"Well…okay."
He clasped her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You'll be fine. Tell the truth and everything will be all right. You're smart and strong and you have a wonderful gift at reading people and strategizing." So glad to be free to touch her as he wished, Nikolai kissed her forehead. "Don't underestimate yourself."
His pep talk finished, he led her out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen where breakfast and Detective Santos awaited her. The moment Santos spotted them holding hands, he scowled. He looked like he wanted to jerk them apart but he bit his tongue.
As the cousins embraced and talked quietly, Nikolai's private phone began to ring. He stepped into the butler's pantry to answer. "Yes?"
"Nikolai!" Julio Jimenez greeted him. "I hear you got your girl back safely. I'm happy for you."
"What do you want, Julio?"
The other man laughed. "That's you, huh? Always cutting right to the chase. Look, El Jefe wants a sit-down. Tonight."
"Why?"
"I'm just the messenger. I don't have the details." Julio paused. "He said it was very important that you meet tonight."
"Fine." He wasn't about to meet the slithery bastard anywhere that he couldn't vet first. "Kostya will call you with the details."
Ending the call, he stepped back out into the kitchen to find David giving Vivian instructions for her interview with the detectives. She glanced at him and he offered a supportive smile. Her tense expression relaxed.
In that moment, he knew it was time. He had to accelerate his plans to get out of this life. He had to find a way to extricate himself—or else he risked losing Vivian forever.
Chapter Ten
"Can you see us now?" Later that evening, I shifted my laptop to a stack of books Erin had grabbed from Nikolai's shelves. We were trying to Skype with Lena who was still snowed in back in Moscow.
"Okay—now all I can see is a perfect shot of Benny's rack," Lena said with a loud laugh. "And, seriously, Benny when did your boobs get so huge? Is that, like, a pregnancy thing or a married girl thing?"
Benny shot her the finger. "Can you see this?"
"Oh, someone's touchy." Lena giggled gleefully as Erin pushed another book onto the tower and I adjusted my laptop again. "Okay. That's perfect. Now you two get on the couch with Benny so I can see all of you at once."
Playfully, Erin said, "If Benny's growing rack is a married girl thing, Ivan is going to be thrilled."
My gaze drifted to the engagement ring she wore. She'd been a bit nervous about announcing her news when she'd arrived at the house but I'd honestly been so thrilled for her. Her Christmas Day proposal had seemed so magical and sweet as she'd recounted all the details to us.
Right now, it was nice to be surrounded by friends and their laughter. After what I'd gone through, I craved normalcy. This impromptu girls evening in the library at Nikolai's home was the perfect ending to an otherwise stressful day.
"Girl, show me that ring again!" Lena practically salivated over the chance to admire Erin's ring. I found it a bit amusing considering Yuri had already gifted Lena with more diamonds than most of us would see in a lifetime. "Oh, Erin," she said with such happiness. "It's perfect. You tell Ivan I said he did really well."
"I will." A little teary-eyed, she blinked rapidly and traced the exquisite setting. Perking up, she asked, "So how is Moscow?"
"Cold," Lena said. "And snowy."
"It's Russia," Benny pointed out.
"It's ridiculous," Lena replied. "But I have to admit there's something really gorgeous about this place. It's sort of…stark. In the mornings, everything glistens, and it's really lovely."
"Should we expect change of address cards soon?" I teased.
"Hell no," she shot back with a laugh. "This Texas girl needs her heat and sun and forty-degree winters. Hey, but speaking of address changes, when do I get to see pictures of this new house you and Dimitri bought, Benny?"
"Soon." Benny and Dimitri had closed on their first home together a few days before Christmas. They'd been planning to purchase one of the lots in the gated community where Ivan and Erin lived and build a house to spec but they'd stumbled onto the perfect cul-de-sac house one street over. The house had been a foreclosure and Dimitri had managed to snap it up at the auction for a steal.
"Are you making a lot of changes?" Erin wondered in between nibbles on some snacks she'd brought with her. "The bones of the house look great. From the outside, at least," she added. "It's not very old."
"The house is in great shape," Benny agreed, "but Dimitri can't stand carpet and I think the pumpkin orange kitchen is frightening."
"Sergei's crews do fantastic work. You should get them to bid," Erin suggested. "We were happy with the small projects they did for us."
"And I'm sure you'll get a family discount," Lena chimed in.
"Let's hope. So tell us about these quickie internships you're doing over there," Benny interjected. "Do you still feel like opening your own crisis management place is what you want to do?"
"I'm getting a better feel for it," Lena said. "Ty and I sort of jumped in feet first when it came to helping Dimitri get his private security firm out of that tight spot after what happened with Katya and Jake. We were lucky that everything we tried worked out fine. Right now, I'm taking lots of notes and trying to make the best of this opportunity."
"Where are you headed next?" I wanted to live vicariously through her. "Someplace amazing?"
"If the damn snow stops enough for a runway to be cleared, we're going to fly to Amsterdam to meet with Yuri's friend, Niels, and a colleague of his who runs one of Europe's hottest crisis management firms."
Sitting in the corner of the couch and surrounded by my friends, I felt some of the lingering fear begin to dissipate. They all instinctively understood that I didn't want to sit here and rehash all the gory details of my kidnapping and abusive treatment. After telling the detectives everything—even going so far as to sketch everything I remembered about the warehouse and the faces of the two deceased men who had been guarding me—and letting them take pictures of my injuries, I didn't want to talk about what had happened. I needed some time to recharge my batteries, so to speak.
Proving they were the most amazing friends a girl could have, they continued to crack jokes and talk about anything and everything but the kidnapping—and I loved them for it.
Erin clucked like a mother hen when our Chinese delivery arrived and I said I wasn’t that hungry. Under her watchful eye, I found my appetite and ate enough to satisfy her. She was right, of course. With more food in my belly, I did start to feel better.
Benny produced some of those sugar bomb cupcakes that I tried not to eat too often. Tonight, I found I couldn’t say no. I practically licked the paper wrapper clean to get the last tasty, decadent, chocolate morsels.
All too soon, Lena had to end her Skype session and then Benny and Erin had to leave. Dimitri and Ivan had been patiently waiting in another room while we had our girls' evening. I assumed they were both concerned with leaving the women they loved alone with me right now. I didn't blame them. There was no telling who was trying to hurt me or Nikolai or how far they were willing to go. I mean, they'd had me kidnapped and were willing to sell me on the underground sex market!
As I hugged Erin and Benny in the entryway of Nikolai's house, a stream of men carrying boxes started pouring in through the front door. Taken aback, I watched them head upstairs with the boxes. A few of them spoke to Ivan and Dimitri. I noticed the oh-shit glances between the two friends and figured they knew something that I didn't. The way they hurriedly whisked Erin and Benny from the house confirmed my suspicion.
Carrying two big boxes, Sergei brought up the rear of the human train. I stuck out my foot to stop him. "What's going on?"
He shifted the heavy weight of the boxes. "Look, I just do what I'm told, Vivian. If the boss says to go to your apartment and pack everything up, that's what I do."
I reeled backward with shock. "That's
my stuff? All of it?" My gaze jumped to the second floor. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to my apartment?"
"Because I knew you'd get angry with me and I'm not getting in the middle of whatever is going on here," he explained.
Unhappy, I crossed my arms but held my tongue. The person I wanted to yell at for being so impossibly overbearing wasn't here—but he'd be home soon enough. I hoped for his sake he'd finally taken one of those pain pills because after I was done with him he was going to need it.
* * *
Nikolai waited patiently for Lorenzo Guzman to arrive at the empty airplane hangar. Seated in the backseat of Kostya's new car, he tried to find a comfortable position for his aching body. Making conversation, he remarked, "I like this new car. It's roomy back here."
Kostya eyed him in the rearview mirror. "You may not like it as much when you see the bill sitting on your desk."
Nikolai laughed. He wouldn't put it past Kostya to stick him with the bill for a replacement, even if his insurance would cover most of the damage to the old car.
Thinking of the damage that Kostya's car had sustained during the attack forced Nikolai to relive the agonizing hour of listening to Vivian recount her ordeal to the detectives. His fingers curled to tight fists as rage saturated every pore in his body.
Hearing the way they'd stripped her, shocked her and abused her in that shower had made him want to commit murder. In some ways, the two guards who had been executed had gotten off easy. If they'd been found alive, Nikolai didn't know what he would have done to them. Terrible things…
"Looks like they're here," Kostya sat up straighter. With his black leather gloves on, he was ready for trouble. Tonight, Nikolai hoped there would be none of that. Kostya had arranged security and Nikolai trusted everything would go well.
Lorenzo's SUV rolled to a stop. The cartel boss stepped out alone and showed that he was unarmed before approaching Nikolai's car. Kostya slid out of the front seat, opened the back passenger door and waited outside the car while the two men had their talk.
The bright light before the door closed gave Lorenzo a good look at Nikolai's bruised face. He whistled softly. "What the hell is the world coming two when a boss isn't safe on his own streets?"
Nikolai had been wondering the same thing. "It tells me that a new game is trying to move into town and upset the balance." He glanced briefly at the Mexican mafioso. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
"You think I flew all this way to shoot the shit, Nikolai?" Lorenzo played with his watch band. "We've worked together for years. I stay out of your business. You stay out of my business. Everyone is happy."
"Until someone gets ripped out of a car window and an innocent woman is kidnapped…"
"I'd be careful calling Romero's girl innocent. She tried to kill you, after all."
Nikolai's gaze snapped to Lorenzo's profile. The semi-darkness of the backseat made it difficult for him to read the man. "What happened back then wasn't her fault. She was just a child being manipulated by her father—a man who is still on your payroll."
Lorenzo made a soft sound. "Don't believe everything you hear."
"I believe what I see and what I can prove. Would you like to explain to me how a trucking company allied with your outfit was used to truck trafficked young women from the same warehouse where my Vivian was being held?"
Now Lorenzo was the one who showed surprised. "I can't explain that but I have my suspicions."
"And they are?"
"Suspicions I'm keeping to myself until I have proof," he replied rather cryptically.
Nikolai sighed. "Then what the hell is the point of this meeting?"
"The Calaveras put a price on Vivian's head. They think it will draw out Romero. I know it won't but they're not very smart. Luckily for her, they were motivated by money and the promise of ongoing business with your outfit. I was able to tentatively buy the hit contract."
Nikolai digested that bit of information. Now the reason for Lorenzo's visit was crystal clear. "We don't work with the Calaveras. That's a long-standing rule."
"Not even to save your girlfriend?"
Lorenzo had him by the balls—and he knew it.
"What do you want?"
"I need guns."
Nikolai frowned. "What happened to your Middle Eastern connection? I thought you were getting shipments from Palestine."
"We were but the situation in Syria has drastically reduced the availability. I have specific needs."
And Nikolai had a connection that no one else could reach. He didn't often step outside the family to conduct business but Grisha had clamped down on weapon exports a few years ago. Grisha had sworn it was because of supply problems but Nikolai hadn't believed it. He'd suspected Grisha was trying to keep Nikolai's crew from growing too big and successful. Refusing to be squeezed by his own family, Nikolai had reached out to an old acquaintance.
"Liam doesn't like working south of the border. You're a bit too flashy for him."
"Set up a meeting. We'll see what he says after we talk money."
"I can't make any promises."
"I'll make you one. Get this contract running for me—and I'll take care of Romero, once and for all."
The offer tempted him greatly. Despite his black reputation, Nikolai had never been a fan of eliminating problems. He'd always found other ways to work around them. Sometimes all it took was one good ass whipping to put a man in line but that wasn't going to work with Romero. The man was a walking liability. His very existence posed a threat to Vivian's safety.
"Not if I get to him first," Nikolai calmly replied.
"You can try," Lorenzo answered, equally as calm. "Set up the meeting. We'll go from there. I look forward to many more years of business with you, Nikolai."
His offer made, Lorenzo stepped out of the backseat, returned to his SUV and left the hangar. Needing some air and some space to think, Nikolai climbed out of the car and walked to the open end of the hangar.
For a long time, he simply stared at the airplanes taking off and landing on the nearby runways. On edge, he lit up a cigarette and enjoyed the soothing burn in his lungs while his mind worked the angles and considered the options. Trouble was coming. He could feel it in his damn bones. There was going to be a shakeup in the way Houston's underworld worked—and if he wanted to survive, he had to start thinking bigger. He had to start thinking about the many maneuvers it would take get him out, keep his crew safe and keep Vivian alive.
Snuffing out the cigarette, he plucked his phone from his pocket and dialed Liam's number. It took nearly seven rings for the Irish arms dealer to finally answer. When he did, he was panting. Knowing Liam, he'd either been exercising or fucking. The man did little else.
"Well—if it isn't my long lost Russian friend! How's the head and the shoulder?"
Nikolai touched the staples in his scalp. "They'll heal. How are you?"
"Oh, same old shit. Just a different day," he said with a laugh. "But I know you didn't call to chat. What do you need? Are you looking to stockpile some steel for a new war?"
"Not yet," he said. Reluctantly, he finally admitted, "Lorenzo Guzman wants a sit-down."
"Like fucking hell," Liam snapped. "I don't work with those men. It's too risky."
"I'm not asking you to compromise your business model. I'm just asking for a sit-down."
Liam grunted on the other end of the line. "This favor wouldn't have anything to do with that pretty little waitress would it?"
He'd always suspected Liam knew the full score when it came to Vivian and her father. "It might."
Liam went silent. Eventually, he exhaled roughly and said, "New Year's Eve. You pick the place but it better be your turf."
"Done."
"See you then."
"Da."
The arrangement made, Nikolai slipped his phone in his pocket and returned to the car. Kostya didn't say a word as they headed home. He likely sensed that Nikolai wasn't in the mood to chat. It was one
of the things that Nikolai liked most about his right-hand man. He always knew when he was needed and when he wasn't.
Right now, he wasn't.
Running his thumb back and forth across his lighter, Nikolai replayed the conversation with Lorenzo Guzman. Even if Nikolai managed to secure a deal between Liam and Lorenzo, the cartel boss was going to hold the threat of releasing that contract on Vivian over his head. Lorenzo obviously thought he needed leverage—and that was troubling.
Lorenzo clearly suspected that he was going to come up against one of Nikolai's allies. The Mexican wanted to be assured of Nikolai's support. What kind of trouble was Lorenzo expecting? It had to be big to make him nervous enough to switch arms dealers rather than waiting out the supply problems with his current guy.
Unless he wasn't telling the truth about the Syria connection. Had he been dropped by his old supplier? Was he getting squeezed? Liam would know—and he'd charge an exorbitant tax for resupplying Lorenzo. If the cartel boss was between a rock and a hard place, he'd have no choice but to pay it. For Nikolai, it meant a huge payday in referral fees.
As he tossed his lighter back and forth between his hands, Nikolai let his thoughts turn to Romero and the Calaveras. That situation had to be dealt with and very soon. Nikolai wasn't about to let Lorenzo dictate the terms when it came to eliminating that problem. It suited his overall goals to let Lorenzo think he had the upper hand but Nikolai had another way to reach Romero and the Calaveras and he meant to use it.
When they pulled into the garage hidden along the side of his house, Nikolai reached forward to tap Kostya's shoulder. "You should go home and get some rest."
"Tomorrow," he said and killed the engine.
Left frowning in the backseat, Nikolai reached for his door but Kostya was already opening it. Standing side by side, he clapped Kostya on the arm. "You're a good friend."
Kostya laughed. "What do you need?"
Nikolai smiled. "It's not a big favor. Get a message to Besian. Tell him I want to sit down with him and Diego tomorrow. Let's get this shit between their crews ironed out. Someone is trying to kick-off a gang war and it's the very last thing this city needs."