by Kenya Wright
“Get Misha on the phone. His people tracked Eden. He’ll have her.”
“Misha wouldn’t have anyone tracking anybody without letting me know.”
“He’s using the Devil.”
“Haven’t heard of him either,” Kazimir growled. “Are you noticing a theme? I’m above all of them. Like I’m above you. Do you think this is wise, Jean-Pierre? Have you really thought this through?”
“I’m done with the games.” I had the gun pointed at his head. I could’ve shot him right there. How many people had wanted to say they could do this very thing? This moment would start a war. There would be no reason to try to be nice or smooth things over. He would see it as disrespect, and I didn’t give a fuck.
I told myself to stay cool, stay hard. Rage rose inside of me. Someone had taken Eden away, and no one was copping to it.
Kazimir turned to Rafael.
I’m the one with the gun to your head. Why are you worried about Rafael?
I could tell Rafael was uncomfortable as he edged back. I swore Kazimir looked close to charging at him. And then, I realized that it was probably because Rafael had continued to point the gun at the woman’s head.
She’s definitely not some whore.
I gestured for Rafael to come over. Kazimir’s attention followed Rafael and then the Lion moved further between us and his lover.
Of course. She’s important. Why hadn’t I realized it?
He had killed anyone who tried to identify her fingerprints through the FBI. He’d been secret about why he was in Paris. The last thing he probably wanted was for me to know that a valuable person was with him—one who he cared for deeply.
Maybe he really was on vacation.
Everyone turned to me. Including the woman. She had dark brown skin and short black hair.
I spoke to her, “What’s your name?”
She didn’t answer.
“You talk to me!” Kazimir’s voice held an insane edge. I almost checked my hand to see if he’d cut me. “You come into my bedroom in the middle of the night. I’d heard that the French could be rude to tourist, but this is ridiculous.”
“Get Misha on the phone.”
He frowned. “You could have asked that anytime this afternoon or maybe after breakfast, and perhaps I would have obliged, but currently Misha has been avoiding me, and I don’t fucking like you right now.”
“Celina stole something from Misha. Do you know what it is?”
“I barely know Celina. My Uncle Igor would talk about her in passing. She was just one of his mistresses he helped out from time to time. Little projects to keep him from mourning his wife.”
“Igor and I fought a war.”
“Not on any high level.” Kazimir rose from the bed. “I would cover myself, but let’s face it. We both know you hoped to see my dick.”
He stalked over to me.
My men raised their weapons and pointed at him.
The woman spoke for the first time. Her words shaky yet holding a warning. “Kazimir.”
Unfazed, he continued and stopped in front of me. “So, how does it feel, Jean-Pierre? You’re here. Finally, I’m naked and in the bedroom with you. Was it everything you thought it would be?”
“I’m done with games this evening. The clock is ticking. I want answers. Eden was kidnapped by the Bratva.”
Kazimir shook his head. “Is this all still about your flute player?”
“It’s the violin.”
He leaned in closer. “You start a war with me over a fucking musician?”
“The war hasn’t started yet, but it might happen.” I signaled to my men. “Take him on the balcony.”
“No.” The woman rose from the bed. She had another gun in her hand. “You can talk to him in here. Not on the balcony.”
Where the hell did, she get that gun? Rafael you didn’t check the other pillow.
No other words left her mouth.
I looked over Kazimir’s shoulder and told her, “Put the gun down.”
Kazimir’s forehead wrinkled as he glanced over his shoulder too.
And then, she shot at Rafael’s leg. She didn’t hit it but was damn close.
Fuck.
Kazimir charged me. The whole room went crazy. Everyone knew not to kill Kazimir. For now, we needed him alive to get Misha and answers. I slammed him in the head. He shoved me up against the wall. Men dragged him off.
Rafael yelled. “You almost fucking shot me?!”
The woman screamed.
And then Kazimir forgot about me, got loose of my men, and rushed her way.
Three men grabbed Kazimir and grappled him to the floor.
She’s more than important. He’s in love with her.
A new plan came. Kazimir was in no mood to help. He wouldn’t be swayed. And I didn’t have the time to play nice and beg for his help.
His Russians came into my house. His Russians were part of the deaths in Belladonna. They’d taken Eden and killed her goddamn cat.
“Enough!” I shot the gun at the ceiling.
Everyone paused.
The woman had Rafael in a headlock. I didn’t know if Rafael was flirting with her or if he really couldn’t get out that grip.
She let him go. Terror filled her eyes.
“I should fucking kill you.” Rafael rubbed his jaw and reached for her.
She ducked his grip and slid off the bed.
“You don’t lay one finger on her!” Kazimir went crazy on the floor. Another man had to help hold him back. Still with five of them on him, he moved them an inch forward, never giving up or calming down.
“She’s crazy. And he won’t say shit or doesn’t know shit.” Rafael straightened his jacket. “What now?”
I looked at the woman who’d now wrapped herself in the bed sheet. “Take her.”
Rafael widened his eyes. “You better be fucking playing with me.”
“That’s not what you want to do, Jean-Pierre!” Kazimir shoved against the men, trying to break free. The rage on his face was no way subtle. If they let him go, he would kill me first. There was no hesitation in his gaze. “You don’t want to take her. You’re smart, Jean-Pierre. Think this through.”
The Lion had shifted his message. For the first time since I’d met him, he was trying to be persuasive and present logic. He was doing his best to speak calmly.
“You heard me.” I gestured her way. “Let’s go.”
“Holy fucking shit.” Rafael grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door.
She didn’t even glance at Kazimir. And there was no fear in her gaze. Only death and rage. Her steps were careful, as if even the way she walked, and the direction was a strategy to escape.
She’s going to be a problem.
More men came in.
Louis’s voice came over in my ear. “Uh…Jean-Pierre. Did I hear that correctly? What are we doing again?”
“Plan B.”
“I don’t remember there being a plan B.”
“Now there is.” I turned back to Kazimir struggling with now six men on the floor. “Have Misha call me.”
“I told you.” Every inch of Kazimir’s face held rage. “Misha has been avoiding me.”
“So then, what could Celina have taken from your Uncle Igor, to make Misha avoid you?”
The muscle under Kazimir’s eyes twitched. He had some guesses, but it was clear that he probably didn’t know what Misha was doing at all.
Doesn’t matter, if you knew or not. You’re fucking Bratva were in my house and now they have Eden. Fix this.
“Okay, Jean-Pierre.” Kazimir let out a long breath. “Let’s calm down. I’ll call Misha now. Don’t take her from me.”
“You said yourself, Misha has been avoiding you. Get him to contact you. And when he does, he better be discussing Eden’s location and her safe return. I don’t give a fuck about what Celina took from you all. I don’t know what Misha’s tracking. I don’t care about anything else. You find the Devil. You find Eden. Or I’ll
fucking play the most beautiful sonata on your lover’s spine. Her screams will be the sweetest melody.”
Kazimir’s expression cracked. There was no fierce lion. For the first time, he looked like a small man. Tiny and weak. Tired and full of dread.
A little guilt hit me, but not for long.
I would do anything for Eden’s return. I didn’t know who this woman was, but Kazimir cared about her. I would take her—this was his weak spot and I would use it to get my love back to me.
“I can get him.” Kazimir turned his attention to the door. Her absence affected him. I could see it in his eyes. His next words came out careful. No longer cocky or full of confidence. “You don’t have to take her. Anything you need—”
“I told you what I need.” I walked off.
He called back. “If you touch her, if you harm her in any way—!”
I shut the door before he could respond.
I had no plans to harm his love. Yesterday, I’d been hoping to do the same thing that he’d been doing, making love in bed this morning. Instead, his Russians came to my door at the order of his cousin Misha. Whether Kazimir or Misha knew I was involved didn’t matter.
All I wanted, was Eden safe, and back with me. And if it meant war, then let those motherfuckers come. And if it meant my death then bury me where Eden could visit and mourn.
Nothing mattered but her safe return.
Out in the hallway, Rafael handed Kazimir’s lover over to me. “Here you go, Mastermind. Your captive is all yours.”
I held her arm and guided her out the suite. “What else could we do?”
Rafael wring his fists in the air. “There were a lot of things we could have done in these past minutes. Not one of them we did.”
“Eh!” Louis spoke in my ear, “Jean-Pierre, get out of there! Kazimir just threw two guys off the balcony. He’s close to getting out of there.”
Damn it. Six men couldn’t hold him long enough for us to leave.
“Let’s go!” I increased the pace. We had the numbers, and the men, but if Kazimir came for us, we might have to kill him by accident. For now, Kazimir had to remain alive. He was the only one that could get Eden back, with one phone call. One command. He had the power to get this fixed, faster than anyone else.
“Come on!” I picked up the pace to a soft jog. Kazimir’s lover remained with me. She made no noise or struggle, but the whole time she watched us with a deadly gaze. It was almost as if she was assessing us. Deciding what were our weak and strong points. What she could use against us and what would get her killed.
Or maybe my head rang in paranoia.
“Good. Stay with me.” I pulled her along. “Everyone head out. Don’t kill the Lion.”
From those words, she turned her attention to me. The expression of rage lessoned. She even sped up the pace, as if she’d work with me, as long as I’d keep him safe.
She cares for him, as much as he does her. This is deeper than we thought. Maybe she killed the ballerina.
“You’re not moving fast enough.” Louis spoke in my ear, “Kazimir slung another guy over the balcony. He’s took another’s gun and shot two in the heads. Now he’s. . .okay. That guy’s dead.”
We left the suite and hit the hallway.
Men were already at the elevator, holding it open.
“My guys are running up the stairs, if you need them,” Louis said.
My heart boomed in my ears.
“I don’t need them anymore. Tell them to run the other way.” I rushed us to the elevator. Rafael and two others followed with their guns out, ready to shoot from behind. “Once we get on the elevator, Kazimir will have no choice but to take the stairs.”
We just have to get to the damn elevator.
Right before we made it to the elevator, the Lion’s lover tripped and fell to the ground. I didn’t know, if it was an accident or intentional. She rubbed her ankle, as if she’d actually hurt it.
“Get up.” I yanked her to me.
She rose a little, and headbutt my forehead. Goddamn it! Pain bit at my skull, but I’d been hit by harder things than her head before. She punched my stomach and tried to slip away.
I wrenched her to her feet. “You’ll have to do more than that to keep me down, sweetie.”
She slammed her knee into my crotch.
Fuck!
I doubled over and grabbed her. She used my weight, pulling me forward and banging my head into the wall. I twisted. She turned. I almost lost her. She bit me, when I grabbed her.
Rafael and the rest stood watching.
Right before I came close to flipping her over, she landed a punch to my jaw.
In my ear, Louis yelled. “Uh. Jean-Pierre. Kazimir is looking for something under his bed.”
“Now’s not a good time.” I shoved the woman on the floor.
She tripped me.
Rafael snorted.
Louis continued in my ear, “Yeah. I don’t know what Kazimir is dragging out from under his bed, but it’s heavy for him. That can’t be good. Get on the elevator.”
I wanted to respond, but I was wrestling with the damn woman. She scratched my face. I slapped her hands away. Too slow. She had the tie around my neck, choking me as she kicked and punched.
Rafael cleared his throat. “Do you want me to play a song, while you dance with her?”
Grunting, I shoved her into the wall, twisted her around, turned the other way, and kicked up her feet. She fell on her ass.
I towered over her. “Listen. I hate getting aggressive with woman. Let’s not change my view tonight. Clearly, I could’ve broken your arm, and tied it around your neck as a leash to drag you forward. I would rather you walk next to me.”
I straightened and dusted off my jacket.
She rose. Defeat filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to go with you.”
“I’ve heard worse.” I gestured behind me. “Now get on the fucking elevator.”
Louis’s voice rang in my ear as he kept watch of Kazimir. “What’s that? Shit. Jean-Pierre! Kazimir pulled a fucking rocket launcher out from under his bed.”
Of course he would have one with him. Most only travel with a passport.
Louis’s voice held terror. “Get the fuck out of there.”
I dragged her off with us, and yelled to the others, “Run!”
We raced off.
My legs burned.
My grip remained tight on my captive.
Am I really doing this? Too late. No turning back now.
Rafael caught his breath, when we got on the elevator. “Why the hell are we running again?”
“Kazimir’s got a rocket launcher.” I stepped on.
“Shit.”
The rest hurried on.
The doors closed.
The elevator lowered painstakingly slow.
“Louis?” I said into my ear bud. “Where is the Lion now?”
His lover stood on my side and eyed me, probably wondering what Kazimir was doing too.
Static came from Louis’s side of the line, but I still caught his voice. “Kazimir. . .saw you all get on the. . .elevator.”
More static crunched the line.
I tapped the bud, knowing it wouldn’t do anything. It was the fact that we were on the elevator.
Louis’s voice came in better as we lowered some more. “Kazimir killed the guys in front of the elevator. They didn’t have a chance. Threw out knives to their necks and severed their—”
“I don’t need your director’s cut commentary. Where is he now?”
“He keeps yelling out a word. He’s been saying the same one over and over.”
My interest peaked. “What word?”
“I can’t catch it.”
“Catch it. The word might be important.”
“Okay.” Louis continued, “Kazimir ran down the hallway. He’s on the stairs.”
“No one can kill him. Tell everyone to run.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. They’re ru
nning.”
And then the elevator rocked, and the building trembled as if a giant stood next to the building and shook it.
“What the hell was that, Louis?” I stumbled back yet kept my grip on the woman.
Louis’s connection broke a little and then came back, but not as clear as it had been. “Kazimir shot the fucking missile down the staircase!”
Goddamn it. You’re going to end up killing all of us.
I fisted my free hand. “Get out of the building, Louis.”
“I am.”
The connection ended.
I took the bud out, slinging it on the floor.
The elevator shook again.
The lights flickered.
Goddamn it.
Rafael looked at the elevator’s ceiling. “What the fuck is that? King Kong? If the Bratva have King Kong, then I’m switching sides.”
“He’s got a rocket launcher.”
On my side, his lover opened her mouth in shock, and then turned away.
Didn’t know how crazy he was, did you?
Rafael had put his gun up and wiped his face with both hands. “Rocket launcher?”
My heart banged in my chest.
The clock tick-tocked.
Nothing had been resolved except more problems.
The elevator lowered some more, but not fast enough. I’d kidnaped the Lion’s lover to get his help, but he was close to accidentally killing us and her.
Nothing was going right, but it didn’t matter. If this didn’t work, then I would try something else. If I got knocked down by the Bratva, I’d get up, kill them, and find Eden.
Nothing would get in my way.
I studied the Lion’s lady. She still wore the bed sheet although the ends twisted around her leg. I took off my jacket and handed it to her. “Take this.”
She kept her voice low. “I’m fine.”
“I didn’t ask.”
She grabbed the jacket and put it on. The whole time her gaze remained on me, and it was cold and deadly.
My men had watched him these past years. There was lots of photos and footage. I’d seen all of Kazimir’s past lovers. I had been convinced, that he didn’t have a particular style or preference, besides the women being beautiful. He was known to have had several lovers all over the world, even though he’d barely visited them throughout the years.
