Page 4 of Tormented Angel

“I need you here in five, Nazyr,” Ruslan grumbles and hangs up the phone.

I slide my cell into my back pocket and sigh. “I have to go. I’m sorry for doing this to you,” I explain to Madina, who smirks.

“It’s the nature of our businesses, being called away at a moment’s notice, Nazyr Umarova.”

As Madina says my name, I narrow my eyes at her, realizing I recognize her. This is Madina Saritov, who I went to school with when I was a child. She was pulled out after our fifth year and taken to a special school in Russia. However, after I grew up, I discovered who the Saritov family was—Russia and Chechnya’s most notorious assassins.

“Holy shit, it’s been ages.”

“And then some, but it was nice to see you tonight. Maybe we can do this again… if you’re lucky.” Madina smirks and winks at me before going to the door, unlocking it, and walking away.

I’m a little shocked, but I know I need to get over to Ruslan’s place, so I rush over there. Luckily, I’m right around the corner from his condominium complex, so I head right into the lobby and take the elevator up.

Danill, Ruslan’s right-hand man, lets me into their home, and I walk through the place, heading straight for Ruslan’s office since it’s where he’s bound to be.

Sure enough, he’s sitting behind the desk, staring at something on his laptop. I walk inside and shut his office door behind me, then take a seat across from him. “What’s so urgent that it couldn’t have waited twenty minutes?”

Ruslan peers up at me and inhales slowly. “Have you been drinking again? Fuck, Nazyr.” He shakes his head in disapproval, but I’m sure if his entire life was a fucking lie, he’d be looking for an outlet too. “Duarte Oliveria wants a meeting with us.”

“Oliveria, as in the Portuguese mob?”

Ruslan nods. “Yes.”

“Why now? He’s shown no interest in working with our family ever.”

“I know, which is why I want to accept the invitation. I’m seeking the same answers you are. I know we have things he needs, but what does he need? You know what I’m saying? I know a few things about Duarte’s dealings in the past.”

“Like?”

“He refused to work with Anzor when Anzor approached him, so he shows some sort of allegiance to us. I don’t know why, so I want you to find that out for me.”

“Could it be because he wanted to work with us from the start and wouldn’t risk working with Anzor if it meant losing the connection with us once you gained power back?”

Ruslan nods. “It might be, but I won’t know until you meet with him.”

“Me?” Why the fuck isn’t he going to meet with Duarte? I’ve never been sent out alone to complete a task like this at all. I know I can handle it, but this is quite the leap.

“Yes, you. Lom has taken a lot of control over the family business, and Eset handles quite a bit too. It’s time for you to step up as well, Nazyr. It’s your birthright.”

Ever since we discovered that Eset and I weren’t Anzor’s children, I think things have changed. “Okay. I’ll go. When am I leaving?”

“In a couple of days,” Ruslan tells me, and I nod. “That’s what I needed you here for, so you’re free to go.”

He’s got to be fucking with me right now. We might have had a ten-minute conversation together, and he told me he couldn’t wait twenty minutes? Fuck, I could’ve had a really good lay in that bathroom with Madina.

Whatever, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it now.

I rise from my seat and then leave the office. As I’m heading out, my brother’s wife, Amelia, comes into view. “Hey, Nazyr.”

“Hey there, Amelia.”

Amelia comes a few steps closer and inhales slowly, then her features fall a bit. “You’ve been drinking tonight again, haven’t you?”

“I already got a lecture from my brother. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t need one from you too. I’m stressed out, Amelia, and the alcohol makes it a bit easier to deal with my stress sometimes.”

Ruslan didn’t give me a lecture, but he didn’t have to. I could see the disappointment crossing his face the same way I could see it on hers.

“Okay, well, we’re just a bit worried about you. I know what you and Eset found out was huge, so I’m just trying to let you know we’re here for you if you need us.”

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