Page 81 of Savage Warrior

“No, they won’t. And it doesn’t matter anyway because I’m going to kill you unless you tell me what I want to know. So, you choose. Either you die here and now, or you take a chance, answer my questions, and get to make a run for it.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t…”

“Fair enough.” I draw my knife and dig the point into the end of his nose.

“No! Please…” he screams. “I’m just an agent, a nobody.”

I press harder. A bead of blood appears. “Time’s up, Isak.”

His last vestiges of resolve crumble in the face of certain death. “The Sokolovs,” he sobs. “It’s the Sokolovs, it’s their line. It runs out of the Crimson Club.”

I rock back on my heels. “Now, that’s better. You’re getting the hang of this. And where would I find this Crimson Club?”

He babbles directions, huddling into a ball and begging for his life. I remember Arina’s account of how this slimeball of a pimp bullied and coerced her. She was desperate, and he forced her to sell herself for sex, just to feed her family. I wish she could see him now.

“What do you know of Arina Kovalyova?” I ask him.

“Gone,” he moans. “Abroad…”

“The Sokolovs?” I know already but want him to confirm.

He nods. “I don’t know any more. No point looking for her…”

“What about the other girl? The younger one?”

“I don’t know.”

“Liar,” I hiss. “Are you really so keen to die?” I slice my blade down his face, opening up a deep gouge across his cheek. “You told them where to find her. Didn’t you?”

“You don’t understand. The Sokolovs, they… they rule this town. I had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice, Isak. You made bad ones.”

“We have what we came for. Let’s go.” Ethan drops to his haunches beside me. “Do you want me to finish off?”

“No, that’s my job.” For Arina. And for Natalija and the others like them.

I grab his hair again and force his head back, then neatly slice his throat from one ear to the other. I wipe my blade on his expensive suit jacket, then get to my feet.

Sorted.

CHAPTER 19

Rome

Ethan’s phone trills as we drive towards the Crimson Club. “Yeah?”

It’s Marius. “Yuryl has been chatting. Remembering. One of the men who was at their apartment has a scar, on the side of his face. Any help?”

“Maybe. Thanks, my friend. Is the boy all right?”

“He will be. I have decided to take him to Caraksay myself. It will be an opportunity to see my sister and nephew. It has been a while.”

“Too long. Cristina will be pleased to see you.”

He ends the call.

“He’d better not swig all my best brandy before I get back.”

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