Chapter 11 #2
“Are we sure of that? They did, after all, confiscate your truck.”
“In which we keep no images.”
“And like I said before, you’re assuming no one’s ever snapped a picture or video of the two of you together. With today’s technology, a reverse image search might mean they know what Yuri looks like.”
“No.” She shook her head. “If they did, then they would have shown it on the news.”
“They could be holding back.”
Her lips pinched. “I do agree meeting this Olga isn’t a good idea, but short of knocking him out, I don’t think he’ll listen.”
“Oh, he definitely won’t let you coddle him. And let’s be honest, his idea isn’t bad. An inside source would be useful.”
“To you,” she pointed out.
“Levy poses a danger for all of us.”
“I don’t like the idea of him meeting her alone.”
“You can’t go with him.”
“Obviously. Yuri would never agree to that, but perhaps we could eat a few tables away.”
Her concern over her brother overrode good sense. “That’s a terrible idea, and you know it. Your face has been plastered all over the news. You’re the last person who should be seen in public.”
“You think I’d be recognized with my new do?” She shook her now-blonde hair, which, while cute, wasn’t as sexy as her dark mane. She’d also caked her face in makeup, which hid the bruising, but also gave her skin a more plastic appearance. He preferred her au natural.
“Leaving this room is a foolish and unnecessary risk.”
“Risk is letting Yuri strut into a possible honey trap.”
Idris tossed out a compromise. “We could shadow him to the restaurant. See if there’s a place with a sightline so we can keep an eye.”
“How can we do that if he takes the car?”
“My guess is he asked her to meet him somewhere within walking distance to the hotel. After all, if he plans to bed her, her room would be most convenient, given his current living situation.”
Her eyes widened. “Surely he’s not stupid enough to go inside that hotel.”
“He’s certainly not bringing her back here. And for that, I’m kind of thankful. Pretty sure neither of us wants to be around for that,” Idris joked.
Her lip curled. “Definitely not.”
“If he’s been made, they’ll try and nab him when he meets her for dinner, and let’s be honest, it wouldn’t matter how close we stuck to him. If the KGB swarm the restaurant, there’s not a thing we can do.” He didn’t lie.
“I hate the idea of sitting here and worrying when it feels like I should be doing something.”
“What you should do is eat. I don’t know about you, but I am hungry as a bear. There’s a place next door that has those kiosks so I can order and grab without talking to anyone. Will you be okay by yourself?”
She glanced at the bathroom door. “Hardly alone. Yuri’s still here, and knowing him, he won’t be ready for at least another half-hour.”
“I’ll be back before then.”
“Don’t get caught,” she admonished as she handed over some rubles.
“Not planning to.” Idris put on his hat and pulled it low over his brow.
He added the matching coat before he headed outside.
A glance around showed no one nearby. He inhaled deep, trying to see if he could pull a Yuri and sift out the scent of the living versus inanimate.
Exhaust. Garbage. Fast food. What might have been people.
He really did need to practice that skill. Yuri would likely help if asked. Mock as well, but the man didn’t do it maliciously.
The restaurant next door had no one inside, and he quickly managed to use the kiosk, glad it used images because he couldn’t read Russian. Within fifteen minutes, he returned to the room, paper bag in hand to find Svetlana arguing with her brother as he buttoned his shirt.
Upon seeing Idris, she growled, “He thinks he can forbid me from following.”
Rather than remind of their earlier conversation where they’d discussed the futility, he said, “If she’s properly covered up, it should be safe.”
“But how am I supposed to properly seduce Olga if I know my sister is spying?” Yuri flung his hands.
“Never bothered you before,” she snapped.
Yuri’s mouth tightened. “It is one thing to flirt in a bar or a club we happened to go into together, another for me to know you’re watching my every move. Not to mention, if things go wrong, I don’t want you anywhere close by.”
And there was the real reason. Yuri wanted to keep his sister protected.
“If we’re close by, we might be able to help.” She didn’t relent.
“Don’t be foolish. If I’m wrong about Olga, then they will have too many agents for even my mighty sister to overcome.”
“Stop joking. I don’t want you to die,” cried Svetlana.
“They won’t kill me,” Yuri scoffed. “I’m too valuable, remember? Not to mention, if they have their bear, they’ll leave you alone.”
Rather than keep his mouth shut, Idris pointed out the flaw in his reasoning. “Hate to break it to you, but if Levy finds out Svetlana is your sister, he’ll definitely want her.”
“Why? She can’t shift.”
“Won’t matter to Levy. He will still want to study her so he can find out why you can change and she can’t.”
“All the more reason for you to not follow. If I’m caught, you will get my sister far from here.” The command was aimed at Idris.
“I will protect her.” A vow he’d do his best to keep.
“Excuse me, but it’s not up to you or him what I do.” A stubborn Svetlana glowered at them both.
“You’re not going to relent, are you?” Yuri groaned.
“No.”
“Fine. If you must be crazy, then Olga is supposed to meet me at the restaurant up the block from the hotel at eight p.m. Whatever you do, though, do not stand in front of it, staring. You’ll be noticed.”
“I can’t keep an eye if I’m too far.”
“And I won’t be able to properly woo Olga if I know you’re too close.”
The siblings glared toe to toe, Yuri hunching to bring his gaze even with his sister’s.
Idris cleared his throat. “I’ll make sure we don’t look suspicious.”
“Says the giant hairy brown guy. You do realize you’re even more noticeable than my sister?” Yuri shook his head. “If this is a trap, then I’ll only have myself to blame. But, come on, you have to admit, this is a great opportunity to get some intelligence.”
Before Svetlana could argue, Idris jumped in. “Your brother is right. Having an inside source would benefit us.”
“Benefit you. I don’t give two fucks about this doctor.” Her perfect grasp of English cursing impressed.
“You should, because Levy is the reason the KGB came after you in the first place.” A harsh reminder that pinched her features, but Idris needed her to put aside her concern for Yuri and face the facts.
“I can see you’re both going to be men about this. Whatever. Do what you like. I don’t care.” With that, Svetlana slammed out of the hotel room, and Yuri must have realized Idris planned to chase her because he grabbed him by the arm.
“Leave her alone. She needs a moment to calm down and see reason.” Yuri sighed. “My poor sister loves me too much. The curse of being too adorable.”
“And you’re being a little too flippant about this. What you’re doing is dangerous.”
“I’m aware. I’ll be better able to defend myself if I’m not worrying about Svetlana suddenly appearing.” Yuri slipped on his new loafers.
“Fair enough.” Idris held out his hand, and the other man gripped it tight. “Be careful.”
“Careful would have been choosing to live in the woods like a hermit. I’m much too pretty for that.” Yuri winked. “Don’t wait up.”
As if Idris would be able to sleep. He already knew Svetlana wouldn’t until her brother returned.
Yuri left, and a few minutes later, Idris left the room, key in pocket, food bag in hand, and Svetlana’s sweater tucked over his arm. He found her sitting in the stairwell. Idris sat down, placing the as-yet-untouched food bag between them.
“He left, didn’t he?” A morose query.
“Yes.” And must have taken the sketchy elevator when he smelled his sister lying in wait in the stairs. Smart man to avoid another fight.
“Idiot,” she muttered.
“He’s trying to do what he thinks is right.”
“We’re stronger together.”
“Sometimes, yes. But in this case, no.”
“You’re taking his side.” Her glare burned through him.
“No. While I understand his reasoning, I think you’re right.”
Her brows rose. “I’m confused.”
“Your brother is worried you’ll distract him at a crucial moment.
Totally valid. He needs to believe you’re safe.
But so do you, which is why I brought this.
” He handed over her sweater, which had the beanie cap tucked up a sleeve.
“We’ll have to be careful, but we can at least get close enough to make sure he’s actually having dinner and not being hauled off. ”
“We’re too late. He’s already left,” she pointed out as she yanked the oversized sweater over her head.
“He’s only a few minutes ahead, and I doubt he’ll be in a rush. He’ll be sniffing. Scanning. Taking his time to make sure nothing is out of place, which means we have plenty of time to catch up. That is assuming you still want to go?”
“Yes!” She popped to her feet and jammed her hat over her head, flattening the top of her wild hair but leaving the rest of the blonde tendrils to pouf around her shoulders.
“All righty then.” Idris stood and grabbed the bag of food. He really was hungry.
And Svetlana was grateful. The arms she flung around his body took him by surprise. The press of her slim body against his had him stirring in a way that had him sliding out of the embrace and roughly saying, “We should get moving before Yuri gets too far ahead.”
“Okay, but first, I need some food.” She dug a hand into the bag and pulled out a soggy container of fries.
She munched as she skipped down the steps.
Shaking his head, Idris followed, but he didn’t start devouring his own meal until they reached the sidewalk and began walking.
They couldn’t spot Yuri ahead of them, but to Idris’s surprise, he could smell the man.
The soap he’d used, the lingering spice of the aftershave, too.
Maybe he could get the hang of this sniffing thing.