Page 74 of Savage Warrior

Helpfully, Megan has agreed to try to make contact with the children on Arina’s behalf so has their last known address.

Armed with the intelligence we’ve gathered, our plan is to arrive in Lida by tomorrow and simply knock on the door. I’ll pretend to be from the school, concerned about the children’s welfare. If we locate Yuryl and Natalija, then one way or another we’ll get them to come with us. If neither of the kids are there, we start sniffing around, asking neighbours, and so on. I also have a couple of names I got from Arina, a moneylender called Isak Ivanov and someone called Zora running the Crimson Club. I don’t doubt we can persuade one or other of them to cough up a few more leads.

“Right,” Ethan announces, once all is in readiness. “Any other ideas? Anything we’ve missed so far?”

Aaron, Tony, and I exchange glances. No one speaks.

“We leave at first light, then.”

“We?” I query. “Are you coming, too, boss?”

“Yup. That was one of Marius’ conditions for helping us. He needed to know we were serious about invading another Bratva’s patch. This is high-risk stuff. If the Sokolovs find out we were there and Marius helped us, it could lead to a war in the region.”

“Well, we need to make sure they never know who hit them, then.”

Ethan agrees. “Heads down, straight in and out as quick as we can.”

We’re airborne soon after dawn, loaded up with enough serious weaponry to mount an attack on a small state. The plan is not to use it unless we have to. Our preference is for stealth and a clean extraction, then back to Caraksay. With any luck, it could all be accomplished in a couple of days.

The journey out there goes like clockwork. We refuel as planned, then on to the Polish Mafia compound in a forested area close to the village of Fasty, a few kilometres north of Bialystok. There, we meet up with Marius who has travelled to rendezvous with us, bringing a couple of dozen men with him. He has background intelligence on Olaf Sokolov.

“The word is, old Olaf is incensed at what’s happened to his operation in the UK. Seems he lost some of his best men, including his UK underboss when they were attacked by an unknown local operation. He’s assuming they somehow trampled on another firm’s flower bed and he’s offering a small fortune for information.”

“That would be Piatro Velkov,” I remark. “He was one of the men tailing us.”

“The Sokolov flesh supply line is severed, and Olaf stands to lose a lot of cash, not to mention his reputation and pride.” Marius grins at Ethan. “You are not exactly low profile, my friend. There are few who could have pulled off such a feat. It will not be long before he is at your door.”

Ethan narrows his eyes. “He’ll regret it if he tries.”

Marius shrugs. “I have not been able to discover much about his activities in Belarus, but be warned. Sokolov is dangerous and vindictive, and he does not forgive.”

“Me neither,” Ethan replies. “Are we primed to go into Belarus?”

Marius nods. “I have a vehicle for you, and a man who will act as translator. Best not to fly in, a helicopter will attract attention.”

“There’s no need for a translator. I speak Russian,” I tell him.

“Good. But you may become separated, in which case your companions would stick out like a sore thumb. No one in Belarus will speak any English.”

That makes sense. I nod my agreement.

The translator steps forward from the ranks of Marius’ men. “I am Grigor,’ he announces.

We all shake hands by way of introductions, then Marius continues.

“We will follow at a distance. Call me if you need assistance, otherwise we will remain under the radar. When you have achieved what you came for, head for the border where we will be waiting. Keep in touch throughout, as long as it is safe to do so. If thirty minutes pass and I do not hear from you, I shall assume something has gone wrong and try to intervene, but I cannot guarantee that I will be able to get to you.”

“Understood.”

Ethan and Marius exchange a hug.

“Thank you for your help, brother.”

“Anytime.”

The vehicle provided is a somewhat battered Trabant, chosen to be as unobtrusive as possible. The bodywork has been repaired numerous times. The engine sounds like a poorly lawnmower, and it occasionally belches black smoke from the exhaust. All of this deliberately conceals the brand-new engine and gearbox, and bulletproof bodywork. Other refinements include a hidden compartment within the boot for our weapons, and we’re assured it can achieve eighty miles an hour without breaking a sweat, enough to outrun most other traffic hereabouts.

“Please, do not damage it if you can help it,” Marius pleads. “I am fond of the old girl.”

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