The Masterful Russian (The Masterful Series)

by Cordelia Gregory

  “I don’t want to die,” he told Antonia. “Not really. He made me do it. He said I was the weak one in the group. I had too many doubts. Aalam said he would kill my brothers if I don’t and I will be branded a coward. I have to…”

  “Where are your brothers?” Antonia asked him quickly.

  “I don’t know. On a ship, I think. They are heading to England. I’m not sure. Stop it. Stop trying to trick me. I just want to go home. I want everything to be like it was at home in Syria before the war. That is never going to happen now. I must do this.”

  Laraib turned his attention back to the detonator again. Malinov heard Antonia take a deep breath and then say, “Your parents would never approve of this. Why do this evil man’s work for him?”

  “Because I have to. I might be scared but he is right.”

  Laraib appeared confused.

  “Don’t dishonour their memory by killing yourself and others. I am begging you. Whatever grievances you have against these people and their governments you can use peaceful means to solve them and bring change. You are clever, Laraib. You are not a murderer. If you do this that’s all you will be remembered for, a murderer of innocent people. That will be your only legacy in this world,” Antonia shouted her words passionately, desperately trying one more time.

  “You see what I am about to do so differently. I am not a murderer. I am a saviour of my people, a soldier. I must not doubt and fear. It does not matter what Aalam has done, I do this for Allah not him.”

  Malinov didn’t like the renewed strength in the young man’s tone. He was going to do it and there was no doubt. Gabriel started pulling Antonia back with force as she screamed at Laraib to stop. One of the police officers shot before Malinov could. The bullet sliced through the back of Laraib’s head as he turned and ran in the opposite direction towards the crowd. But it was too late his finger was already down on the detonator.

  There was a split-second delay before the explosion occurred as Laraib’s body hit the floor. The air was filled with screaming. Kareef surged forward and flung himself on top of the young man sacrificing himself by trying to absorb as much of the blast as he could with his body.

  Malinov flung Antonia to the ground and covered her with his own body to shield her from the explosion.

  Chapter 12

  Shrapnel flew and the terminal building shook. Glass rained down on top of them. Gabriel covered Antonia’s head with his hand and curled himself over her. But the force of the blast threw them both flat to the floor. He felt the glass shower on his back and hoped none of it would stab him. Antonia needed him.

  Eventually, everything went still and no one moved. But slowly the survivors raised their heads and those who could, stood. Kareef was dead but he had managed to reduce the force of the blast and save more people than would have been otherwise including Gabriel and Antonia.

  Malinov looked around at the dead and the body parts from Laraib and Kareef. He ran his hand over his face and reflected on the nauseating horrific scene thinking what a senseless waste of human life. The sprinklers were spraying water and were drenching everyone. Lots of people were weeping and rushing to help each other. Gabriel was bleeding from his forehead but only a little. He had been lucky. He wondered if Laraib had run the opposite way to avoid killing Antonia out of guilt. He would never know. Putting his thoughts to the back of his mind, he picked up his weapon from the floor and inserted it back inside the holster inside his suit jacket.

  The Russian United Global Defence agent took hold of Antonia’s shoulder and slowly turned her over. She was dazed and moaning with pain. He cupped the side of her face and stroked his thumb gently across her cheek to revive her.

  “Antonia, are you okay?” he inquired in a soft deep tone.

  She blinked her eyes and looked up at him. The reality of the explosion and the death of both Laraib and Kareef began to dawn on her. His heart sank. He could see the pain of self-blame for their deaths and the others in her eyes. She believed she’d failed them all by not succeeding in talking the boy down.

  Gabriel wanted to immediately tackle it, get her feelings out in the open and set her damn straight. She’d done everything humanly possible to stop Laraib. She’d put her own life in danger to do it but there wasn’t time. He had to get her out of the airport and onto the United Global Defence jet.

  Malinov helped Antonia to her feet and made sure he did it in a way that she stood up into the enclosure of his arms. He didn’t want her to see the bloody remnants of Laraib and Kareef or anyone else. Gabriel had barely known Kareef but the man’s courage had been immense and it made him despair to see the young man sacrifice his life to save others.

  Antonia whispered Laraib’s name and tried to look over Malinov’s shoulder but he had already anticipated her move. He caught hold of the back of her head and directed it down towards his chest. She was shaking. He tightened his arm around her back to make her feel safe and kissed the top of her damp hair.

  “Shhh. I don’t want you to see. There is nothing you could have done.”

  Antonia clung to him, sobbing.

  “I let everyone down. It’s my fault they are dead.”

  “No. That isn’t true. I need to get you out of here.”

  One of police officers who had originally escorted them into the airport was making his way towards them over the debris and through the crowd of walking wounded. He motioned for them to follow him.

  Malinov slipped his arm around Antonia’s waist to turn her around and guide her forward.

  “Let’s get out of here. There is nothing more we can do. I need you on that plane. I just hope the Italian police force will allow it to take off.”

  They were joined by two armed officers and led through the airport weaving between the frightened, weeping, injured people and emergency crews until they emerged outside on the tarmac. Malinov’s neatly groomed dark hair was so wet now it was falling in front of his face blocking his view. He ran his hand through it and flattened it back on his head before taking out his Glock again. There was every chance of an attack outside.

  The armed guards walked backwards aiming their guns in case of assault as they made their way towards the UGD Defence G6 jet with its engines already powered up. The jet was being protected by the United Global Defence military branch. The soldiers were all from different nations around the world joined together to combat the threat of international crime and terrorist organizations, set up after the Paris terror attacks in November 2015.

  It could deploy military troops and agents to take over any member country’s investigation into terrorism and organized crime. Made up of military personnel and spies it was an effective counter terrorism unit that could be utilised by any country.

  Malinov was surprised they hadn’t been attacked yet but he wasn’t to be disappointed. Two gunmen who had been posing as airport ground crew staff opened fired on them with Kalashnikov’s. The police shot back and were assisted by the team around the luxury jet. Three more men appeared. Gabriel placed Antonia behind him and encouraged her to run as fast as she was able towards the plane. One of the guards ran towards her and took her arm allowing Gabriel to shoot at the men when another two appeared. The guard led Antonia to the steps and covered her as she ran up them. Malinov followed close behind and left the erupting gun battle.

  The moment they were in the jet, an agent shut the door and the jet started to move away. Gabriel sat a trembling pale-faced Antonia down in one of the cream leather chairs and fastened her seatbelt. He sat down next to her. Bastien Berger sat down across from them behind a table after he had secured the door and directed the stewardess to sit down.

  The older man looked nervous as he fastened his seatbelt. They could still hear sporadic gunfire as the jet began to taxi.

  “Thank God, the pilots have combat experience,” he said in his thick Parisian accent. “Once we are airborne I will feel safe enough to let you know what Paris has found out and our next step in the hunt for the rest of the b
ombers and Aalam El Hashem.”

  Gabriel turned his swivel chair to face Antonia who was sitting next to the window. She was ashen faced and lost in her thoughts, obviously replaying the scene with Laraib over and over in her mind. No doubt she was trying to work out what she could have done differently. There was nothing she could have done. He had been determined in the end and did not want to listen to her pleas. As soon as they were alone Gabriel was determined to make her understand.

  “Antonia,” he said her name softly but she couldn’t seem to hear him.

  The journalist kept tapping her index finger on the arm of the seat. Gabriel reached over and closed his hand over hers to still her agitation. He held her hand and squeezed it ignoring Bastien’s surprised look. It prompted a reaction. Her eyes blinked back the water brimming in them. She looked at him expectantly.

  “You look lost.”

  “I don’t like flying,” she said suddenly, clearly attempting to deflect him talking about what had just occurred in the airport.

  “But you fly all the time for your job,” he said with surprise playing the game in an effort to relax her.

  “Only when I have to. I hate flying. It was a good job I was unconscious when you brought me here to Venice.”

  Bastien grimaced.

  “Me too. And this should prove an interesting take-off amidst all this chaos. There is a fear IS may have got their hands on some high-tech rocket launchers. We have been cleared for take-off but at our own risk.”

  Gabriel and Antonia exchanged a look as the jet started to race down the runway.

  “They have. They used them on us at the island,” Gabriel said.

  Antonia’s eyes widened.

  “We are sitting ducks on here,” her voice was almost a whisper. “I don’t want to die on a plane.”

  “We will make it,” Malinov said with firm confidence gripping her hand tight to reassure her.

  “I hope so. Too late to get off now,” Bastien joked.

  Malinov narrowed his eyes at the agent warning him to shut up and not wind Antonia up. She gave a small gasp and her free hand gripped the other arm of the chair so hard he noticed her knuckles were turning white with the effort.

  The jet was still climbing when it swerved violently to the right. The cockpit door swung open revealing the two pilots inside. Alarms were sounding loudly. Antonia started to pant with fear.

  Gabriel looked out of the window but he could see nothing. The jet continued to climb. One of the pilots addressed them without looking around after becoming aware the cockpit door was open.

  “We are dodging some rockets here, folks. Nothing to worry about.” There was a trace of odd humour in his calm English tone. “Nothing we haven’t done before. It is just going to be a bit of a bumpy ride for a while. Hold on tight.”

  Bastien growled as the jet levelled off at a lower height than normal just above the clouds.

  “Damn ex-SAS Air Support crew, always enjoying the thrill.”

  Gabriel smiled to himself. He knew the thrill of facing an insurmountable challenge and winning while cheating death in the process well. He had every confidence in the pilots but Antonia looked unconvinced. He opened his mouth to talk to her when the jet suddenly dropped into a dive. Now Bastien was gripping his chair arms with white knuckles and no longer finding amusement in watching Antonia.

  If he hadn’t had his seatbelt on, Gabriel was sure he would be falling out of his chair and careering towards the wall down the cabin to splat against it like a character in a cartoon. He intensified his grip on Antonia’s hand knowing she was terrified and too afraid to even breathe.

  Glancing out of the window he saw the second rocket they were dodging fall away into the clouds and down into the water he could see looming too close for comfort. The jet immediately levelled and then began to steeply climb. It was worse than being on a rollercoaster. He guessed a third one was chasing them. It whooshed past them just over the wing at the side as the jet levelled off again and shifted violently to the right once more to avoid it. It fell away into the clouds.

  “Breathe,” he told Antonia. She had been holding her breath for an age. “We will be out of range now. There won’t be any more.”

  The pilots were whooping and congratulating themselves. They confirmed what Gabriel had just told Antonia.

  “All over folks. We are out of range of the airport. It should be smooth flying from now on.”

  Malinov leaned over and patted Antonia’s shoulder and smiled gently.

  “Relax, it’s over.”

  The jet climbed again and eventually reached its normal cruising altitude. Gabriel let go of Antonia’s hand and undid her seatbelt to relieve some of the tension on her body. She let out another breath she had been holding.

  Bastien stood up and asked the nervous stewardess to get some drinks. He retrieved a black leather folder and laptop from the opposite chair next to him.

  “Aalam El Hashem posted a video on social media after the two explosions in St Mark’s Square. The intel on the attacks is sketchy but Branzillo Island has been contained. The terrorist has warned about more attacks with a specific threat to the UK and a special warning for you, Ms King.”

  Bastien opened his laptop and turned it around so the screen was facing Antonia and Gabriel on the table between them. Antonia slowly sat up. She looked exhausted and Gabriel wanted her to lie down on the long sofa on the other side of the jet. He leaned forward knocking some more dust from his shoulders.

  Aalam’s angelic looking face stared back at them frozen in time. Berger pressed a key and the video began to play. A translation of the Arabic came up along the bottom. Malinov spoke many languages but Arabic was one he was still learning and what he knew at present was insufficient to achieve a full translation without assistance.

  Aalam was sitting in an ordinary room in Western clothes. It could have been anywhere in the world. How he always managed to evade capture bemused Gabriel. They had everything and everyone across the world working on finding him and yet he was still free and able to attack.

  “By now you will be reeling at the death of your people in Venice but there is much more death to come. This is just the start. We will bring Europe to its knees. Nowhere is safe. We will attack at random and without mercy. My brothers and sisters will not rest until we have won this battle. And I have a special message for you English Journalist, Antonia King…”

  He moved closer to the camera.

  “I have your sisters. They will stay safe with me long enough to see you die.”

  Antonia whimpered and put her hand to her mouth to stifle any further outburst. Gabriel rested his hand on her shoulder and rubbed it. Anger darkened the green in her eyes as she stared back at the hate filling the man’s deceptive angelic face.

  “I am coming for you.”

  Antonia surprised Gabriel by abruptly standing and shouting at the screen.

  “I will be waiting and I will make sure I kill you first.”

  Restless with her fury, Antonia moved away from the table and paced the floor of the aircraft cabin. Bastien bent his head and lowered his voice to a whisper and spoke to Gabriel.

  “Feisty lady. I like her. This man is a monster. It isn’t the first time he has killed a journalist. Western journalists and women are his pet hates. He believes western journalists are responsible for encouraging animosity towards Muslims and the religion around the world. This man has a huge axe to grind with the West.”

  Bastien sighed as he turned his laptop around and looked at Aalam’s face.

  “Airstrikes in Syria and Iraq have killed a lot of his family. Aalam was radicalised in his early twenties in Syria. He does not like western women and wants them to be ruled by Sharia law. Antonia got away from him and is making a fool out of him. He needs to kill her and show he is fully in control or he will lose face. He is an extremely dangerous man. We believe he is responsible for organising many terror attacks around the globe this year.”

  Berger typed
fast on the keyboard before turning it back to Gabriel to continue.

  “Command also believes he is this man,” Bastien said as Gabriel looked at the armed man in a balaclava holding a knife to a male journalist’s throat. He’d seen this photo many times in the news last year and the beginning of the present one.

  “He calls himself, the liberator and has a reputation for kidnapping foreign journalists and soldiers in the Arab world. This man parades them as a conquest on social media and then films their death.”

  Gabriel grimaced. A strong dominant protective feeling washed over him. His eyes drifted to Antonia thinking of how much danger she was in. It was accompanied by an equally strong wave of violent feeling. He would kill Aalam if he tried to take Antonia away from him. The idea of losing her disturbed him so much it made him feel vulnerable, a feeling he wasn’t used to entertaining. Determined to distract himself and regain control he probed his colleague for more information.

  “Any leads on the other bombers? Laraib said he thought his brothers were on a ship to England.”

  “Yes. We have circulated all of the artist impressions but only sightings of two of the boys have surfaced. We interrogated two suspects we picked up in Paris yesterday who are linked to Aalam through family. We have had them under surveillance for a while but had nothing concrete to arrest them on until yesterday when we intercepted a call from another family member we believe is travelling with Aalam. They were reluctant to give us any information but we managed to persuade them,” he said with a smile.

  “I can imagine,” Gabriel said with disdain allowing the image of the waterboarding torture the suspects would have been treated to enter his mind, something he had the misfortune of once experiencing himself.

  “They revealed that the boys recruited from the camp along with others have infiltrated the Alexander & Pert Cruise Line. They have jobs as crew. One of the ships we think is being targeted leaves Southampton port for Norway at six pm this evening.”

  Berger paused his briefing to glance at his watch.