“And you know this how? Are you a new member of the Bratva?”
Basically.
Rafael laughed.
Louis didn’t and looked at me. “Are you?”
This one is too smart. It’s always the quiet ones. In fact, I should’ve just been quiet myself.
I tapped my leg. “Am I what?”
“A member of the Bratva?” Louis asked.
I pressed my lips together.
Jean-Pierre studied me. “You think she is?”
“When we took her, Kazimir screamed mysh, over and over. It’s clear she has some fighting skills. Mysh, means mouse.” Louis shrugged. “She had you twisting and turning in the hallway, Jean-Pierre. And then there’s the ass whipping she gave you in the bathroom.”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.
Jean-Pierre frowned. “That wasn’t an ass whipping. That was me avoiding hitting her.”
“I’ve seen you avoid hitting many women, and not have your shirt torn and toilet water dripping all over you.”
A dark chuckle left Rafael. “How did that happen again?”
Jean-Pierre lied, “She broke one of the pipes behind the toilet.”
“She broke one of the pipes.”
“With what?”
“My head,” he muttered and studied me. “Mysh?”
Hey, you know what? Let’s stop talking. I liked it when you all were ignoring me.
I stirred.
I should’ve never opened my damn mouth.
Jean-Pierre tilted his head to the side. “Are you the Mouse?”
I stayed silent.
“How clever that would be, if you were?” Jean-Pierre knitted his fingers together. “You helped Kazimir kill Sasha?”
“Did you?” Louis growled as if that was a warning to open my mouth. While Jean-Pierre used kid gloves with me, Louis wouldn’t be as gentle, and patient.
I whispered, “That’s more credit than I deserve.”
“Explain.”
Don’t say too much.
“I shot, but.” I kept my voice low. “I simply shot a gun, next to other men who were shooting guns. And unfortunately…. Sasha was in front of our guns, but it’s not like I helped in a huge way.”
“Sasha had tried to kill Kazimir,” Jean-Pierre said. “What happened?”
I tapped my finger on my leg. “Sasha, couldn’t kill Kazimir, is the more important fact to that story .”
“And what other facts are important?”
“I can help you find Eden, and get her back safely.”
“Kazimir says he has her.”
“Even if he does, I can help with the exchange.”
“I don’t need your help.”
Rafael turned to Jean-Pierre. “How the hell are we going to do an exchange again?”
Jean-Pierre ignored him and watched me. “You helped kill Sasha. That makes sense. I had asked Kazimir about the Mouse in the bathhouse earlier, and his reaction had been odd. He looked like he was going to kill me. His reaction had come off more like a jealous man, than a boss worried about his trusty guard.”
That sounds like my baby.
I kept my mouth closed.
Louis nodded. “She’s the Mouse. This week has been crazy enough for me to believe it.”
Fuck.
“Now I see why Kazimir had a rocket launcher under his bed.” Jean-Pierre smiled. “She’s the Mouse. The Bratva likes fairytales and legends. I could see the Lion naming a woman he was taken with, trying his best to label something he didn’t understand.”
Jean-Pierre knows Kazimir better than I thought.
He studied me. “Are you as clever as a mouse?”
“As clever as anyone.”
“Why did Kazimir name you that?”
I gave him a sad smile. “It’s just a term of endearment. Nothing more.”
“No. He didn’t name the ballerina.”
Good.
Louis shrugged. “Maybe Kazimir called her, the ballerina.”
Kaz better not have called her anything. What am I talking about? She’s dead, and I’m kidnapped. It doesn’t matter.
“This name isn’t just him being infatuated.” Jean-Pierre wouldn’t let it go. “The streets call you mouse now. Neighborhoods. Cities. Everyone has been talking about the Lion and Mouse, even though they have no face, or details of what you look like. Whether you’re male or female.”
I looked at Jean-Pierre. “I can help you.”
“Can you now?”
“I’m good at solving problems.”
Rafael shook his head. “And yet, the Lion is still a psychotic maniac. Maybe you can fix that problem first.”
I see what Kazimir means. He’s definitely not funny.
I glared at him. “I’ve found from my short time in the European crime world, that being a psychotic maniac goes with the job title.”
Jean-Pierre touched his chest. “Are you calling me crazy too?”
Gangsters and their egos.
“No. I understand your actions.” I nodded. “I get why you took me. Not smart, but effective. You’ll get Eden back faster than you would have, if you hadn’t.”
“Why?” Louis asked.
I looked at all of them. “Because Kazimir had no idea any of this had been going on. Someone did something, and they were hiding it from him.”
“Who?” Jean-Pierre asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe, Misha.”
“Misha is definitely involved in this. And Celina.”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“But you know Misha?”
“Yes.”
Jean-Pierre considered what I’d said for a few seconds and then nodded. “I’ll take your help.”
Shock hit me. “You will?”
“Yes. How will you help?”
Shit. I don’t know. I’ll do anything to get back to Kazimir.
“Keep me by your side. Let me see what you see.” I extended my hands. “Anything I can add. Any information I can find, I’ll do it. We’ll get Eden back. Safe. That’s the most important part.”
“You’re smarter than Kazimir,” Jean-Pierre said. “You provide a softness that he definitely doesn’t possess.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
And then the limo turned into a neighborhood.
Several vans pulled up around us as we parked. Even more police cars came.
“It’s quiet and empty around here.” Louis scanned the space. “Where are our men?”
Rafael took out his gun. “Here we fucking go, again. The streets are clean, like the Bratva have been here.”
Has Kazimir been here?
Louis opened the limo door, held his hand up, and climbed out. “Everyone stay here. I’ll go in with my people.”
“No.” Rafael jumped out of the limo. “I’m going in with you. I don’t like the smell of this. I want to make sure Shalimar is okay.”
Yes. All of you leave me in the limo. That’s a great idea.
Louis ducked down and gazed into the limo. Jean-Pierre and him exchanged looks.
Come on. Let Rafael go in there and check on. . .Shalimar, or whoever.
Jean-Pierre left the limo.
I scooted to the doorway, hoping to overhear conversation.
Jean-Pierre shook his head at Rafael. “Stay here.”
“Fuck you. I’m a big boy.” Rafael marched forward. “I’m going.”
Good for you, Rafael. Go!
“Have your men watch Emily,” Jean-Pierre said to Louis. “Put the chef in the passenger seat with the driver. She’s already freaked out.”
I glanced at Gwen. She still sat in the car. They definitely didn’t think we could hear them, but she’d heard as much as me.
Louis spoke, “I told Gwen a story, explaining something about Emily being a criminal, and us helping the authorities with the terrorist.”
Gwen’s face remained calm. Not one tremble or shiver in her hands.
What’s her story? It
’s the quiet ones that you always have to watch out for.
“So, Gwen thinks we’re on some official investigation for the government?” Jean-Pierre asked.
“Or, she’s too scared to call bullshit, and she’s just nodding and smiling until we take her home.”
Gwen rolled her eyes.
I grinned.
They’re idiots. I know girl.
“Make sure you smooth things over with Gwen. Money. Whatever. Give her a nice story. We don’t want to freak her out. She’s the best thing that happened to Shalimar’s.”
Gwen raised her eyebrows at that comment.
Jean-Pierre rushed off.
Louis ducked his head into the limo and gestured for Gwen to come. She did and gave me a sad look. I shook my head to let her know I would be fine.
“What was that?” Louis glared at me.
I opened my mouth. “What?”
He pointed at me. “I don’t want any trouble from you.”
I kept my mouth closed .
Three of men climbed into the limo. Little guys in suits. They must’ve sent their best men with Jean-Pierre and his cousins. Apparently, something had scared them.
All three guys sat down across from me.
One assessed me and took out his phone. That device captured his attention. I spotted a gun in a shoulder holster. Another held humor in his eyes and then gazed past me. I checked his body and found his gun on an ankle holster. I couldn’t figure out where the third one had his gun. No bumpy appearance in the usual places.
Maybe, it’s on the outside of the waist. In the back.
Didn’t matter.
They all held guns.
I just needed to take one.
The limo door shut us in.
And I contemplated how I would get out of this.
Chapter 5
Kazimir
Thirty minutes earlier
Pavel took the Devil to my plane. Several of Emily’s men would watch him.
In the jeep, Blue, Maxwell, David, and I rode to David’s grandmother’s house. The whole time, I kept dialing Jean-Pierre.
His phone must be off. It kept going straight to voice mail.
What type of idiot doesn’t keep his phone on, after kidnapping someone? Are you worried I’m going to track you? Good. I will, if I can.
Maxwell grabbed my attention. “You think David’s grandmother will mind me smoking a joint on her porch?”
“I don’t care.”
“About his grandmother?”
“About your predicament with smoking a joint.”
“It keeps me calm.”
I understood Maxwell’s predicament. My nerves flared on edge. My gut had seen better days. Pain still erupted in my chest. I did my best to ignore it.
In reality, I didn’t even want to go to David’s grandmother’s house. But she had been thrown in my life. Perhaps, the universe was trying to tell me something. I ignored the signs—the blood moon—the eclipse. If anything, I should have kept Emily in Moscow.
And now what I could I do?
There was nowhere to go. I had the idiot’s girlfriend—a smelly and unimpressive girl. I was ready to give her to Jean-Pierre, but the exchange would be tricky. He’d shown me that he wasn’t a rational man.
And I want to kill him during the exchange. How can I do that and keep my mouse safe?
There was no question that Jean-Pierre would have to die. However, the focus needed to be getting Emily back.
I rubbed my legs, unable to stop moving my hands. A minute later, I was back on the phone, dialing Jean-Pierre.
Voice mail again? Fucking lunatic.
I couldn’t sit in one place. I would rather drive through the streets all day, constantly filling up my gas tank and staring out the window, then sitting in one spot for too long.
But Jean-Pierre’s flute player smelled ungodly.
I sniffed the air and wished I hadn’t.
When we made it to David’s grandmother’s house, I pointed at her. “Go take a shower.”
She widened her eyes. “Me?”
“Yes, you, and immediately.”
Maxwell helped her out the limo. “Come one. I’ll get you straight.”
The smelly girl took her invisible unicorn with her.
Blue had her laptop open as she left the jeep. David’s men had given her a few mini cameras to watch the place where we grabbed Eden.
I got to Blue’s side. “Anything?”
“Nothing yet.” She walked forward with the laptop open and in front of her. “As soon as I see something, I’ll let you know.”
Good. Your life depends on it.
Unfortunately, I doubted Jean-Pierre would go to the house that we just left. He seemed too lost to know where Eden may have been. However, the fact that Corsican had been guarding the dead girl, seemed like a good sign that he would show up.
That dead girl was important to somebody. I wonder who? I hope it’s one of Jean-Pierre’s cousins. I want them to be in pain today. Off their game.
David met us at the front door, pulled out his key, and unlocked it. “My grandmother could live in a mansion, but she chooses to remain in her old house.”
“It’s nice to me.” Maxwell shrugged and then leaned David’s way. “I like your porch. Would you mind, if I smoke a joint out here?”
David smiled. “Smoke it in the living room. My grandmother partakes.”
“Then, she’s my type of grandma.”
I sneered and pointed at Eden. “Focus on cleaning that one up.”
Maxwell nodded and stayed by her side.
We piled into the house. Small for my liking, but probably big enough for a person living alone. It had two levels, and all made from stone. Ivy had climbed along some of the front windows.
Yellow and white decorated the living room. Bright and inviting. It was like his grandmother had captured some of the sun’s warmth, and covered the entire space in it.
Blue sat down on one of the couches, set her laptop on the white coffee table, and continued to monitor her screen.
I dialed Jean-Pierre again.
Voice mail.
I came close to throwing the phone out the window.
Minutes later, I paced.
Maxwell had disappeared with David, and Eden. The sound of the shower came next. Then, Maxwell returned, pulled out a long white joint, and lit it. He looked up at me. “You want some?”
“No.”
“You need to relax.”
“I’m relaxed.”
Maxwell checked Blue. “Has he sat down since we’ve been here?”
She appeared nervous to answer as she shook her head.
“You need to smoke.” Maxwell held the joint in front of him. “This shit will relax you.”
“I don’t need to relax until Emily is back with me.”
Maxwell waved me away and took a hit of his joint. “Em will be back soon.”
“How do you know?”
“We’ve got the girl.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is with Em.”
“You may be used to her getting kidnapped. I’m not.”
“Then, you better get used to it.” He blew out smoke. “I thought this shit would end once Daryll died, but it looks like you’re going to get her in trouble now.”
“This wasn’t my fault.”
Maxwell leaned back on the couch and blew out smoke. “It’s never anybody’s fault.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I’m high, man.” He rubbed his eyes. “And tired.”
“Why isn’t he answering?”
“You should wait until she’s out the shower anyway.”
“I’m not waiting.” I paced and dialed Jean-Pierre.
Finally, the phone rang. I rushed to the window, as if that would help. I was losing my mind. But when Jean-Pierre answered, it got me nowhere. After barely five minutes of conversation, he hung up on me.
“That fucking moron!” I
stared at the phone. “I told him I had her. What the hell is wrong with him?”
“I wouldn’t have believed you either.” Maxwell rose from the couch, blew out smoke, and walked over to the window. “We’ll call him, when she gets out of the shower. Everything will be fine.”
I paced in David’s living room some more. A path of my footsteps decorated the thick carpet.
Still smoking, Maxwell stood by the window, staring out. “Is that what you do, when you’re nervous?”
“What?”
“Constantly move like a shark?”
“Never mind that. Why did Misha go back to St. Petersburg?”
“Ava got into a situation.”
“So, Misha left for the ballerina?”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“When I see Misha, he has a lot to explain.”
Maxwell grimaced. “In all fairness, he’s been having a rough time.”
I stopped near Maxwell and glared. “He’s been having a rough time? Emily has been kidnapped!”
“I know. I know.” Maxwell went back to the window. “I’m just saying that Misha is misunderstood. If you knew the whole story—”
“If something happens to Emily, then I’ll kill Ava.”
Maxwell raised his hands in the air. “Hey, I’m not in this.”
I returned to pacing.
David walked into the living room.
I paused, and was pissed that the flute player wasn’t with him. “Is she done showering yet?”
“No.”
Maxwell attempted a joke. “Maybe, she’s cleaning up the unicorn.”
I scowled at him.
Maxwell went back to the window. “Give her a few more minutes. With the way she smelled, we should let her take her time.”
I agreed, but Jean-Pierre needed confirmation that I had her. And I yearned to hear Emily’s voice.
David ran his fingers through his hair. “My grandmother’s setting up everything in the back.”
I didn’t know what that meant, and I didn’t care. At this point, if she needed my blood for a spell, I would give it to her, and anyone else’s .
“Uh.” Blue’s voice squeaked from the couch as she typed into her laptop. “A limo drove up to the house with three black vans and police.”
Finally. Something.
“That has to be Jean-Pierre. He’s the only one that will have police escorts during this mayhem.” I gestured to David. “Have our closest people head that way.”
Dirty Minds: The Lion and The Mouse (Book 4) Page 7
