deserves to die. How much it hurts will depend on how quickly he spills the location of his lab. In this case, cutting off the head of the snake might not be enough. Everything, his serum, his research… All have to be destroyed.”
“You’re insane.” Yuri pursed his lips. “Even if you find this lab, I guarantee it will be guarded. You planning to Rambo the place?”
“I’m desperate, but not stupid. If I find it, then I’ll put out a call to my friends to give me a hand, or should I say, paw?”
“What makes you think your friends would risk themselves?” She couldn’t help but sound skeptical. While she would do anything for Yuri, she couldn’t say as much for anyone else.
“Because we all know we’ll never have a chance for a real life until all traces of Project Therianthrope are eradicated.”
While Svetlana did approve of his dark plan for vengeance, she couldn’t help but point out the obvious problems. “What if your hunt for this doctor and lab lead to you being captured instead?”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. What other choice do I have?
So long as Project Therianthrope exists, anyone who can shift isn’t safe.
They won’t ever stop looking for us. And that includes Yuri now.
Even once you make it out of Russia, I’d highly recommend you keep Yuri’s bear under wraps.
That means no more circus acts because they will be scouring social media waiting for you to pop up. ”
While Svetlana wanted to scoff at his dire prediction, she feared he spoke the truth.
Yuri didn’t like it one bit. “There goes my acting career,” Yuri exclaimed dramatically, leading his sister to glare at him.
“This isn’t funny.”
“No, it’s not.” Yuri turned serious. “But we have a more pressing problem we should address, which is, we need to find a new place to hide. When Boris doesn’t open the bar tonight, people will notice.” Yuri raised a point she’d not even thought of.
A weaker person might have been crushed by the daunting forces arrayed against them.
Not Svetlana. She straightened her spine.
“Agreed. We need to move, but first, we need to outfit ourselves. The pair of you are much too obvious in those clothes.” The eye-popping colors and clashing patterns would draw too much attention.
“Along with proper garments, we’ll need hair dye and makeup.
Transportation as well, since we no longer have the truck and we shouldn’t risk getting Idris’ car.
” A block away might still be too close to the hotel to risk it.
“Not to mention, I kind of lost the keys when I shredded my clothes,” a sheepish Idris admitted.
“You’re talking about pretty much eliminating all the cash we’ve got left,” her brother reminded.
“I’ll bet Boris has some stashed somewhere in this house.” He wouldn’t trust it all with the bank—or so she hoped. “Let’s see what we can find of value.”
Initially, it seemed as if they’d fail. The dirty home contained mostly junk, but Yuri’s blessed nose caught a scent, which led to them prying up one of the paving stones set in front of his pot belly stove.
Inside, they found a box holding stacks of rubles and a gun.
Idris found a set of keys, which he tossed to Yuri.
Her brother dangled them. “This one’s for a car, but I didn’t see one parked out front.”
“Check the garage at the back,” Svetlana suggested as Idris snared the gun and checked the chamber for bullets.
“Is it loaded?” she asked as Yuri left through the back door.
“Yes. The small caliber won’t do much damage, but it’s better than nothing.”
She slumped into a chair and sighed. “This all feels rather pointless. We are woefully underequipped to evade the KGB and this doctor.”
“Have faith that good will win over evil.”
Laughter burst from her. “I would have never expected you to be religious.”
“I’m not. However, I’d like to think that the world is inherently good and that, sometimes, if people have the courage to stand up and do what’s right, they’ll prevail.”
“Bravery won’t stop them trying to arrest or kill us,” was her dour retort.
“Then what do you suggest we do?” Idris eyed her seriously. “We have two choices. Either give up, or fight.”
“Fight, obviously,” she muttered. “But I’m allowed to vent. I hate that we have to live like this.”
“Then help me do something about it.”
She glanced at him. “Join you in your suicide quest?”
“At least I’m doing something. We both know running is only a temporary solution. So, why not stick around and help me?”
He raised a good point. Fleeing Russia might only provide a temporary reprieve. “What can I do? I’m not a bear.”
“No, but you’d fight to the death for one. And don’t sell yourself short. There’s lots you could do, like reach out to Levy and tell him you’ve got a tip on the bears. Tell him you’ll only talk to him in person.”
“Sounds like a good way for me to be shot on sight,” she muttered.
“We wouldn’t let you go alone.”
“And if we’re overwhelmed? Once this doctor has you and Yuri, he wouldn’t have a use for me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’d simply have to admit you and Yuri are related.”
“How does that help?”
“Levy won’t kill you, as that prick will probably get a hard-on at the thought of comparing your genetics to your brother’s.”
“He won’t find anything,” she stated.
“Don’t be so sure.”
“I am sure, because Yuri was god-blessed.”
“Was he? Or did it just so happen that was the first time he managed to touch his other side? You share the same blood. Who’s to say you just haven’t had the right trigger yet?”
Her, a bear? Ridiculous. “Your plan has one big flaw. Soon as this doctor sees and recognizes me, he’ll know it’s a trap.”
“Got a better idea?”
She did actually. Forget everything that had happened in the last day. Drag Idris to the bedroom and indulge in some stress relief.
A plan that never had a chance, as Yuri chose to return at that moment, crowing, “We have a car!”