“Maybe I will. What’s your name, Daddy?” Eddy asked facetiously. She wouldn’t work for his low-grade ass if he was the last pimp in the country. Men like him gave the game a bad name. How was he going to leave his bottom bitch on the street with no phone? Amateur.
“Nadei,” the man answered proudly, hitting his wide chest like a Neanderthal. Taking another sip of his beer, he shooed them out of the apartment. “Go! Peaches. Move your ass. But be back here in two hours flat.” He glanced over at Eddy. “You too. Go make yourself useful, then I’ll see what I can do for you.” Grabbing his remote, he pushed back on the plastic sectional and changed the channel.
Just as Nadei had said, a black Audi was waiting out in front of the building. They sloshed through the puddles of standing water and the heavy rain to his car. The sound of his windshield wipers got louder as they approached.
“Wait here, I need to ask him if he can give you a ride,” Peaches said, opening the passenger door. She left Eddy on the curb holding the umbrella. A few seconds later, she rolled down the window with a big triumphant smile. “He said it’s okay!”
Eddy jumped in the back and put away the umbrella. The air conditioner was blasting along with the radio. The john put the car in drive and pulled off without turning to say a word to her.
Gratefully, Eddy settled down in the back of the car and exhaled.
“You said Mashta Island, right?” Peaches asked, turning around in her seat.
“Yeah,” Eddy answered, wiping the rain water from her arms. The cold air was making her uncomfortable, but she would not dare ask the man to turn it down.
“Thank you, baby,” Peaches said, leaning over to kiss the man.
Eddy eyed the stranger through the rearview mirror. She caught a glimpse of him looking at her with his brown pensive eyes. Peaches had a white John. He wore a navy-blue Polo baseball cap over his brown crew cut and wore a long sleeve blue polo shirt with a white button down under it. She might have been suspicious of the brown leather driving gloves if his car had not been so immaculate. There wasn’t a smudge, a drop of dirt or anything out of place. It reminded her of Ryan and his OCD need to keep things pristine.
For the rest of the drive, everyone was quiet. The radio was tuned into a talk radio station that was reporting on the weather. The hurricane was gaining momentum and moving closer. By tomorrow morning, it would be here, ripping the city apart.
According to the announcer on the radio station, they wouldn’t be doing a live taping tomorrow. Everyone who was smart was getting out of here.
Eddy hoped that Ryan had not already left. If he had, she was screwed, but what other choices did she have? She couldn’t go back to her place and risk someone finding her there, and she didn’t have a phone. Speaking of which…
“Hey, baby, can I borrow your phone?” Eddy asked in a pseudo-seductive voice as she sat up in her seat. She wasn’t sure if her charms would work considering how beat up she looked, but it was worth a try.
The john looked over at Peaches and nodded no. Peaches looked back at her and shrugged. “Sorry, girl.”
“It’s okay,” Eddy said, coughing. The weather was starting to get to her. She needed some warm clothes and food ASAP.
Peaches twisted up her lip apologetically. “He doesn’t like for people to use his phone. Well,” she sighed, “Nadei told him that I couldn’t use it except to call him.”
“I understand.” Eddy crossed her arms and looked out of the window.
They were getting close. He had already got on Rickenbracker Causeway. It would be only another fifteen minutes at most, considering the rain, before they arrived on the Island. She wanted to call Ryan and let him know she was on the way, but at this point, how much would it matter? If he wasn’t there, she’d break a window and stay put until she could figure out how to reach him.
Remarkably, the Rickenbracker was still open. But the traffic was all headed inland, not out toward the storm. The dark, unsettling waves were getting higher and splashing off the side of the bridge as the clouds rushed inland. The car swayed slightly, fighting against the strong winds, as it inched through the storm, headlights on high beam.
“Thank you for doing this. You’re saving my life,” Eddy said as she looked out of the window. She’d witnessed hurricanes like this before, but never so up-close.
“Girl, you gone be okay all the way out here? When the hurricane comes tomorrow, this will be the first thing to go.” Peaches held on to the door and sat upright in her chair.
“I’ll be fine,” Eddy said, voice trailing off. “Just keep going, Mister. You take 913 all the way to Crandon then make a left on West Mashta. It will take you over to the Island.”
The john nodded, but still didn’t say a word. At this point, Eddy wasn’t offended. No one else would have even risked bringing her here. Pussy was an amazing thing. It would make a man come out in a damn hurricane to get some before the world came to an end.
Eddy looked over at Peaches and felt a modicum of sympathy. She was a sweet girl, very green, very impressionable, but kind. There were not many of them left in the world. When she got with Ryan, she’d see if she could get Peaches a job at the club or something. Anything was better than working for that asshole, Nadei.
Half an hour later, the black Audi pulled up in front of Ryan’s mansion on the Island. The gates were locked, but several SUVs were parked in the circular drive, which meant someone had to be home.
“Is this your place?” Peaches asked, eyes wide with shock. “Girl, this is nice.”
“Thanks, it’s my man’s place,” Eddy said proudly. “Peaches, I can’t thank you enough for your help. Give me a minute to run inside, and I’ll get you some cash.”
“Aww, girl. You don’t have to do that,” Peaches said with a gentle smile.
“It’s the least that I can do,” Eddy said, reaching out to offer her hand.
Peaches chuckled and took Eddy’s hand in her own to shake it. She held it tight. “I’m really sorry that you didn’t get a chance to call Ryan.” She batted her eyes. “Warn him or at least say goodbye.”
Eddy was certain she hadn’t mentioned her boyfriend’s name. Immediately, she saw the change in Peaches’ face. The innocent young woman bit had run its course, now that they had what they needed.
“Who are you?” Eddy tried to pull away and grab for the door latch, but Peaches gripped her. Gritting her teeth, she dug her nails into Eddy’s hand. “I told you who I am. I’m Peaches.”
Anatoly turned around in his seat and pulled off his hat. He pointed a gun with a silencer on it at her. Grinning, he licked his lips. “Thanks for your help, Eddy.”
“Wait!” Eddy screamed, trying to block her face with her other hand.
Pulling the trigger, Anatoly shot Eddy in the forehead. She fell back against the seat, eyes averted to the roof. The music and windshield wipers were the only sound for a moment. They both just looked at her.
“What a waste,” Peaches said finally.
Turning back around, Anatoly put the car in drive and pulled off before anyone noticed them. “Got the address?” he asked Peaches.
“Yeah, I got it,” she said, pulling off her heels.
“Good. Text it to my father so we can get ready.” He had to fight the urge to ram the gate with his car and run into the mansion with his guns blazing right now. Just the idea that his sister was here made it hard to leave. But he had to be smart. That was why he had sent Gabriel to handle Eddy’s interrogation. If he had been alone in a room with her, he would have killed her instead of scaring her.
“We’re close,” Peaches said with confidence.
Anatoly gripped the steering wheel. “Not close enough, yet.”
Chapter Twelve
Make a Move…
I n the luxurious study of Anatoly’s temporary mansion while the storm raged outside, Royal and Dmitry carved out time while the men were out gathering Intel to speak with Anil about his future. Things had changed dramatically for all of
them over the course of the last several days, but none more than the young pre-med student. As a result, Dmitry took it upon himself after the call from Ryan to discuss mobilizing the entire family and getting back to Memphis before the storm hit, but more specifically to figure out what to do with his misplaced son.
“I called just an hour ago to the facility where your mother is being house and let them know that a special team of doctors and other medical professionals would be there shortly to pick her up,” Dmitry explained, instantly seeing Anil’s eyes light up.
“We’re taking her back to Memphis with us,” Royal said to Anil, wanting him to know that she was supportive and welcomed him into the family. “Of course, we will have her sent wherever you’d like after the storm, but…” her voice trailed off, hoping her husband might make their point clear.
“We want you to come home to Memphis with us, Anil,” Dmitry said, walking across the room to be closer to his son. He tried to make him understand their concern. It was no longer possible to leave him in Miami alone to figure things out on his own.
Anil was grateful for all the attention that he had been given by the family since he arrived, but moving in with them to Memphis seemed like he was taking advantage.
“I am extremely grateful to both of you. I mean, you’ve been awesome. Really… but I can’t just live on you and expect you to pay my bills, my housing, my tuition, and my mother’s health care, simply because I’m your son.”
Dmitry expected a certain amount of push-back. Anil was, after all, his son, but he wasn’t about to take no for an answer. Not on this. It was too important. “You won’t be living on me, you’ll be living with me. And I wouldn’t even notice the money it would take to help you and your mother out. But I would notice if something happened to you. That I can’t abide.”
Anil slumped over in the chair, legs spread apart, and rubbed his temples. “That’s what you say now, but we all know money changes things, right?” He looked between Royal and Dmitry. “I’m not a freeloader.”
Royal understood his concerns perfectly. When she had first met Dmitry, she could not believe how loving, caring and giving he was. For every gift she took, she always wondered if he would eventually remind her of what she owed him in return, but that day never came.
Dmitry was not that guy.
“Anil, if your father is offering, he’s offering out of the goodness of his heart. And money does change people, but sometimes for the better. It helps take care of your family, and you are our family.”
“You can’t stay here,” Dmitry said finally. “I can’t take the risk that someone has put together the pieces, seen you with me, seen your brother with you. I can’t have another situation like this. We’ve been through it enough.”
“I’ve only been here in this house,” Anil pointed out. “The only people who know about me are your men and the family.”
“I’m not willing to risk it,” Dmitry said, hoping he understood.
“I’m not willing to become a burden just because you are a billionaire,” Anil said sincerely. “I’ve got some pride.”
“Billions,” Royal pointed. “That’s a lot of money, that gives you more opportunities to make something of yourself in this world, that gives you more power than most of the world has combined. Yes, it’s a lot to think about, a lot to manage, but pride should not block you up from a better life.”
Anil knew what she was saying was true, but he was battling inside with accepting their help.
Caveat emptor.
“You will be helping your mother. You will be helping yourself. Both of you deserve that,” Dmitry said, seeing that Anil wanted to accept.
Anil scratched the back of his neck and laughed. “Most people would jump at this right?” He felt crazy for even considering turning them down.
“We know you’re not most people, but think about what we are offering. Do you really want to go back to the life you had? Was it so great?” Royal asked.
“No,” Anil answered truthfully. “It was kind of shitty.”
“I could kidnap you,” Dmitry joked.
Anil laughed.
“Or you could just come with us,” Royal said softly. “Start a new life.”
Throwing his hands up in the air in submission, Anil gave up. “Okay. Fine. We’ll go. Why not?”
“You’ve made a wise choice,” Royal said, happy that he had agreed.
Dmitry felt his phone buzz in his pocket. “Trust me, you won’t regret your decision,” he said, pulling out his cell. He read the words from Peaches carefully. Mashta Island. Mashta Drive. Ryan Colt has reinforcements. Arriving back in 30 minutes.
“Royal,” Dmitry said, putting his phone away. His face tightened as his priorities shifted. It was time to go to work.
“Yes, baby,” she said, hoping everything had turned out like they planned.
“Get the family together like we discussed and prepare to get to the plane. I want everyone out of this house when I leave, because we’re not coming back.” He hit Anil on the shoulder. “That includes you.”
Anil wanted to go with Dmitry to help get Anatoly’s sister back, but he also understood that these men were professionals, and he’d only be in the way. At least he could help watch over the women, make sure Renee didn’t get too worked up. Everyone had something they could do. He’d work to find his place as well.
Without another word, Royal headed out of the study to gather Valeriya, Renee and Lilly. Her feet echoed as she moved quickly down the corridor past the men headed toward their boss.
***
Thirty minutes later, Anatoly came through the gate to his home like a bat out of hell. The tires to the Audi nearly hydroplaned at his reckless speed.
Pulling up in front of the house, he saw that a motorcade was already being formed, but several men in coveralls were making modifications.
Jumping out in the rain, boots sloshing in the raised water, Anatoly stalked up to the mansion with Peaches following closely behind. She could barely keep up with him in his fiery rage. He hadn’t said a word since he shot Eddy, but it was clear in his silence that his deadly thirst had not yet been quenched.
Under the chandelier in the foyer, Boris and Marat stood talking after their run to the police evidence locker, when the front doors flew open and Anatoly came barreling inside from the brewing storm. They turned and gawked at their boss, his eyes ice cold as they landed on his men.
Snatching off his polo cap, he threw it in the corner. “Where is my father?” he asked, voice trembling in sheer frustration.
“In the study,” Marat answered as the lights flickered above him. They all glanced up, realizing that their window was only getting smaller before the entire city went dark.
“Where is my wife?” Anatoly asked, trying to make sure that everyone and everything was in place.
“Packing up. She’ll be out of here in the next twenty minutes,” Marat said, pulling a toothpick out of his mouth. He glanced over at Peaches who raised a brow in recognition.
“Tell her that I’m here,” Anatoly said to Peaches over his shoulder. “You two come with me,” he ordered Marat and Boris.
Anatoly had kept it together as best he could, but with each mile he moved away from Ryan’s mansion, the more of a strain he felt on his heart. Anything could have been happening in that house, and he was outside doing nothing about it. There was nothing worse than feeling inadequate. He should have stayed. He should have jumped out of his car right then, scaled the bricked fence and stormed the front of the house – consequences be damned. But despite his emotions, he had heard his father’s voice in the back of his mind.
Be smart.
Now, he had to hope the right decision was made or his sister’s death would be on his hands.
Gathered in the study, Dmitry was already working on a plan with Gabriel and Vasily for Anastaysia’s extraction with his other guards waiting across the room at a respectable distance for their next orders. There were several factors they
all had to consider before the attack and not as many resources considering the weather. But Dmitry was fairly certain that his plan would work.
Anatoly walked into the room and wiped a hand over his face. Silently, he stalked over to the table to listen.
“What’s the plan?” he asked, pulling off his soaked shirts. He threw the discarded clothes over in a pile on the floor.
Dmitry trailed his hand over the island on the map. “I know you won’t like this, but the smartest move is to wait until closer to nightfall to attack.” He could feel his son tense up, even without looking at him. “By then, the bridge leading to the island will be closed and all of its other residents will have evacuated.”
“That’s fewer witnesses and less access by local officials to the island,” Gabriel explained with a sympathetic hand on Anatoly’s shoulder.
Anatoly looked at his watch and shrugged away from his cousin. “It’s fucking noon,” he groaned, face twisting into a grimace. “We’re just supposed to sit around here for hours waiting?”
Dmitry understood Anatoly’s angst, but emotion aside, they had to be extremely careful about their approach or all of this would be for nothing. “Several hours is a long time, yes, but there is plenty to do. And still plenty to plan. We didn’t find out where she was until thirty minutes ago. If we go in their halfcocked, we stand to get our dicks shot off and your sister killed.”
“We are outfitting the SUVs out front right now with FEMA decals and lights. It will keep suspicion down about a motorcade going toward the island,” Vasily said, hoping Anatoly would calm down. “We expect there to be very few, if any law enforcement or emergency services personnel on site. More than likely, they will be working remotely. Once the island goes black, they won’t go over to check on things until the hurricane has passed. That’s our window.”
Anatoly grabbed the edge of the desk and tried to think of what they might have been missing. “We need a recon team their now among the residents.”
“We’re already on it,” Dmitry said, finally dragging his gaze from the map to Anatoly. “There is only one way onto the island, one way off. It’s surrounded by killer waves at the moment and harbor patrol has locked down all boats. If someone leaves, we’ll know about it. By five o’clock that area will be pitch black. No phones. No internet, which ultimately means no surveillance. We stick to the plan, Anatoly.”
Anatoly's Retribution: Book Two Page 18
