Gabriel's Regret: Book 1 (The Medlov Men Series 2)

by Latrivia Welch

  Taking a seat and pulling it into the circle, Valeriya sat down. What they did not know is that she has spoken with Allan Roman on a secure line shortly after her brother has been murdered. With an almost eerie calm, she pushed back in the seat. “We wait.”

  Faddei have a humorless laugh, then jutted out his large square jaw. “Wait? For how long? Until the Russians maybe share some of theirs?”

  Valeriya wanted to spit in his face, but instead she smiled back. “No, we wait until the day after tomorrow. A new shipment will come to us. It’s already been arranged.”

  “And who will bring this shipment to us?” Faddei asked, feeling more and more embarrassed as he realized that she truly had a plan.

  All the men in the room eyed her waiting for an answer and redemption.

  “The Medlov men,” she said, growing serious. “Now, if we are done being facetious and rattling on about my sex and my race, let’s talk about coordinating a pick up.”

  Chapter Five

  Do You Believe in Me?

  Prague, Czech Republic

  As soon as the helicopter landed on the pad in front of the majestic Medlov Chateau, Gabriel jumped out with his leather bag over his shoulder and planted his boots firmly on solid ground. Damn, he was tired of traveling. It seemed to be all that he ever did these days outside of putting out fires. But it was good to be back to this place.

  Rolling his neck, he jogged up to the front of the mansion as the pilot lifted the aircraft off the ground, carrying debris up with it and leaving them to the tranquility of their second home.

  This massive property was purchased by Dmitry after he married Royal to help her heal after Gabriel’s father had brutally raped her. The entire family had retreated here for a few years until the death of his best friend Davyd and the unfortunate kidnapping of their daughter Anya during another family blood feud. After that episode, they eventually ended up back in Memphis, but this place remained for strategic purposes.

  The twelve-bedroom structure was two centuries old with an accompanying barn used by his uncle for less than cooperative interrogations, a work house for the hands and their equipment, a private lake, acres of farm land, a meadow for the horses, a small cemetery and a recently built complex that housed thousands of black market munitions. However, Dmitry had never worried about being bothered here after he personally bankrolled their local government a year before the complex was built.

  In essence, this large piece of country property was one of their main headquarters for Eastern bloc activity. It was near everything that they had their hands in but far enough away to be safe from any backlash. Plus, after the attempts on the family, it was more secure than the White House. Guards on details around the property twenty-four hours a day, with the most cutting-edge security systems and lots and lots of dogs.

  In a way, this place was home for Gabriel, or at least it always felt like it every time that he returned. This was the place that he had been introduced to the real Medlov family, among other people and things.

  Something about the outdoors called to him.

  While Anatoly and the rest of the men hurriedly moved inside of the house, Gabriel stopped and turned on the front steps to look out at the mountains just past the valley adjacent to their property. A storm was coming. Thunder rumbled through the valley vibrating the ground below him. It brewed just a few miles away bringing dark, gloomy clouds with it, despite the sun still competing for the spotlight. He hoped it was not an omen of things to come, but just in case...

  Copping a squat on the limestone staircase, he removed his Yankee’s baseball cap, scratched the back of his head and enjoyed the summer breeze. For the time being, birds sang in their nests in the manicured trees lining the driveway, crickets chirped from the golf course-like lawn and the smell of freshly cut grass and wild flowers moved through the air. If one didn’t know the contents of the property, they would have sworn that this was the place that inspired fairy tales with its picturesque views and enchanting beauty.

  He just needed a moment alone.

  The flight over had been one big meeting, going over logistics with government officials and coordinating inventory with their men. There had not been one opportunity for a quiet thought that hadn’t been interrupted by someone asking him a question or passing on an order.

  But now, just for a second, he would steal one moment of clarity, breathe fresh air and take in the splendor of the countryside.

  The breeze brushed through his black mane kissing the sweat on his neck as he stretched his long legs out over the staircase and ran his hands down his dark distressed denim jeans. Peeking through the clouds, the sun shined down on him bathing his face in warmth. He let his head fall back and he rested back on his elbows. Eyes closed, he relaxed for a moment in silence.

  This was nice. Peaceful even.

  In a way, he was grateful to be away from everything and everyone for just a while, even if it was to deliver a product in a high-risk war zone. It beat dealing with Briggy any day of the week. A smile pulled at this side of his lips at the thought. Tomorrow, she wouldn’t even be able to call him. His phone would be here, out of reach.

  “What the fuck are you doing? Having a breakdown?” a voice said from above him.

  Gabriel’s green eyes flashed open to find Anatoly’s bearded face leaning over him with a sarcastic glare.

  “I thought you had gone inside,” he said, sitting back up.

  Anatoly had two beers fisted in his hand. “I thought you might need a drink,” he said, passing his cousin a cold beer. “From the local brewery. It’s good shit.” He sat beside him on the steps and looked out over the grounds.

  Taking a swig of the beer, Gabriel sucked his teeth. “This sure beats the hell out of Memphis.”

  “I was just thinking that,” Anatoly said, thumbing his nose. “But Papa likes to keep his finger on the pulse of the business. He’s not happy unless he’s in the States.”

  It dawned on Gabriel that it was here where he first met Briggy. “Everything started here for me.”

  Anatoly looked over at him, hearing something vaguely solemn in his voice. “Why are you so sentimental today? Did you get your period?”

  Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t know,” he muttered. “Just tired. Plus, my cycle was last week. The same time as yours.”

  Anatoly chuckled. “Well, perk up brat. We have a long journey ahead of us. There is no room for sentiment.” The last thing he wanted was Gabriel thinking about Briggy’s crazy ass. That madness could wait until they were back in Memphis.

  Gabriel looked at his watch. The moment of peace had been nice, but it was back to the grind. “I’m going to jump in the shower and then we can meet the men.”

  “Jump in the shower later. The men are waiting for us in the parlor. They’ve got other things to do.” Anatoly took another swig and looked at him.

  “Figures,” Gabriel said, standing up. He looked down at Anatoly while he brushed off his pants. “You don’t look so spry yourself.” He saw the black bags creeping under Anatoly’s eyes, though he knew his cousin would never admit that even he got tired from time to time.

  Anatoly grinned slyly knowing that the truth would somehow perplex Gabriel. “I miss my daughter and my wife,” he answered with the beer bottle to his pink lips. “And my dogs.” Several years ago, the concept was completely foreign to him, but now, he was not ashamed to admit it. Marriage had a way of doing that to a man. “I’d rather be back in Memphis than here doing this, but when you fuck up…”

  “You fix it,” Gabriel finished their saying. Looking away, he hid his envy of his cousin under layers of responsibility.

  Anatoly finally stood up and pulled his gaze away from the dramatic skies that only existed in Prague. “Let’s go to work, da.” Hitting Gabriel on the back, they both went inside of the house.

  ***

  Talking amongst themselves and having a few drinks, six of the Medlov’s best men stood around the parlor waiting for their bosses to
emerge. Quietly, they listened on their footsteps echoed down the hall. Pushing the doors open with his tattooed hands, Anatoly perked up. “Talk to me,” he said, walking over to the work table.

  Gabriel followed right behind him in a less grand fashion. He stepped up to the table and put his game face on.

  Marat, one of the soldiers from the Memphis family, walked up to the table and slipped a map in front of his boss. He was a classic Russian mafia type with his shaved head, dark features, tattoos and permanent grimace. “We are going to deliver here,” he said, pointing to a street in Donetsk. “It’s the least compromised. Security is weak. There is not much surveillance and no heavy concentration of Russian rebels.”

  “What are we delivering in?” Gabriel asked, studying the map.

  Marat rose up on his toes. “A convoy of armed trucks.”

  “A bit conspicuous, isn’t it?” Gabriel asked.

  “No, Boss,” Marat answered confidently. “They have these types of trucks delivering aid all the time. Different groups of… missionaries and shit. We will have a few escorts known by the locals so it will look normal. They will think that we’re delivering food, personal supplies, nothing big. And the back of the trucks are filled with all that stuff. Just in case we get stopped.”

  Nadei, one of the Czech soldiers spoke up. “Plus, we paid some disgruntled Russian soldiers to look the other way, just in case. They patrol the area, but are pissed that they’re not in Syria, where the real shit is happening.”

  “How did you pull that off?” Gabriel asked impressed.

  Anatoly raised a brow. “Papa still has men inside. He can reach soldiers every once in a while, especially those from the old community.”

  “And the Ukrainian officials received payment?” Gabriel asked, moving on.

  “Today,” Marat answered. “It’s already been wired.” He put a copy of the wire transfer on the table and slid it to Gabriel. “They will allow us through the check points to get the product in as a favor to Boss Dmitry. We have a 24-hour window. Any more time will cost us. The Russian checkpoints will be a little more difficult, but we can swing it.”

  “So what are our vulnerabilities?” Anatoly asked.

  Marat looked at Nadei, who had already done recon on the area several times. “The Nazi element doesn’t help, Boss. They are not as organized in Donetsk as other oblasts, but they can still be a problem, especially if they get wind of the shipment. We can handle them much better than the Ukrainians did, but they will be a hassle. Extra bodies. Extra time. Having to kill them will slow us down.”

  Anatoly had no intention of leaving bodies. He’d save that for after he left. After they jacked his load, he had something special in mind, but only after the Ukrainians had what they needed. “Can we keep these Nazi sukas busy?” Anatoly asked. “Surely some locals can arrange a little interaction with them to keep their attention elsewhere until we’ve done what we need to do and get out.”

  Nadei shrugged. “I can call in some favors right after this meeting. There is always someone who is looking to make a little money.”

  “Good. Good. This is all…good,” Anatoly said, clapping his hands together. “We are meeting the five captains of the Donetsk Revolution, a paramilitary group focused solely on pushing the Russians out, assisting Ukrainian army and most importantly protecting the families who reside in the territories there. These guns are their lifelines to ensuring people there aren’t just mowed down.”

  Gabriel looked over at his cousin, impressed with his research about them on the flight over from the states. However, as he looked around his men, he saw that they were unmoved. After all, one thing they were not were sympathizers.

  Anatoly bit his lip and crossed his arms across his chest. “The last shipment was jacked by the Russians and the Ukrainian leader Alexei that you dropped off to in Slovakia was killed. So, we have agreed to meet them on their territory. This is an in-and-out drop. We don’t even stop to piss.” He looked around the room at the men and saw agreement on their faces. “And although you already know it, I’m going to say it again. This is a highly hostile war zone piece of shit country with three major potential risks for us.” He counted them off on his fingers. “The Russian separatists, the Neo Nazis and the Russian Army. On top of that, if we get fucked, the Ukrainians won’t easily acknowledge our presence without a serious push from the old man and a ton of money.” He paused. “So don’t get fucked.” As he spoke, he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. Ignoring it, he continued. “This shipment is on our dime, because of our previous fuck up, so please, gentlemen, do not make me pay for this shit a third time.” He looked over at Gabriel, waiting for him to chime in. “Did I forget anything?”

  Gabriel could think of only one thing. “While you all are getting in and out with the shipment, I need to stay for a few days to make our clients feel as though they should continue to do business with us after this. We have an extremely generous backer in the states who feels a little less than appreciated for his business. So, a second extraction will be set up for me in a few days. I need to smooth things over first.”

  Anatoly huffed, realizing that Gabriel actually planned to go through with his crazy promise. He turned to Gabriel. “Are you serious?” He truly felt like staying any longer than expected in Donetsk would be a bad idea.

  Gabriel knew that his cousin didn’t approve, but if he didn’t do this now, he’d never prove to Dmitry that he was really worth his weight. And from now on, he’d be second guessed with every decision he made. “I thought about it. I promised Uncle Dmitry. I’m going to do it,” he said seriously.

  Anatoly didn’t argue. It was bad for the men’s morale. Plus, a man had to do what a man had to do. He smacked his lips and continued. “So, you heard the man. Prepare for a second extraction in a few days. Marat, Nadei, send whoever wants their money to make this happen without my cousin getting killed. Nadei, I want you to stay with him and watch his ass the entire time.”

  “Da, da, Boss,” Nadei said, honored to be given the assignment.

  Anatoly looked at his watch. They were still on schedule. “We’ve got four hours to do whatever we do and then we head out. Let’s get this over with and get home so that we can fuck our women.”

  As the rest of the men left the room, Anatoly tapped Gabriel on the back. “Stay for a minute, eh?”

  Gabriel closed the door behind them and went to the bar for a second drink. “What is it?”

  “This idea you have of staying behind.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to find a text from another buyer. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Plus, I had some time on the jet to possibly get us a replacement. This is them now.” He texted quickly and waited for an answer from Gabriel.

  Gabriel knew that Anatoly was concerned about him, even if he tried very hard to pretend not to care. “Dmitry has never been that angry at me, not even when he found out I was a fucking narc.” Pouring a bourbon, he raised a glass. “Want one?”

  “No,” Anatoly said, putting away his phone. He sighed. “Papa is like that about his money. It was your first time. It was your last time. Get over it and stop being so fucking sensitive. We all have to learn in this business and those lessons don’t come easy or cheap.” He took a seat on the sofa against the wall and relaxed in its cushions.

  Gabriel admitted he was a perfectionist, but that wasn’t what this was about. “You have stars under your shirt, right? Permanent fucking stars that no man can take away and every man in our line of work recognize.”

  Anatoly rolled his eyes. Not this again. “Yes, but…”

  Gabriel turned from the bar and frowned at Anatoly with a drink in hand. “But what? But I’m not good enough? I don’t want to just blend in with yuppies and business moguls. I want the same fucking respect that you get from the men that were just in this room, and the only way that I’m going to do that is to prove myself to Uncle Dmitry.”

  “You’ve proven yourself,” Anatoly said flatly. “And you have respe
ct from each of those men.”

  “No, I haven’t proven myself. Not really. I’ve done what I was told to do. That’s all. But I haven’t really been allowed to step up and you know it. And those men only respect my name. I’ve never done anything really worthy of being respected as a captain.”

  Anatoly stuck out his lips and blew out a breath, pushing the long strand of blonde hair out of his face. “Maybe you’re right, but this isn’t the way to prove yourself. There are other ways.”

  “The time is now,” Gabriel said, voice strained with determination. “I’m not going back empty handed with you saving my ass with some new deal that I’m basically an account rep on.”

  Silence filled the room as the men quietly thought about their options. Anatoly was trying to figure out a way to change his cousin’s mind, and Gabriel was trying to figure out a way to convince him not to try to talk him out of it.

  “You have to understand your worth,” Anatoly said frankly. “I don’t have your college smarts or your classical training or your gentlemen like qualities. I’m a fucking brute, and I don’t try to be anything other than that, because that is what I am. You are who you are.” Why was that so hard for Gabriel to comprehend? Wasn’t he the educated one?

  “In my heart, there is something else there,” Gabriel confessed. He put his hand to his chest. “There is something lurking, Anatoly. And I’m no fucking gentleman. More and more lately, I’ve felt the desire to tear out of my own skin. I’m changing.”

  “The question is changing into what?” Anatoly asked.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Gabriel snapped.

  Anatoly hated to say it, but who else would. “You’re my cousin.” He paused. “No, you’re more than that. You’re my brother.” Anatoly stood up and walked over to him. Looking up into his eyes, he lowered his voice to make sure that none of the other men heard him. “But you don’t know who you are and that’s a dangerous place to be as a man.” He thumped Gabriel in the chest. “That’s a damn dangerous place to be as a Vor.”