Page 43 of Den of Thieves

“Mere coincidences.” Venchi shrugged.

“You are fucked in the head and a lost cause.”

“This discussion is getting us nowhere. What are you going to tell Vladimir about Chipmunk if Pavel can’t access his private accounts?”

It was Nikolai’s turn to go quiet for a bit. He put the car in drive and merged back onto the highway. “For now, we tell him nothing. There’s no need to get him riled up over answers we don’t have.”

“And if Chipmunk’s death is connected to our enemy?”

“Then this Osvo knows more than we gave him credit for.”

16. “Strong Like Bull”

-AKSANA KOVALYOVA

Aksana winced, jerking away from the staunch smell of stale, sweaty gym socks and God knows what else. Her heart jack hammered in her chest. She blinked her eyes into focus, trying to remember what happened.

AK and Karina were strewn across an uncomfortable couch that had seen better days. At least that explained the smell. She tried not to think about what caused the various stains.

They were in some kind of mechanic’s garage. Only there weren’t any cars in the bays. She recognized the lifts because Vladimir had some installed to hold more cars in his. An office with ripped blinds showed at least three figures arguing amongst themselves with exaggerated hand motions.

The sun bounced shadows across the half open garage doors and onto the two rusty cars inside. Aksana and Karina couldn’t have been out long. She tried to move and couldn’t. Karina was unconscious and lay half on top of her. Her elbow jabbing AK beneath the ribs.

“Tinkerbell, get up,” Aksana hissed, cautiously eyeing the shadows inside the corner office.

They needed a plan to get the heck out of there. Karina was the more logical thinker of the two of them. AK preferred a kill first ask questions later approach. Bound without a weapon left her with little options. She forced herself to stay calm and wiggled her body until her sister woke up.

Karina groaned, trying to do as she asked, but slumped back over. “What?” She squirmed and then cursed when she saw her hands were zip tied.

Aksana frowned, feeling her arms bound as well. Finally, they were both able to prop themselves up with the use of their legs.

“How the hell did they find us?” Her sister asked with wide eyes.

Aksana felt nothing but guilt knowing she was the reason they were in this situation. Had she known Anton was a lying predator, she would have killed him that night. Granted, if she was sober and not heartbroken, she would have seen him for what he truly was clear as day.

“This has nothing to do with the Bratva.”

“Then what the fuck is this, AK?!”

“Shh!” AK hissed, but it was too late.

The three shadows stilled and headed towards the door, elbowing, and fighting with each other to be the first one out. That tiny prick, Anton—the same man Aksana beat senseless a few months ago—walked out first with false bravado.

“I should have killed him when I had the chance,” she mumbled.

Karina shot her a look, but she didn’t have time to decipher its meaning.

“Welcome, ladies.” The creep spread his arms wide like they were at some fancy private villa instead of a rundown building in the middle of nowhere.

Anton stalked closer, and both women grimaced at the smell of his strong cologne. He reached out a hand to caress Aksana’s cheek, and she jerked out of his reach.

“I like feisty conquests. Makes things more… enjoyable,” Anton said, and his friends laughed, rubbing their hands together.

“Feliks drew the short straw, sweetness,” Anton said to Karina. He pointed to the tallest of the three before pointing to the short, round man beside him. “Grigoriy gets first dibs and Feliks has to settle for sloppy seconds.”

Feliks shrugged. “Does not matter to me. As long as I get a turn.”

“You’re sick.” Karina scoffed.

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