Page 44 of Saving Helena

“That’s what he believes too. I hope it is valuable and worth his time because the pakhan is coming for you, suka,” he said, grinning so maliciously that I cringed back.

This was unexpected, but there was still hope that Maddox would find me first. He had said he’d been in contact with someone from the Volkov Bratva, so maybe the pakhan was on our side. Maybe? At this point, I was a little too exhausted to do anything but grapple at straws as they came. I was living moment to moment right now.

“Then he’s coming for you, too,” I pointed out smugly. If there was one thing I knew about any criminal activity — fuck-ups didn’t just get a free pass. It wasn’t wise to egg him on, but my stubborn streak couldn’t let me keep my mouth shut.

“I guess so, Helena Marsh.” He nodded at me somberly, accepting that we would both be before the pakhan without any protection from anyone.

Leaving me to my thoughts, he slammed back out of the room, supposedly to let me stew on the fact that I’d be meeting the pakhan soon. I didn’t care, though. Every breath was an effort now, even though I stayed curled on my side. I thought about rolling onto my back but didn’t want to risk it. I’d give a kidney for some Tylenol right now. Knowing something was wrong with me didn’t mean anything when there wasn’t much I could do about it. I’d need to hang on.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Maddox

The place was desolate, a farmhouse seemingly in the middle of nowhere with a barn and a few other outbuildings. There was nothing for miles, but Morinrock was decently close. It was the perfect hideout. Convenient and no neighbors.

We’d parked a mile out, nearly forty bikes and one vehicle of suits that was pulled over into the red dirt of Arizona.

“We hoofin’ it from here?” Whitney asked. The older man looked tired already in the full heat of the day, but he was a steady shot, and he had known Helena longer than all of us. There had been no way he would have let me leave him behind, even if I wanted to.

We’d pulled down a small side road into a dry wash to hide the bikes from the main road. The suits immediately exited their vehicle and approached Dimitri, looming uncomfortably beside him. A few of the club members had already strolled up to them to try to make conversation, but that hadn’t gone well. Pike was already eyeing them with interest.

“It’s a mile that way. There is a farmhouse on the left; you can’t miss it. Dimitri, Pike, and the suits will come with me in the Escalade. This guy is expecting the pakhan for the meeting, so he won’t be too alarmed when we pull up initially. Whitney.” I turned to the older man and pinned him with a hard stare. “I’m counting on you to watch the clock. Exactly fifteen minutes after we leave, you get the group geared up and follow us.”

“Count on it, prez.” He looked doubtfully at the Bratva soldiers and Pike. Are you sure you’ll be okay with that lot?”

“I’m sure, old timer.” Clapping him on the back and giving a chin nod to the Brotherhood grouped up, I headed towards the car, motioning to Pike to follow.

“Can you give the direction to your men to follow with Whitney?” It was weird for them to be under another club’s direction, but I didn’t have time for niceties.

“Already done. My VP has it under control. He and my men will go along with yours in fifteen. This is the ‘assistance’ the pakhan sent then?” Pike asked, one eyebrow raised in question as we reached the Escalade.

“It’s a long story that I don’t have time to answer right now,” I admitted. “We’ll talk about it soon though. This is part of it, though.”

“No explanations needed fucker. I’m here for it all.” He grinned at me then, and I realized how much I’d missed him.

To my surprise, Dimitri was in the driver’s seat. “Let’s go get your girl.”

“Fuck yeah.” My body buzzed with adrenaline and nerves as we drove out of the wash, tires bumping in the ruts left by last spring’s rain.

“Ok, Maxim talked to the asswipe earlier, and the plan was for him to meet up and pick up Helena from the house. He told Sergei that he wanted to question her personally.” Dimitri drove with one hand out the window and one hand on the wheel. I would think he was relaxed, except the tendons on his neck stood out in stark relief from his tattoos.

“That’s good then. He’s expecting the car, right?” I asked nervously. I could see the farmhouse coming up fast, and my palms were already sweating at the thought of what awaited me.

“Yeah, brother. That’s good. Just let me take the lead, alright? He’s expecting a Volkov Bratva boss, and he will get one,” he paused. I’ll get out first, cool?” Dimitri’s broad features, which I’d always associated with him, were pinched with concern as if he were worried he’d offend me.

“However, we need to play this. I’m good,” I confirmed. There had been in a time in my life when I’d concerned myself with the macho shit, but that wasn’t what this was about. If Sergei were looking for the Bratva, we’d give him the illusion of Bratva. I didn’t give a shit what I had to do.

“Let’s leave the cuts in the car,” Dimitri suggested. I immediately shed mine, even though I caught Pike’s surprised look as I shrugged it off.

“Man, I just want Helena back safely. The fewer shots fired, the better. Dimitri’s logic is sound.”

“For sure. This is the first time I’ve not been calling the shots in a long time. It’s weird.” He looked unsettled, but he pulled his Cobra cut off and folded it on the floor as the Escalade slid into place in front of the farmhouse.

The car’s windows were tinted so much that they were blacked out. The two goons on the front porch couldn’t see Dimitri as he pulled his vest off. They seemed as cool as cucumbers as if they weren’t holding someone hostage inside. Maybe they had no idea they were going against the Bratva or that two MCs were riding against them. Perhaps they had no clue they’d die soon.

We’d pulled in straight, which was brilliant since we were about to open the doors. Dimitri stepped from the vehicle, his shoulders square, pushing his sunglasses up onto the bridge of his nose. He spoke to them in Russian, but his demeanor threw me off. Everything about him seemed different, from how he held himself to how he talked to them as if he expected them to defer to him. He snapped his figures at us then, imperiously.

“Boss is ready,” one of the bratva soldiers said and opened the door. “Let’s go.”

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