Page 26 of Disguised as Love

He spun around to return to the meeting, and both our eyes found Volkov watching us through the glass. I didn’t have time to react before Gennady had pulled a gun and shoved it back in my face. My body tensed, blood pounding, endorphins flying through me, scenarios flooding my brain as I calculated my chances with each move.

Gennady stepped forward, pressing the barrel to my cheek. He was close enough his spittle hit me as he cursed. “You fucking embarrassed me in front of Volkov. I should put you out of your fucking misery right here, you fucking shitbag. But he has other plans. He’ll meet with you at the Leskov estate tonight. Don’t disappoint him as you’ve disappointed me.”

I watched his finger on the trigger, and as it started to depress, I acted. I was already burned with Gennady, but I had a chance to impress the asshole behind the glass. I used every piece of combat training I’d learned to twist the gun from Gennady’s hand, slam him to the ground on his stomach, and jam my boot into his spine before I yanked his head up sideways by the hair. I crammed the barrel into his mouth, clanking teeth and drawing blood. His eyes burned hatred when they met mine.

“Don’t ever pull a gun on me again, asshole,” I snarled. “Volkov wants me, he’s got me, but I’m done paying my dues with shitheads like you.”

I slammed his face to the ground, breaking his nose. He howled. I turned with Gennady’s weapon still in my hand to face the man with the scar who’d accompanied us up. I half-expected him to have his own piece raised at me, but he didn’t. He actually grinned, pushed the elevator button, and followed me inside.

“Gennady is tiny lizard. You bring me much joy,” the man said with a chuckle.

Every muscle in my body was still roiling with adrenaline. I was fucked. Screwed in so many goddamn ways I wasn’t sure I could even see all of them yet. They had plans for Raisa Leskov. They had plans for me and her brother. My worst nightmares were coming to life. The smartest thing to do was to cut our losses and get the hell out of Russia, but I knew I’d have to kidnap her to make it happen. I should leave her in the bed she was building for herself, but I couldn’t. Not without leaving a piece of my soul behind for letting an innocent swing at the hands of the most ruthless criminals on the planet.

Raisa

WRECKING BALL

“Then you whisper to me, it doesn't matter what you say

I feel the weight against the wind

The demolition of me caving in.”

Performed by Lifehouse

Written by Soderberg / Wade / Cole / Woolstenhulme

I was sweating under the suit jacket and silk shirt. I could feel it drip down my back in a way that had nothing to do with the perfectly controlled temperature of Volkov’s lobby and everything to do with the worry sweeping through me. I’d left Cruz Malone on the eighth floor with a room full of the underbelly of St. Petersburg. An FBI agent alone in a den of thieves.

I felt like I was going to throw up as I waited for him in the lobby. I rubbed my fingers over the engravings on my locket as my gaze remained frozen on the bank of elevators. The relief I felt as I saw the numbers start to count backward from the eighth floor barely made a dent in the tangled knot that were my stomach muscles.

Ilia was standing, face impassive, watching the elevators as well. He may have been worried, but he wouldn’t jump to Malone’s defense. Ilia’s job was solely about me and my safety. His loyalty had been bought by my father, and I was sure that whatever Papa had given him was enough to make sure he stayed at my side no matter what came at us. That did nothing for me right now. It did nothing to ease my guilt. I’d forced our trip to Volkov’s building. If Malone died because of it, I’d never forgive myself.

The elevator doors opened, and Malone walked out with the man who’d ridden up in the elevator with us. They were both laughing. Laughing!

A smile lit up his face, turning it into a stunning masterpiece.

A masterpiece I wanted to throw something at.

The two men said something, and then Malone turned and headed toward us.

I was shaking from head to toe, but he was all smiles as he found his way to me. I reacted without thinking: I slapped him. It wiped the grin from his face, and he reached out to grab my wrists when I went to do it again. There was a gun in his hand, and my eyes widened.

“Not here,” he growled, eyes darting about.

We had an audience, even if there were only two people in the lobby. The cameras were recording our every action. Ilia stepped closer, prepared to remove me from Malone’s grip if necessary, but Malone had already let go.

I turned on my heel and left the building, knowing they’d both follow.

We’d crossed the street and gotten to the car before my heart started to beat at a normal pace again. I slid into the back, and Malone joined me. Ilia got behind the wheel, and we headed toward the Golden Palace. We couldn’t speak in the car any more than we could speak in the lobby because there was a good chance the car wasn’t clean, so for the entire thirty minutes it took to get home, I fumed.

I was angry at Rurik, and Papa, and his business that meant I could never let my guard down again. I was angry at Mama for tossing me out of her room and Malik for tossing me from his car. I was angry at Malone for forcing himself on this trip with me and then making me worry that he was going to lose his life for a wasted cause?for something he couldn’t stop and would never end. There would always be mafiya in the world no matter how many evil men he took down.

When we pulled up in front of the house, I got out and slammed my door. Malone slid out on the other side, and Ilia drove off, returning the car to the garage at the back. I glared at Malone and headed for the gardens. He followed.

When we were far enough away from the house, I rounded on him.

“You were laughing! Laughing. There is nothing funny about this,” I seethed.

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