by Bella Rose
“What did you hear inside the cargo area of the van?” Karkoff asked, his expression that of a spider carefully spinning a web to catch his prey.
Viktor knew he had to be careful here. “I heard nothing unusual, if that’s what you’re asking. You don’t tell me anything about the cargo and I don’t ask. I don’t want to know. I met Sasha at the same spot in the park exactly as normal, and we traded vans. I drove the white van to the second drop-off point and left it there. Everything went exactly as normal.”
“Except the cargo was missing!” Karkoff burst out angrily.
Viktor breathed evenly, forcing himself to remain calm and in control. He offered Karkoff a confused look and nothing more. “I’m sorry, sir, but are we talking about the cargo in the brown van or the white one?”
Regardless of the anxiety seething in the pit of Viktor’s stomach, he had apparently said the correct thing. Karkoff heaved a giant sigh. “I told them I could not believe that you would have had anything to do with the loss of the cargo. I can see that I was correct.”
“I’m terribly sorry if there was damage to the cargo, but I know nothing about it. I’m paid to drive and that’s all I do. Beyond that, I want no additional information.” Viktor held out his hands in supplication. “The less I know, the less I have to offer a law enforcement official if I’m hauled in for questioning for some reason.”
“Da,” Karkoff said, waving at Viktor. “I know. You are your father’s son in every way.”
It was supposed to be a compliment, but the words burned instead. Viktor had no desire to be like his father. The man had been Karkoff’s creature completely. Even until his association with the Russian mobster had ended in his death.
“Viktor,” Karkoff began, his tone supercilious at best. “It has not gone unnoticed that you have served this family for years without asking anything in return.”
Viktor forced himself to give a nonchalant shrug. “You have paid me well for my services. It’s hardly a one-sided arrangement.”
“Perhaps, but I have been speaking to my lieutenants about giving you the opportunity to pledge to the family and become a full member,” Karkoff said as though he truly believed it was the highest honor he could bestow.
Viktor struggled to find an answer that would not insult the man while simultaneously preserving his freedom. “I have no complaints about the situation as it stands,” Victor told Karkoff respectfully. “I appreciate the compliment, but I find myself quite happy with the way things are.”
“And quite happy that Katie McClellan has returned to town as well?” Karkoff said offhandedly.
“Katie is a pleasant distraction, I suppose,” Viktor allowed. “Although it was she who determined long ago that there is a huge gulf between our life goals and our situations.”
“Very true.” Karkoff seemed pleased with that answer.
Viktor glanced at his watch. “I believe I’ve wasted far too much of your valuable time today.”
“Too true,” Karkoff agreed. “Next week you can expect the usual schedule.”
“Thank you.” Viktor nodded his respect to the mafia boss before turning and walking back out of the study.
He discovered that the two beefy enforcers were still standing in the foyer when he returned. Viktor couldn’t help needling them just a little. It was their own fault for being such easy targets.
“I’ll try to stop by later this week with a few sweater samples for the two of you to try on,” Viktor told them solemnly. “I’m sure you’ll both look smashing.”
They glared at him as he walked out the front door. Viktor’s relief was so acute that he couldn’t help but laugh.
Chapter Seven
Max stared at the ball Katie had brought to the park. He obviously expected her to hurry up and throw it. Unfortunately for Max, Katie was far too distracted to think about playing fetch. The most she could manage was to wander about the paved trail that circled the open field and served as a path for local joggers. Max paced next to her, stopping every few yards to sniff at the underbrush growing alongside the sidewalk.
She had no notion of how long she’d been walking when she spotted a shape hidden off to the right. Coming to a stop, she watched Max to see what his opinion was. The dog dropped obediently to his haunches, but his stubby little tail was wagging as he stared into the trees. Apparently the shadow was a friend of some kind.
“Viktor?” she called out hesitantly. “Is that you?”
He stepped clear of the shadows beneath the big trees. The broad shoulders and trim belly took shape as he moved into the early evening sunlight. His dark hair was tousled and he looked tired, but there was a smile on his face.
“Hey.” He held out his hand for Max to sniff.
Her dog abruptly stood and nosed Viktor, wagging his tail and wriggling with eagerness.
“Apparently Max has decided you’re a friend,” she commented. It seemed the only safe topic at the moment. She didn’t want to tell him about Sasha’s visit to the dental office earlier that day.
Viktor patted Max’s silky head and scratched him behind his ears. “He’s a smart dog to reserve judgment.”
“Want to walk with me?” She gestured to the path that wound through the heavily forested area of the park before turning and meandering back through the open field.
He fell into step beside her. “As long as we stay under cover.”
“Are we hiding then?” she wondered.
“Karkoff is planning something.” Viktor seemed undecided about this. He reached up and snagged a twig off one of the low-hanging branches. “I just don’t know what or why. Everyone seems obsessed with keeping you and I away from each other.”
She snorted. “Don’t you get it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Karkoff wants you dependent on him for employment.” Katie thought of Sasha’s comments earlier that morning. “He wants you to believe that the only choices you have involve working for him. You’re a convenience.”
“That’s a nice way of saying I’m an expendable resource.” He shook his head. “Thanks. I’m glad you don’t think I have any more value than that of a monkey.”
She moaned in irritation. “That’s not what I said!”
***
Viktor’s pride was feeling a little battered. First Karkoff treated him like nothing more than a lackey with no better prospects. Now Katie was insinuating more or less the same thing.
“Is that really what you think of me?” he asked. “You believe the only thing I can do with my life is to be Karkoff’s errand boy?”
“That isn’t what I’m saying at all!” She sounded agitated and he couldn’t understand why.
She shook her head at him, appearing to be downright disgusted. “I think you’re better than this. That’s what I’m saying! You always have been. And yet you’ve never been willing to believe that you can do better than what Karkoff is offering.”
“Who told you that?” Viktor felt like she was hiding something.
“Nobody had to tell me.” She waved a hand at him. “Look at you! You said you thought about going to school, but you never did. You considered a job at the grocery store, but never really followed up. You decided that you were okay just taking the odd jobs that Karkoff threw your way. That was a choice, Viktor!”
“That’s what you think.” He shook his head at her, feeling angry with her for the first time in more years than he could remember. “You don’t believe that I ever aspired to more, or attempted to find some other work? You think I just settled in as Karkoff’s monkey boy and happily spend the rest of my time sitting on my ass and twiddling my thumbs?”
“Ugh!” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Sometimes you are such a bonehead!”
He laughed then. Mostly because he couldn’t possibly stay mad at her when she said such ridiculous things. And also because he realized on some level that she might be right.
“You’re laughing?” She stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. �
�This is not funny.”
“I think it’s hilarious.” He tapped the end of her nose, making her look even more disgruntled than before.
Viktor suddenly couldn’t resist. He slipped his arms around Katie’s curvy body and pulled her flush against him. She was warm and soft. There was no resistance. Instead, she wound her arms about his neck and pressed her mouth to his. He kissed her slowly, lingering over the softness of her lips and savoring the sensation of being close to this woman.
Viktor slipped his hands over her back and down to her rounded butt. He gave the soft globes a squeeze. Katie made a tiny noise of pleasure and stood on her tiptoes to press herself closer to him. He imagined how good it would be to have her wrap her legs around his waist. Or to lay her in the soft grass and make love to her here under the open sky. But for now this wasn’t the time or the place. Not when someone might be watching.
He gently broke away from the kiss, nuzzling her nose as he let go of her delectable backside. “You drive me absolutely crazy, you know that?”
Her lighthearted giggle made everything worth it. “Oh yeah? Well maybe it’s just a short trip to crazy for you. Hmm?”
“Nice. Although I think you might be right.” He took her hand in his and started off down the path.
***
Katie loved the feel of Viktor’s hand wrapped around hers. She felt small and protected there with him. The evening was warm and Max was busy nosing his way through the thick grass at the edge of the trail. They weren’t talking, just strolling along like a normal couple. It was almost surreal.
A car pulled up into the back parking lot where she had seen Viktor with his friends the other day. When Sasha exited the vehicle, Katie realized that her and Viktor’s time together had been borrowed from a life that probably didn’t exist.
“Damn,” Viktor muttered.
Katie realized she was now clutching his hand and forced herself to loosen her grip. “Why is he here?”
“I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t be like him not to say. So I’m sure we’re about to find out.” Viktor took a deep breath and kept going down the path as though Sasha’s appearance hadn’t affected them at all.
Katie tried to be nonchalant but wasn’t sure she quite had the act down. Sasha was unnerving as far as she was concerned. By the time she and Viktor had drawn up even with Sasha’s parked car, Max was glued to Katie’s side. The dog was obviously concerned. Max had much experience reading her moods, and he knew exactly how she felt without her saying a word.
“Well don’t the two of you just make the cutest couple,” Sasha called out. His sarcastic tone of voice grated on Katie’s nerves.
“How’s your toothache?” she asked with a sweet smile. “You know you really shouldn’t be driving around while you’re taking all that pain medication.”
“Toothache?” Viktor murmured, glancing down at her.
“Yeah. He showed up at my office earlier today with a huge abscessed tooth.” She thought about it for a moment. “I really think it was random. He seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see him.”
“Right or left side?” Viktor wanted to know. He was still murmuring in a voice too low for Sasha to hear.
Katie wondered why it mattered. “The lower right.”
Then she saw Viktor taking stock of Sasha’s positioning against his car and realized that Viktor was keeping that information in his mind in case he and Sasha came to blows. It gave Viktor an advantage when his opponent was not only suffering from jaw pain on the right, but also on pain meds that might slow his reaction time. Great. So Viktor thought this was going to end in a fight.
“You know what?” Katie called out to Sasha. “I think Viktor and I are just going to head back to the other side of the park. You have a great day and I hope you feel better soon.”
She grabbed Viktor’s hand and started towing him back toward the trees. She got maybe twenty yards before Sasha protested.
***
Viktor admired Katie’s attempt to walk away, but he hadn’t any ideas that Sasha would let that happen. They had barely made it past the edge of the parking lot before Sasha opened his mouth.
“I need to have a word with Viktor, if you don’t mind?” Sasha pushed away from his car and quickly closed the distance between them.
Viktor turned and raised an eyebrow at Sasha. “What did you need?”
“My uncle wishes to remind you of your duty to him and the family,” Sasha said in a snide tone.
“Really?” Viktor narrowed his gaze. “Because I spoke with your uncle less than two hours ago and he and I were just fine. And the truth is, I don’t need you to act as a go-between.”
“How dare you!” Sasha leaned forward aggressively, and that was when Max took grave offense.
The dog placed himself between Viktor and Sasha with his hackles raised and his teeth bared. He was only fifty or so pounds, but the sheer density of his muscle was impressive as he let loose a snarl that raised the hair on the back of Viktor’s neck.
“Get that mutt away from me!” Sasha said angrily, backing away with his hands held before him. “I’ll have him shot.”
“He feels threatened,” Katie said calmly. “And he’s not going to stand there and let you bully Viktor or myself. So I think you’d better just go before you get hurt.”
Viktor groaned softly. There was not a worse thing that Katie could have said to injure Sasha’s already wounded pride. Now Sasha bristled even more, pointing a finger at Viktor. “I don’t know what you’re playing at with your bullshit cargo runs. You handed me an empty van last night and you know it!”
Viktor shrugged. “As I told your uncle, I don’t ask questions about the cargo. I drive where I’m told to drive. The rest is none of my business. He was happy with my explanation and we are in agreement. I don’t know what your problem is, but I think you’d best take it up with your uncle and not me. As you’ve pointed out repeatedly, I have no power or rank within the family.”
Sasha clenched his jaw, but a glance down at the still growling dog decided helped him make a decision. He turned on his heel and retreated. Getting into his car, he squealed his tires out of the lot.
Viktor watched until he was gone. Then he turned to Max. “That was a brilliant display of fireworks, my friend, but if you get hurt in the crossfire, your mama is going to kill me.”
Katie knelt beside her dog and put her arm around his neck. “I don’t want either of you to get hurt. What are we going to do now?”
Viktor squatted down, petting the dog and gazing at the woman he would give his life to protect. “I’m not sure. But we’re going to have to figure it out fast.”
Chapter Eight
Katie couldn’t help but be a little jumpy after the crazy confrontation with Sasha at the park. Every time a loud car went by outside her house, she ran to the window to see if it was Sasha or one of his friends coming to make good on their threats. Not that she really understood what the threat was.
Finally she retreated to her kitchen. Max relaxed in a corner while she began making muffin batter. She hummed a little tune while she worked. Soon the familiar activity soothed her. She was just bending over to pull the piping hot muffins out of the oven when four men burst through her back door.
Katie screamed in shock. Max was barking furiously, growling and snarling as he lunged at the intruders. Her loyal dog caught the first guy on the wrist, ripping and tearing at the man’s skin while the guy tried to shake him off.
Her heart seized at the notion that one of these bastards might hurt her dog. Feeling desperate, she used the only weapon she happened to have—her muffins. She gripped both sides of the muffin pan with her mitt-protected hands and swung it sideways. The pan bounced off the first man’s face. He instantly let out a scream so high it nearly shattered her eardrums. The pan had scorched a mark into his cheeks.
Hot muffins flew everywhere. Katie changed the trajectory of her weapon, swinging it backhanded to smack the guy on the top of his head. Dazed,
he fell to the floor. Max let go and turned to the next guy crowding into the kitchen through the narrow door. Katie grabbed a couple of wooden spoons and prepared to battle.
“Enough!” Sasha shouted. He shoved his way into her kitchen holding a gun in his hand. He leveled the barrel at Max. “You do what we say or the dog dies. Your choice.”
“No!” Katie screamed. She grabbed Max’s collar, hauling him back behind her. “If you hurt him I will hunt you down and rip off your balls one by one. Do you understand? I will sauté them in butter and force you to eat them.”
Sasha’s eyebrows shot up. Beside him, the other two men—the ones not half unconscious on the floor—were chuckling. They started babbling in Russian. Whatever they said made Sasha even madder, because he yelled back and started waving his gun around in midair. Katie took the opportunity to shut Max in the bathroom. She locked the door from the inside to make it harder to get at him.
“You stupid cunt!” Sasha made an ugly face at her. “Why did you ever have to come back to this city?”
“You didn’t grow up here,” she told him, throwing her jaw out aggressively. “Why did you ever have to show up?”
There was more laughing, and Katie realized that Sasha was having a tough time really making an impression on these men. He acted like he was in charge, but they certainly didn’t seem to have much respect for him. That was a bad thing, for her at least.
“Grab her!” Sasha shouted to one of the other men. “Put her in the car. Hurry! Karkoff wants a word with our Miss McClellan.”
One of the big men gave her an apologetic look before scooping her up into a fireman’s carry and flinging her over his shoulder. Katie gave an indignant shriek. It was horribly uncomfortable, not to mention demeaning, to be carried in such a way. Then she saw the other man do the same with his buddy that she had laid out on the floor with her muffin pan. Katie felt a smidge better.
She realized that she had no idea where she was going. They carried her outside into the darkness. An SUV waited in front of her house. The windows were tinted the same dark black as the paint job. Her captor opened the rear hatch and tossed her inside. He took considerably more care with his fallen comrade. Katie had a moment’s satisfaction when she spotted a muffin-shaped burn on the man’s face. It really served him right for barging into her kitchen without even knocking.
