Page 82 of Secrets Along the Shore
Paul scratched his jaw.
Tyler met his gaze. “You have sketchy friends.”
“Nah. He’s not my friend. Contacts can be used by anybody. As long as they get paid, any information is sold to anyone.”
“Which means he could tell someone who we’re after.” That’d complicate things. Viktor could see them coming. Then he’d relocate their target again.
Paul patted Tyler’s shoulder, which made his muscles tense. “Exactly. It’s the risk of this life.” He headed over to the Croatian seated by the door, who looked half-drunk. The chair screeched against the floor as he pulled it out, then creaked as he sank onto it.
With a huff, Tyler followed him. Some life these people lived. They paid for information that might get handed to someone else, and risked their own lives by asking questions. There’d always been risks with his missions in the SAS, but his contacts were vetted. These guys weren’t.
“I need another drink,” the Ruka said.
“I can pay for your next hundred drinks if you give me some info,” Paul whispered.
The Ruka laughed. “Info? Sure, I’ll give you info.” The man was pliable in his drunken state. It might make this easier and faster.
Paul grinned. “Where is Viktor keeping Elara and her son?”
“Elara?” The man chuckled. “She left the city yesterday.”
“Yeah, we know.” Paul leaned closer. “Where is she now?”
“Hmm. Who knows?”
Okay. So maybe this guy was too drunk to answer questions. Tyler unclenched his fists at his sides. The anger was building again. Innocent lives were at risk. He didn’t have time for this. He took a deep breath to help relax his muscles.
“C’mon, man. You work for Viktor. Where’d they go?”
“Viktvar.”
What? Tyler frowned. It sounded like the Croatian mispronounced his boss’s name. He huffed and folded his arms over his chest.
“Viktvar?” Paul asked. He swiped open his phone and went to Google Maps. After a moment, he shook his head. “There’s no place called Viktvar.”
“No. No. No!” The Croatian slapped the table. Some of his drink sloshed over the tabletop. “Vukovar.”
“Okay.” Paul nodded. “That we can work with. Are they in the city or outside?”
“They’re in a fortress.”
Not good news. Infiltrating Viktor’s house had been pretty simple, considering. Breaking into a fortress might be impossible with Von’s team lacking good numbers. There’d be no easy way in. If there was a wall, he might be able to scale it, but getting the targets back overwouldbe impossible.
“Is there a secret way in?”
“Nope. It’s so secure. The only people allowed in are”—the Ruka chuckled—“are his illegal hitman and employees.”
So maybe if Tyler could use someone to get in, things would be easier. “Are you one?”
“Sure am. Heading there this evening.”
“Then you’re sneaking me in there,” Tyler said.
The Croatian’s jaw dropped. “No. I can’t. It’s a secret fortress. Nobody goes in.”
Tyler stepped forward and grabbed the front of the man’s shirt. He dragged him from the chair and slammed him against the wall. “You will take me there and tell no one.” He didn’t have any more time to waste. “You’ll follow my orders. If not, you’re a dead man.”
The Croatian nodded jerkily. “I’ll take you.”
