Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Despite it being unexpected, Idris ducked the blow and retreated as Yuri growled, “You defiled my sister! Don’t deny it. I can smell it!”
Apparently sluicing off hadn’t been enough. Idris hung his head. “Sorry. That was disrespectful of me.”
“Don’t you dare apologize.” Svetlana huffed as she jumped between them. “What is wrong with you?”
“He—”
Before Yuri could finish his sentence, she poked him in the chest. “Did nothing wrong. I’m a grown woman who can do what she likes with whomever she wants. And you’re one to talk. You reek of sex.”
The claim stiffened Yuri. “That’s different.”
“How?” she barked.
“Because you’re my sweet and pure sister.”
A claim that led to Svetlana snorting. “Sister, yes, pure, no, but you already know that. I haven’t been a virgin since my teens, not that my love life is any of your business. I’ll also add that if I want to seduce a man, I will.”
“You seduced him?” Yuri exclaimed as his shocked gaze bounced from Idris to Svetlana.
“I did, so don’t be blaming Idris.”
“He should have said no,” Yuri muttered, and Idris knew better than to say anything along the lines of As if I could resist her. Because one touch, one kiss, and he was lost.
“I, for one, am glad he didn’t reject me, and I’m done talking about it.”
“But—”
“Done!” she snapped.
To try and discharge some of the bristling tension, Idris changed the subject. “I take it your date went well.”
Yuri’s expression brightened. “Very, despite the fact the pair of you were spying on me.”
“Hardly spying,” Svetlana retorted.
“I saw you,” Yuri accused. “Twice, as a matter of fact.”
Arms crossed, Svetlana drawled, “Well, excuse me for being concerned.”
“I’ll forgive you this time,” a magnanimous Yuri declared. “At least you didn’t ruin my dinner with Olga.”
“Did you manage to find anything out?” Now that Yuri had returned safe—and Idris still had all his teeth—he wanted all the tidbits.
“I had to tread carefully, lest Olga get suspicious, but I did gather a few tidbits after a few glasses of wine.”
“Such as?” Svetlana asked as she flipped on the television, muting the sound so they could watch the morning news.
“For one, they don’t seem to be aware of me. The manhunt is concentrated on the pair of you, which is why your little stroll”—Yuri finger quoted—“last night was foolish.”
“We were careful,” Svetlana huffed.
“Careful would have been staying in the room where no one could see you,” Yuri’s harsh rebuttal. “At least you managed to change your appearance enough to not be easily recognized, which is surprising, given this one’s hulking size.” Yuri jerked a thumb at Idris. “What were you thinking?”
“Don’t blame Idris. He only went out in public because of me. I wanted to make sure you weren’t walking into a trap.”
Yuri took a step forward and glared at his sister. “Your actions almost jeopardized my mission.”
A disdainful sound escaped Svetlana. “Is that what we’re calling getting laid these days?”
“You should be thanking me for sacrificing my virtue.”
The light comment eased some of the tension in Svetlana. “Such a hardship, I’m sure. Other than the color of her panties, what did you learn?”
“That the KGB have been told to cooperate with Dr. Levy. As of right now, they’re looking specifically for Idris, Svetlana, and two bears. Although Levy has apparently stated that it’s possible Svetlana is travelling with someone other than Idris.”
“I thought you said they weren’t aware of you,” Svetlana accused her brother.
“They aren’t. Olga says she’s not sure why Levy thinks there’s a third person since they’ve yet to find any conclusive evidence indicating one.”
“Doesn’t sound as if Levy has informed them that Svetlana’s male companions can shift into bears,” Idris murmured.
“So it seems. I did also find out the KGB agents have been armed with tranquilizers with orders to capture the bears, not kill. Needless to say, many of them aren’t happy about that, and Olga says a few have stated they’ll shoot a bear in the face before getting eaten.”
An understandable sentiment. Idris leaned against a wall. “Did Olga say how long they plan to stay in town looking?”
Yuri shrugged. “She didn’t know. I did find out the doctor got flown in by chopper.”
“From where?”
“I didn’t dare ask, lest I rouse her suspicion.”
Idris’ brow furrowed. “Can’t be too far. Most choppers can’t travel more than four hours before needing to refuel, meaning his lab must be within a six-to-eight-hour driving radius, depending on their speed and flight time. This all assuming he didn’t have to refuel the chopper to get here.”
“From what Olga said, I got the impression he came straight from his lab.”
“If it’s within a few hundred miles, we might be able to find the location via an internet search,” Svetlana mused aloud.
“Too risky.” Idris shook his head. “A search like that might get flagged.”
“Shouldn’t be hard to find this chopper. I can’t imagine there are many in town.”
“To do what?” Idris asked.
“For its flight plan, duh.” Yuri rolled his eyes.
“Unlike planes, they don’t necessarily have to file one, but if we could get the pilot to talk…” Idris rubbed his chin in thought because it just so happened, he could fly a chopper. He’d just not clocked enough hours for his full license.
“I wonder if Olga knows where it is. I’ll see if I can squeeze that info during lunch.”
“What lunch?” Svetlana’s lips pursed. “You can’t seriously be thinking of seeing her again.”
“Why not?”
“Are you that dense? Because it’s dangerous,” Svetlana exclaimed.
“Bah. She has no idea I’m one of the people they’re looking for. On the contrary, I’ve made it clear how eager I am to assist.”
Idris agreed with Svetlana. “You’re taking a risk of slipping up. One wrong word or question and you could rouse her suspicion.”
“Pretty sure me skipping our lunch date would be worse.”
“It’s like you want to be captured,” Svetlana groaned.
“More like I want to try and assure our safety. We need to know what’s going on inside that hotel. Is it dangerous? Yes. Necessary? Also yes. It is my duty to keep you safe,” the latter being directed at Svetlana.
She sighed. “Maybe it would be easier to just flee this place and find somewhere to hunker down until people have forgotten about us.”
Idris didn’t have to say a thing because Yuri did.
“This doctor won’t ever relent.”
“How can you say that? You’ve never met him,” Svetlana argued.
“Because he is driven. Olga says the man doesn’t rest. He’s been poring over security tapes with the agents. Has taken it upon himself to interview the civilians with the most promising leads.”
“I’m going to have to agree with your brother,” Idris stated before Svetlana could reply. “Levy is a conscienceless bastard obsessed with Project Therianthrope and will do anything to advance it in the name of science.”
“Medical experimentation is illegal.” Svetlana’s na?ve argument.
“And yet that doesn’t stop people from indulging or governments from bankrolling. Look at our countries, giving them the funds, tools, and staff needed to make this thing a success.”
“Don’t be stupid, Svetty.” Yuri shortened her name for the first time, which probably explained her grimace.
Or was it the insult to her intelligence?
“Power corrupts. Money as well. And this has the potential for both. Your boyfriend is right. Running isn’t the answer and would only be a temporary solution. ”
“So is killing this doctor. Kill him, and another will take his place using his notes,” she pointed out. “This Levy is but one of the tools you mentioned. But so long as his research remains, anyone could continue his work.”
“Meaning it’s imperative we find their new base of operations and destroy it.”
“And if the research is being stored on a computer off-site?” she countered.
“Then we find it and wipe it too.” Idris rubbed his face. “Before you say it, I know it’s a possible suicide mission. Even if we find the lab, getting inside and destroying it will be hard. But I have to try.”
“I agree with Idris. It’s the only way to make you safe again, Svetty.”
She pinched her lips. “Seems like it’s two against one. Guess I’d better brush up on how to destroy an evil scientist and his lair.”
Yuri grinned. “That’s the spirit. While you think up ways to take down the lab, I’m going to nap and shower.”
“No, you’re going to get us some breakfast. I am starved.”
“Why me?” Yuri whined.
“Didn’t you tell us to not leave the room?” She arched a brow.
“You had no problem last night,” Yuri’s rebuttal.
“When it was dark and there was little traffic on the sidewalks or streets. It’s currently bright outside. People are going about their day, making it much too dangerous for me and Idris to go outside.”
“Ugh.” Yuri complained, but he went and got a bag of food for them.
Idris and Svetlana ended up picnicking on one bed while Yuri napped on the other. They didn’t say anything during that time, just sat together watching television with the subtitles on, some Russian movie about androids who went rogue.
Hanging with Svetlana pleased, but at the same time, Idris couldn’t help but feel lazy. While he understood he couldn’t exactly go roaming and snooping during the day, doing nothing at all didn’t sit well either. That disgruntlement and unease didn’t have him acting foolish and impatient, though.
First off, what could Idris actually do? Nothing. Yuri had been the one to get the most answers, and with luck, he’d get even more during his lunch with Olga. If lucky, the location of the chopper.
Idris just had to be patient.
Patience was boring, so boring he fell asleep and woke snuggled with Svetlana. He just about threw himself out of bed, worried Yuri would notice, only to realize he heard the shower. The other man had already woken.
Svetlana stretched and yawned. “It’s okay. I think he’s decided if I must be defiled that you are acceptable.”
“Must you call it that?” Idris grimaced.
Her lips curved. “Does it help if I say I really enjoyed my defilement and hope to do it again soon?”
A smile tugged his own mouth. “In that case…”
He didn’t say anything more because the bathroom door opened, releasing a whoosh of moist air. Yuri called out, “You’d better be decent,” before he stepped out in a towel.
“Do you really think we’d be going at it with you in the same room?” Svetlana exclaimed.
“Just making sure. I’d hate to have to gouge out my eyes.” Yuri rifled through the remaining clean clothes he’d bought before settling on some stiff new jeans and a ribbed knitted sweater. “I’ll have to go shopping after my lunch with Olga, I think.”
“We don’t have money to replace your wardrobe,” Svetlana warned.
“Olga will think it odd if I keep showing up in the same outfits,” Yuri countered.
“I thought this was your last meeting.”
“I’m thinking it might be wiser for me to remain close to Olga. That way I can know if anything changes with the investigation.”
“It’s like you want to be caught. Whatever. Hope her pussy is worth it,” Svetlana spat before sliding off the bed and stalking for the bathroom. “I’m going for a shower. You coming?”
It took Idris a moment to realize she asked him.
Yuri glared.
Svetlana stared with an arched brow.
Only one thing to do. “Sorry, Yuri, but your sister is way scarier than you.”
To his surprise, Yuri slapped him on the back as he passed, saying, “Yes, she is. Good luck.”
Idris paused before entering the bathroom to say, “You too.”
“Who needs luck when I have a magical—”
“Don’t you say it!” Svetlana yelled.
“What’s wrong with my personality?” Yuri said with a grin. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Please try and air out the room before I return.”
Apparently, he expected them to have sex.
He wasn’t wrong.
A worried Svetlana didn’t just blow him in the shower; she rode him harder than a cowgirl on a bucking bronco. Idris didn’t mind her version of stress relief because it worked for him, too.
Especially since Yuri was gone for much longer than a simple lunch. It was late afternoon before he returned to a pacing Svetlana, who growled, “About time you got back.”
“Excuse me for being productive,” Yuri drawled as he entered the hotel room. “I’ve got news!”
“What did you find out?” Idris asked.
“That the doctor isn’t planning to fly the bears back. During lunch, Olga got word that a military truck arrived carrying two cages sturdy enough to transport bears.”
“Not sure how that’s helpful. It’s not as if we can follow it,” Svetlana stated.
A confused Yuri blurted out, “Why not? We have a car.”
“Because that truck won’t be going anywhere unless they’ve captured a bear,” she pointed out.
“Oh.” Yuri’s expression fell. “I didn’t think of that.”
“At least we’ve learned there is a road there,” Idris interjected. “If they can drive to the lab, then so can we.”
“But again, they won’t be driving without a bear, and before either of you morons open your mouth, no, you are not using yourselves as bait.”
Yuri and Idris exchanged a glance. They’d see about that.
“Did you bring me anything to eat?” Svetlana asked. “I am starved.”
Yuri’s mouth rounded. “I forgot.”
“Of course you did. And here I was being a good girl, staying inside.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll go get you something right now.”
“Actually, man, I’ll go,” Idris offered. “I could use some fresh air and a stretch to my legs.” When Yuri hesitated, he added, “It’ll be fine. It’s dark outside, and I was just gonna hit that automated restaurant kiosk next door.”
“Want me to come with you?” Svetlana offered.
“Nah. Stay here with Yuri. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Idris dressed in his fur coat and hat before ducking out, shoulders hunched, head tucked.
He met no one on the stairs and walked over to the automated restaurant, but inside, two people were using the kiosks.
He waited until they’d left with their order before entering and placing his.
Since it would take a few minutes, he leaned against a wall and stared out the window.
Was still staring as several dark-colored cars went streaking past, but his heart didn’t stop until he saw the khaki-green military truck.