Page 9 of Dirty Roxie
“Is that why you apologized to the tequila?” Roxie asks.
Roberto nods gravely. Roxie returns the gesture and makes her apologies as well.
I gulp what’s in my glass and hold it out for a refill, suddenly wary of what I’m about to hear. The tequila is flavorful, like none other I’ve ever tasted—light hints of vanilla and cinnamon. The effect, however, is immediately calming. Which I’m sure I’m about to be grateful for.
“Your man, Andrei, he is clever, but he is not very smart.” Roberto taps his temple to stress his point. “My sources tell me he has been working with Viktor Limonov to bring you down. And you know of Viktor’s vendetta against you.”
I nod and take a sip of my drink.
“Since they killed his wife, Viktor’s business sense has been slipping. He is rash with his decision making and foolish with his spending. Taking unnecessary risks looking for the next big deal.”
I already know all this and say as much.
“Yes, yes, Ronan, you know everything. But the young lady here does not. And once she does, your actions here will make a little more sense, no?”
I motion for him to continue.
“I already can’t stand Andrei,” Roxie adds. “I’ve got no problem taking him down.”
“Viktor and Andrei teamed up to use the girls Andrei was kidnapping as mules to bring drugs to other countries. Double bonus, sell the girls and the drugs.”
“Viktor was involved in the trafficking?” Roxie asks, her shock clear.
“Not at first,” I interrupt. Because most of this I already know. Including where this is going. “Viktor would pass along drugs to Andrei, who would smuggle them with the girls, take his cut off the top, and both would win.”
“So, what happened?” Roxie asks.
“Katya,” Roberto and I both say at the same time.
“Daria’s sister,” Roxie confirms.
“Andrei’s friend David pulled Katya off the street one day for his operation. By the time Andrei realized it was her, it was almost too late. David had already started her on the drugs. Andrei turned her loose, fearing the wrath of Viktor, I assume. But Katya and David ran into one another again soon after. And unlike Andrei, David didn’t care she was Viktor’s daughter or Daria’s sister,” I say, filling in part of the story, taking over where Roberto left off.
“I thought David was being blackmailed into kidnapping the women?” Roxie asks.
“A story I’m sure he told his FBI friend to save face. But it was not the case. Then Katya turned up dead. When Viktor found out, he went a little crazy.” Roberto fills his glass again. Then Roxie’s. He turns to me and I push my glass forward for a refill. He was right, an influx of tequila is required to relive the chain of events via his recitation.
“Whoa.” Roxie shakes her head as though to clear it
“Viktor ordered Andrei to kill David. It took a while for Andrei to do it, and only after David got himself arrested. The fact that Viktor made him do it pissed Andrei off. So, he attempted to turn against Viktor, seriously damaging Viktor’s operation. The attack on Andrei’s compound was in retaliation. Viktor’s dealings have been bleeding cash for a while. Andrei is a huge fan of living large. And, now, both find themselves in need of a serious influx of cash, substantial enough they are eager to strike a deal with Juan Carlos Ochoa—which is why they are here in Medellín.”
My stomach sinks to the floor.
Juan Carlos Ochoa is the head of one of the largest drug cartels in South America. And he is very successful in running it. His connections reach all corners of the globe and his wealth makes mine look paltry. Yet, of all the places in South America he could choose to live—shit, even of all the places in Colombia he could choose to live—he prefers to call Medellín home.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t aware that Viktor was trafficking drugs. That’s on me for not paying closer attention to his dealings. But the fact is, I’ve never considered Viktor a threat. Sure, he’s an extremely powerful man. One who is feared by many. But I’m not one of them. Viktor Limonov is inconsequential in my business dealings.
Now, Andrei, I knew he dabbled, but I thought it was harmless fun. Something to do at parties to let loose. I never dreamed it was to the extent that would warrant an audience with Juan Carlos.
I curse myself again for my ignorance in trusting someone implicitly. And for allowing Andrei to go to America and run things unsupervised. It’s obvious the perceived power went to his head. And if he was dealing drugs, he was most assuredly doing them. Which was bound to alter his decision-making abilities. No wonder so many deals went awry.
Fallen deals that Andrei contributed to theflighty Americanshe was dealing with. I should have known there could not possibly be that many of them for the number of deals that Andrei lost. But I trusted him.
That was my mistake.
We were friends growing up in the orphanage together. Formed a bond I thought could not be broken. Andrei became my family when I had no one else. And I thought I’d provided the same for him. We joined thebratvaat the same time. But when opportunities to advance in the organization arose, only one of us jumped at the chance.
Me.
