“You are letting a woman guide you. You are thinking with your dick.”
“I am thinking with my brain. Not that I have to explain to you, but I am getting this done. If not with your help, then without. Your choice.”
Oleg tapped his fingertips together. “I don’t want to be involved.”
“Then maybe you should have picked someone else to do business with other then Nepomnishy. Not my concern.”
Oleg frowned. He wrote something on a piece of paper. He slid it across the desk to Viktor. He picked it up.
“That is his office and a way to contact him. You will not use my name at all to gain entry. I know nothing of your visit and will deny it under torture.”
“Thank you,” Viktor said.
“You are not welcome. Now get out of my office. Your desperation is stinking it up.”
Chapter 18
Alia stood in Svetlana’s kitchen the next day. Svetlana was teaching her Viktor’s favorite meal -- mushroom and potato soup.
Alia had never made soup, and looking at all the ingredients, she knew why. This was her food budget for a month. Well, not now that she was living with Viktor. When she’d been on her own.
“I need you to clean the leeks and chop them,” Svetlana said.
“Leeks?”
Viktor’s mother handed her some stalks “You run them under water, but make sure you get in between the leaves. There is usually sand.”
Alia did as she said. Svetlana inspected them. “Good. Now use that knife and board to chop the white part of them.”
“Am I doing this right?”
Food had always been something easy, except for fried chicken. That she made properly. Everything else she made was mainly from a box. Eating the food that Chef had prepared had expanded her palette.
Maybe if she cooked this for Viktor, she wouldn’t burn the place down this time. The memory made her shudder.
“Yes, that’s fine. Next cut up the carrots. First cut off the ends and throw them away.”
She did that. Svetlana gave her firm, but easy instructions. Alia learned how to make the soup. Once the preparation was done, there weren’t a lot of steps. She could remember that.
Alia and Svetlana enjoyed a cup of coffee once the soup was simmering on the stove.
“Hopefully, Viktor is coming for dinner tonight,” Svetlana said.
“He is.”
She’d talked to him that morning. She missed him and longed to be back in his bed. Back in his apartment.
“Good.”
The soup simmered for several hours then Alia put in the mushrooms. Viktor arrived not long after. “Something smells good.” He sniffed. “Is that my favorite?”
His mother kissed him on the cheek. “I was teaching Alia how to make it.”
Viktor eyed his mother. “Thank you.” He gave Alia a kiss also.
She wondered if it was odd to be affectionate with her in front of his mother.
“I’m glad I came for dinner. I do have to get back to the club later, but I’m coming back when I close up. I’ll try not to make too much noise,” he said to his mother. Then he whispered. “The apartment is lonely without you.”
“You can stay here, Viktor. There’s plenty of room. More than I need.”
“As you’ve said on many occasions.”
“You spoil me, Viktor,” Svetlana said.
Alia was warmed that he loved his mother so much.
Dinner went quickly and the Alia cleaned up the kitchen. Arkady had eaten two bowls of the soup so there wasn’t much left. Viktor went back to the club.
“I think I’m going to read a little,” Alia said.
She wanted to be awake when Viktor came in, but that didn’t happen. Instead, he woke her.
She rolled over to find him staring at her. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Will your mother mind you sleeping here?”
“I hope not, but I’m not going to ask her.”
“How was your night?” Alia asked.
She’d missed discussing his evenings with him. He’d catch her up on what everyone was doing. And how the club had done that night financially. Not exact numbers, but she had a pretty good idea how much money Viktor had. Still boggled her mind.
“It was good, Alia, but that is not why I’m here.”
“Oh?”
“Not at all. We can talk on the phone. I want you underneath me, moaning, Alia.”
“You’d do that in your mother’s apartment?”
“Yes, I would.”
She laughed. She’d worn pajamas because there was no Viktor. Now she shrugged them off. He was already naked and turned on clearly.
She’d missed him. She ran her hands up and down his body, remembering how it felt. Remembering the nights of passion. She wanted to be with him again.
“I missed you, Alia. Not just the sex. I missed your company. Your way of looking at things.”
“I hope we will be together soon,” she said. “I’m camping out here.”
“It’s not convenient for work.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Viktor said. “I like waking up next to you.”
She liked waking up next to him also. She missed his mind and his body.
“Let’s stop talking.”
He grinned then kissed her. His hands moved over her, exciting her. She wanted him inside of her. Now. Her body craved his. He rubbed her wet core and she came as if she’d been waiting for him. Her body fell over that cliff.
“Mm. You’ve missed me,” he said.
“I did.”
He put on a condom then slid himself into her. Oh. God. She wanted this so badly. He wrapped her legs around him. “This doesn’t have to be long and drawn out.”
“Quick and dirty?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled into her neck as he thrust into her, her body arched to meet his. Faster and faster until she flew off that cliff again. Her body jerked. His body jerked as he came. Then he slumped onto her.
She didn’t want him to move, but he had to get rid of that condom. He did, then lay on his back next to her.
She snuggled up with her head on his chest while he played with her hair. She couldn’t have moved if the bed had been on fire. Thankfully, it wasn’t. “Will you stay here all night?”
“Yes. I assume my mother won’t have a problem with it. She likes you, now.”
“She does. I had a good time with her today, Viktor. She’s a nice lady.”
“I’m glad you two are getting along.”
“Me, too. Especially since I don’t know how long I’ll be here. It’s nice of your mother to open her home with me.”
“She was hesitant, but I insisted. Now it’s worked out.”
“Have you talked to the cops?”
“No, I haven’t.”
He’d hesitated. Was he lying? Why would he lie about that? She shrugged it off. The cops would call him if something had happened. Now her eyes were threatening to close.
“I think I’m sleepy Viktor.”
“Good night, my love.”
***
Viktor buttoned his shirt. The microphone that the cops would listen in on, was one of his buttons. It had been made to match them. Someone sewed it on and now he was ready to meet Nepomnishy.
He was pretty sure that the man hadn’t put the contract out on Alia. His son did, but Pavel had to rein in his son. He couldn’t let him take away Alia’s life, whether literally or figuratively.
“We’ll know everything going on. They will search you,” Lewis said.
Detective Clark leaned against the wall, a sour look on his face. He wasn’t completely on board with this. Viktor would have made this meeting whether the cops were there or not. He had to do this for his as well as Alia’s future. She wouldn’t have one if this contract was not settled.
He wasn’t armed, though he would have been if he could have. He didn’t own any weapons. Too many problems with getting them in New York City. Well, for law-abi
ding citizens for sure.
“Say something,” Lewis said.
“Something,” Viktor said.
The soundman nodded. “I can hear him.”
Good. Now that he was faced with this meeting, he wasn’t nearly as keen on it. It had to be done. Otherwise, he could never forgive himself. He’d promised Alia on that first night that he would protect her. He didn’t know it would extend to her heart or that it would be this dangerous.
He was Russian. He was tough.
“You’re ready to go?” Lewis said.
Viktor nodded. His meeting was in an hour. The police already had people at the sight. It wouldn’t be at Nepomnishy’s headquarters. They were meeting in a warehouse.
Viktor’s driver took him there at the appointed time. He paused before he left the car. This was for Alia. For himself so he could have a life with her. A life he’d never expected and now couldn’t imagine any other way.
He climbed out of the car, approaching the door. Of course, he was frisked but they found nothing.
A man that made Arkady look small, led him to a room in the depths of the warehouse. He hoped the cops would still be able to hear him.
Pavel Nepomnishy was a short, balding man, who, from the permanent broken veins on his forehead, loved vodka. He also love rich meals because he was a fat man. No other way to describe him. He sat behind a desk with men on either side of him.
Viktor thought he’d stepped onto a movie set—the scene was surreal. Pavel indicated for him to sit.
“Viktor Kozlov.”
“That’s me.”
“You called this meeting. What do you want?”
“Your son has a contract out on my friend.”
The man frowned. Clearly, his son was causing him some sleepless nights. The word on the street was that his son was rogue.
“Yes, I know about it. I have nothing to do with that.”
“But people think it’s from you. He hadn’t told them differently. So you need to call it off,” Viktor said.
“Call it off? You think I have control of my son?”
“I’m hoping you do. I know that murder was not ordered by you, either. The murder that got us here today.”
Another frown from Pavel. “No, it was unauthorized. Maybe necessary in the long run. Not a fan of cops who infiltrate my organization.”
Viktor didn’t say anything. He just waited. He could wait a long time. For Alia, he’d be patient.
Pavel let out a breath. “I’ll put the word out. Give me twenty-four hours. She’ll be safe. No one will bother you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve brought it to my attention that I need to take care of my son. His mother coddled him and I think he’s a little special, as they say. Maybe if I make an example out of him, no one will bother me.”
He’d kill his own son? Viktor stared into dead eyes. The man had seen too much. Viktor chose to stay quiet while the man chattered on. What could he say to someone who would kill his own son?
Viktor hoped to have a son someday and raise him better than this man did.
“You try to do right by your kid and he goes off and kills someone without your permission. Harder to discipline when they are adults. You have kids, Viktor?”
“No.”
“Don’t. They are disappointing.”
Viktor wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. He was discussing child-rearing with a mobster. A man who could kill someone as easily as talk to them about child-rearing. Viktor would wait until the man dismissed him.
He was in no hurry if this guy wasn’t.
Then a shot rang out. Viktor ducked, having no idea which direction it came from. One of Pavel’s guards fell to the ground. Pavel had pulled out a gun. Viktor seemed to be the only one without one.
Sigh.
He lay on the floor as bullets whizzed past him. Then he felt a searing pain in his shoulder. Shit. He’d been hit. He tried to drag himself out of the crossfire, but that was tough to do with one hand. So he lay as flat as he could. He was bleeding.
Suddenly there was silence. Then shouting.
“Police! Put down your weapons!”
Viktor couldn’t see anything because he didn’t know which way to turn his head. Lewis stood over him. “You’re hit?”
He nodded.
Lewis spoke into a radio. “We need a stretcher in here. Our civilian is hit.” He looked down at Viktor. “The paperwork is going to be a nightmare.”
“Probably no worse than what I’m going through.”
His shoulder hurt and the room was getting dim. He wasn’t dying, but he was losing blood.
“You’ll be fine, Viktor. Just a flesh wound.”
Easy for him to say. Viktor hoped he’d get to see Alia at some point.
The Final Chapter
Alia’s phone rang. For some reason, the ring didn’t sound good. Was this bad news? It should be good news.
“Hello?”
She was sitting in Svetlana’s library, reading a book. She perched it on her lap to answer the phone.
“Miss Jefferson?”
“Yes.”
“This is Detective Lewis.”
Maybe this was good news. “Hello Detective Lewis.”
“I have some good news and some bad news.”
“I want the bad news first.”
“Mr. Kozlov has been injured.”
She didn’t know which question to ask first. He should have been at his club. How could he get injured there and why was Lewis telling her? Shouldn’t Sacha have called?
“How? Where?”
“Well, he want to see the head of the Russian Mafia and was caught in a raid. He’s in surgery getting the bullet out of his shoulder.”
She gasped. “Bullet? Raid? What was he doing?”
“He was trying to get rid of the contract on your life.”
He was doing that? For her? “But wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
“It was, but he succeeded. You’re free to go. Do you need someone to bring you to the hospital?”
“No.”
Arkady flew into the room. He must have heard.
“I can get a ride from here. Thanks.”
She hung up. Arkady looked wild-eyed. “The driver is on his way. I’ll bring you and Mrs. Kozlov to the hospital.”
“Did you tell her yet?”
“No. I was hoping you’d do that,” Arkady said.
“Where is she?”
“In the kitchen.”
Alia calmed herself, but she was upset. She had to get to Viktor, but his mother needed to know. She strode into the kitchen.
“Svetlana?”
“Yes, Alia?”
“I have some bad news. Viktor’s been shot. He’s in surgery. We need to leave as soon as the driver gets here.”
Svetlana gasped, then hugged Alia. “Oh, do you know anything else? How did he get shot?”
“Uh, he was meeting with the Russian Mafia to get rid of the contract on my life.”
Alia wasn’t sure how Viktor’s mother was going to take that, but she just hugged Alia. “He really loves you.”
“Yes he does.”
The car arrived minutes later. The three of them climbed in and sped away to the hospital. Alia couldn’t sit still. The care wasn’t going fast enough. She wouldn’t feel safe until she saw Viktor.
Would he be out of surgery? Would he make it? What would she do without him? He‘d become such an integral part of her life.
“He’s tough, Alia. He’ll make it.”
“I hope so.”
“Viktor isn’t ready to die. He just met you. If he would face down the head of the Russian Mafia, he’d not waste it by dying on you,” Svetlana said.
Logical, she guessed, but Alia was in no shape to argue. Svetlana took Alia’s hands and just held them. This was her son and she was giving Alia strength. This woman was strong.
Alia had never felt that strong her whole life. Until she gave her heart to someone
else. Now she was vulnerable and that feeling was new to her. A miasma of emotion circulated through her.
But holding onto Viktor’s mother helped.
They finally reached the hospital. Arkady found out where Viktor was. In surgery. He led them to the surgical waiting room.
“Let me see if I can find out what’s going on,” he said.
Alia couldn’t sit. She had to pace. She had to move. Svetlana sat, but her eyes were red from her own tears. Arkady came back.
“He’s out of surgery. They are optimistic and he’ll be in a room in a few minutes. He won’t be awake for a while.”
Alia nodded. She had to wait. She’d never wanted to see anyone so much in her life. That man had her heart. A heart that she’d never given to anyone. This was why. If she didn’t care, she couldn’t get hurt.
A nurse came in a half an hour later. “He can have visitors, but he isn’t awake yet. One at a time.”
Alia looked at Svetlana. She was family. Alia wasn’t.
“Let me go in then you can spend more time with him after I get out,” Svetlana said.
“Thanks.”
Svetlana kissed her cheek then left. She was back a few minutes later, but it seemed like an hour.
“He looks good. Go see him. I’ll get us some coffee.”
Alia couldn’t have been more grateful to anyone than she was right now with Viktor’s mother. She was glad that they had worked things out. It made this easier. For both of them.
Alia followed the nurse to a room. She paused in the doorway. Viktor was always larger than life. Right now, he looked close to frail. He was pale and hooked up to machines that beeped. Her heart hurt with the sight of him.
She sat on a chair next to his bed and took his hand in hers. His strong hand didn’t seem too strong. She’d have to nurse him back to health. All because of her, but she knew he wouldn’t want her to feel guilty.
She pushed away the guilt.
“Hi, Viktor. Come back to me.”
He didn’t move, He didn’t respond. She hadn’t expected him to, but it was worth a try. It had only been weeks since she hid from the murderers. They’d chased her and now she had Viktor. He’d taken her in. Protected her and, more importantly, loved her.
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