Page 123 of Emerald Vices

“Your daughter is still very much alive, Ivan,” I assure him.

“I heard there was an attack. That Mila was the target?—”

“There was an attack, yes, and yes, Mila was the target. She’s just out of surgery. She’s unconscious, but stable. The doctor expects her to make a full recovery.”

“Surgery,” Ivan croaks. “They tried to kill her…”

“But they didn’t. She’s still alive, Ivan.”

“You promised me. You vowed that you would keep her safe.”

“Listen—”

“No, you listen. My daughter was hurt under your watch. What good is your protection if it lands you in the fucking hospital?”

“Calm down, Ivan?—”

“A pakhan who can’t keep his own safe is no pakhan at all.”

My hand clenches into a fist. “Careful now.”

“No, I think you should be the one to be careful. The others should know exactly what they’re risking, allying themselves with the likes of you.”

“Don’t forget who you’re speaking to, Ivan.”

The pause on the other side of the line is rife with tension, laced with fear. “I haven’t forgotten a goddamn thing.”

“Good. Viktor will be dealt with. That’s a promise.”

He hangs up without bothering to reply, leaving dead air ringing in my ears.

52

ANDREY

It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

Viktor has one arm chained to the bedframe by a pair of fuzzy red handcuffs, but that’s about all of him I can see. Two naked women make up the rest of the picture. One of them seems to have lost her tongue down his throat. The other must’ve lost hers somewhere between his legs.

Before I can gag, I pull out my gun and aim at the bedpost looming over Viktor’s head. Even with the silencer screwed on, the pop of the discharge is enough to make both women scream.

Neither one screams as loud as Viktor, though. I suspect that has something to do with the second woman reacting to the unexpected noise by clamping her jaw closed.

Poor bastard.

He’s cursing up a storm and clutching himself as the women scurry in search of their clothes.

“Looks like you’re bleeding, brother,” I remark.

“Pity. I was hoping she’d bite it clean off,” Leonty mutters.

The women are quivering from head to toe. When I incline my head to the door, they bolt without a backward glance at Viktor.

“I-I have security here with?—”

“Bullshit.” Spit flies from Leonty’s mouth as he paces along the foot of the bed.

Shura drags a chair from the corner and sits like he’s anxious for the show.

---