Page 7 of Rafi

“Yeah, I’ve got something,” he finally answers.

He taps his ear piece and turns back to the two screens in front of him. The screens above him flicker to life, and they start a slow scroll of images of Russian men known todabblein criminal activity.

“Tell me when you want me to stop.”

The screen continues to roll as he taps away, obviously working on other angles.

“So I guess you’re back in the ring, huh?”

I move my gaze away from the screen, my eyes flicking toward him. Now, how the fuck does he know that?

“I know that information is not safe for public consumption.” He tells me my secret is safe with him. “Eyes on the screen, Rafi; you don’t want to miss anything.”

I run a hand through my short hair, newly cropped close to the scalp, and turn reluctantly back to the screen. Sometimes I think Leo pretends to be blind to prolong my misery; he always finds a way to keep me here longer than required. I wait impatiently for another twelve minutes before I see the man I’m after on the screen.

“There!” I point, but obviously, Leo is blind, so he can’t see who I’m pointing to.Or so I think.

Leo continues to surprise me, though, as he turns, spinning his chair somewhat theatrically. I don’t even ask him how he knows which picture I’m referring to as he launches into aprofile of the man I saw with Maxine last night. Asshole’s not blind; he’s just an asshole.

“Igor Aslanov. Russian Bratva. They call him ‘The Ghost’. Known associate of The Czar; real name Anton Aslanov, but everyone calls him The Czar. Igor’s brother. They specialize in… let’s call it ‘import and export’ of heavy grade arms.”

The air leaves my lungs like a gut punch. It’s him. The man who was with Maxine. I nod slowly, my stomach twisting. “That’s him.”Which leads me to my next question; how the fuck did Maxine Andrade end up in the company of the Russian mob?

Leo leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head, a cocky smirk on his face. This man. I feel like putting my fist through his face, really making him blind. “I don’t know where you think you saw him, but the man is more myth than legend. His people make sure he’s untouchable, and he’s not easy to find. Definitely doesn’t like an audience.”

“I saw him in a public setting; something must have drawn him out. Find a way to get to him, Leo.” My voice is hard. “Everyone has a weakness.”

“True, were it not for the fact that he is known as The Ghost. There’s got to be a reason for that.” Leo says, pulling up another file with another tap of his keyboard. “Thank me later.” Another tap tap. “His weakness might just be his niece, Tayana.”

I look up at the screen, at the image of the young woman whose face stares back at me. It’s not the best shot, but I can just make out the petite features of the brunette who could very well be my ticket to finding Maxine Andrade.

“Tayana Kamarov,” Leo breaks into my thoughts as he explains who the girl is. “Anton’s daughter. She’s… well, let’s just say she’s a wild card. I’ve heard she parties like a rock star and spends money like it’s on fire. And best of all…she’s right here in your own backyard.”

“Why the different surname?”

Leo shrugs, tells me it’s probably a safety measure.

“Where do I find her?”

Leo smirks, clicking to a grainy surveillance photo of a crowded club. At the center is a striking brunette in a silver dress, drink in hand, her expression one of bored detachment. “Obsidian. She’s there most nights. She’s the one surrounded by an army.”

“Thanks Leo, I owe you,” I say, squeezing his shoulder before I turn to walk away. His voice follows me out the door.

“Just try not to piss her off. Word is, she’s got her father’s temper.”

Obsidian isall flashing lights and pounding bass, the kind of place where secrets drown in liquor and smoke. It’s not the kind of place I usually frequent, but then again, I’m not much for the club scene. No, that’s Sam and Mateo’s domain, so I pick them up on my way there, listening to them with some irritation as they tell me all about the exclusivity of the club and how they despise me because I’ve been holding out that I have tickets.

The bouncer barely glances at me as I step inside, the heat and noise hitting me like a wave. There is so much noise, and so many people. Beautiful people. It’s like the stars aligned and sent all the beautiful people here to mingle and co-exist amongst each other. It takes a moment to adjust, to scan the crowd for her.

My eyes skirt around the bustling club until they land on Tayana Kamarov standing at the bar, surrounded by a small entourage of men who look more like bodyguards than friends. Tonight, she’s wearing a gunmetal blue dress that clings to herlike liquid gold, and her eyes twinkle with mischief as she throws her head back and laughs at something someone said.

“You boys go on and enjoy yourselves,” I tell Sam and Mateo, who give me an irritated look because I’m the good looking one and I just as good as ditched them. I don’t wait for them to move; instead, I weave through the crowd, moving toward my target. When I reach the bar, I signal the bartender, nodding toward her. “Whatever she’s drinking, put it on my tab.”

The bartender glances at her, then back at me, his expression unreadable. A moment later, he sets a fresh glass in front of her, pointing in my direction. Tayana turns, her calculated gaze sliding over me like a knife. She tilts her head, studying me with an intensity that’s almost unsettling.

“Thank you…for the drink,”she says, her voice a breathy rasp. “There really was no need.”

“It’s the polite thing to do,” I reply, leaning casually against the bar. “Rafi.”

---