by Ariel Arnold
Dimitri’s eyes had been closed, but at the sound of my voice, he opened them and looked up at me. His eyes went wide and he shouted, “Watch out, behind you!” but it was too late. I felt a sharp piercing pain in my side. I looked down to see a large knife sticking inside my ribcage. I turned and tried to stand, even as the pain became too much, overwhelming me. Brandon stood behind me with a triumphant look on his face and I knew he had been the one to stab me while I was distracted. Despite the pain, I tried to lunge forward to get to him when the sound of sirens wailing in the air halted everyone.
“Shit, the cops!” someone yelled out. Brandon and his boys scrambled, leaving four of their fallen behind. I didn’t think they were dead, but they weren’t capable of running away.
“Get out of here,” Dimitri told me. He didn’t seem like he could get up, but I wasn’t leaving him behind. I looked around for Gavril and spotted him running over to us.
“Help me get him up!” I shouted. Gavril and two more of our guys picked Dimitri up and began dragging him over to the car. I was hunched over, trying not to take deep breaths, hoping the knife hadn’t pierced my spleen. I really wanted to yank the knife out, but I wasn’t sure if that would do more damage than was already done, so I left it. I took a slow step forward in the direction of the car when the first police cruiser pulled onto the street. Shit, looks like I was going to have to entertain some cops today.
“Go without me!” I yelled to the guys. I could see them hesitating when they didn’t have time for that. Any moment, the street would be crawling with cops and we would all be arrested. “Get Dimitri to the doctor!” I yelled sternly. Finally, the fools decided to listen and sped away just as another cruiser blocked off the end of the street. Resigning myself to what was about to happen, I sat down on the curb. I was exhausted and in pain.
The first cop to reach me had his gun drawn, pointed at my head. “Hands in the air!” he shouted. I complied, putting my hands up, even though it stretched the open wound on my side.
“I have a knife stuck in my side,” I told him as I sat with my hands up. “I’m pretty sure I need an ambulance.” I’d rather go to the hospital now than down to the police station. By the time I’d be done getting treated at the hospital, Nikolai would have my lawyer down there, arguing as to why I didn’t need to be booked in the first place. The young cop looked at me in disbelief before he looked to my side and saw the knife. His face blanched and he took a step back.
“They’re on their way now,” he said, deciding not to handcuff me. He even holstered his weapon as other officers went around to check the other guys on the ground.
The ambulance ride to the hospital was spent in silence as I preferred to not speak much, deciding to let them think I didn’t understand a lot of English. An officer rode in the back of the ambulance as well, not wanting me out of their sight until they got the full story as to what happened.
My cell phone began vibrating in my pocket and I rolled over onto my left side to get it out. “Don’t move,” one of the paramedics said in a panic. I ignored him and answered my phone, speaking in Russian.
“The lawyer will be at the hospital in fifteen minutes’ tops,” Nikolai said.
“I’ll be waiting. I’m not going anywhere with a knife in my side,” I said with a chuckle. Nikolai laughed as well.
“I swear it’s like we live in that hospital. Amanda’s working, so you’ll probably run into her before we get there.”
The police were eying me suspiciously now, probably noting the Russian language and linking me to the Russian gang problem they had in the CD. Oh well, he didn’t have my name. Once the lawyer got here, I’d be good to go anyways. So, I laid back and closed my eyes, grimacing as the paramedic probed around the knife.
Chapter Eleven: Nana
I had another day off and I was feeling restless and not content. Neither Amanda or Yazmeen had contacted me since a few weeks ago when everything came to a head at that restaurant. Ilya too was MIA, even though I expected that. I knew he was serious and final when he said we shouldn’t come across each other anymore. But that didn’t stop me from arriving home, my gaze casting around the shadows, hoping to see him standing there, waiting for me. Then I’d only get pissed that I was pining for him.
Deciding I didn’t want to stay home moping around my apartment the whole day, I went to see my parents. It had been a while since we were able to spend time together and I planned on staying the day.
I used the key that I still owned and opened the door to my childhood home. I smiled as the scent of a delicious meal filled the air. It was only around three in the afternoon and Mom was already cooking something. “Mom, Papi,” I called out as I closed the door behind me. I headed straight for the kitchen where my mother stood at the stove, stirring something. She looked over her shoulder and smiled wide.
“Awww, there’s my baby.” She abandoned whatever it was that she was cooking and grabbed me up into a tight hug. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in years,” she complained as she held me at arm’s length and looked me over. “You look great. Did you go somewhere before here?” she asked. “A date, perhaps?”
I rolled my eyes and lightly pushed her. “Stop it, mom.” I had actually put on something other than a jeans and T-shirt today. I dressed in this really comfortable cream colored sweater, and a dark green short corduroy skirt. In the beginning stages, when I was thinking of trying to impress Ilya, I had gone out and bought new clothes. I didn’t want him to see me in jeans and a T-shirt all the time. It didn’t matter now though because we weren’t ever going to see each other again. I guess I just felt like looking pretty today.
“Where is Papi?” I asked her, looking around. I knew he wouldn’t be in the kitchen. That man avoided the place like it was the plague, preferring to lounge around until his food was done.
“Oh, in his little man cave. You know how he is,” Mom said, probably thinking the same thing I just was.
“I’m going to go say hi, and then I’ll come back and help you,” I told Mom before going to the back of the house where my dad had turned what was supposed to be the dining room into his own area. Dad was sitting on the couch, flipping through the stations and I grinned as I decided to sneak up behind him. “Boo!” I shouted as I grabbed the back of his shoulders. He startled, yelping as the remote went flying out of hands. I began laughing so hard I had to clutch my stomach because it hurt.
“Damn girl, you almost gave me a heart attack. You wouldn’t be laughing if I fell out and died, now would you?” he said with a frown.
Still, I couldn’t contain my laughter as I tried to speak. “Sorry, Papi,” I choked out. He rolled his eyes and grabbed me up into a hug.
“Missed you,” he mumbled quietly.
“I missed you too, dad,” I replied, dropping down onto the couch. “So, what are we watching?” I asked as he rummaged around on the floor until he found the remote.
“Haven’t decided yet,” he replied as he went back to surfing the channels. “How’s work going?”
I shrugged. “Fine,” I replied, not wanting to think about work. Never before had I resented my job, or regretted my choice to become a cop. But lately, a little voice in the back of my head kept whispering, If you weren’t a cop, would things have been different between you and Ilya, better?
As I was lost in thought, I didn’t notice my dad studying me intently until he spoke. “Okay, fess up. What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“What makes you think anything is wrong?” I asked on the defense, even though I knew there was no use because my dad could always tell my moods. He just gave me a knowing look, patiently waiting for me to tell him whatever it was. I sighed in defeat. “Okay, there is this guy,” I said slowly as I tried to gather my thoughts and figure out just how much to tell my dad without worrying him. Dad’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“You’re dating someone?”
“Yes. No. Sort of,” I replied, not even knowing how to describe what me and Ilya we
re. “And do you have to sound so skeptical? Like there isn’t any way a guy would be interested in me,” I said as I pouted.
Dad laughed his big robust laugh and shook his head. “Is that what I said? Any child of mine is bound to be gorgeous,” he said with a smile. “I’m just surprised that you are giving any guy the time of day. Now tell me about this guy. What’s his name?”
I worried my lip and rubbed my stocking encased legs. “His name is Ilya.”
“And you are sort of dating?” he prompted.
“Yeah, we go out together, but everything is so complicated. There is no way that things will work out and it’s really eating at me. I’m so stressed out.” Dad watched me, waiting for me to continue and I found myself spilling out more than I intended, needing his advice. “I was lying to him about something and I knew that he was lying to me. All we end up doing is hurting each other.” I shook my head in frustration. “But I still didn’t want to break things off, at least not yet. I have so much resting on me right now and I’m being pulled in two different directions, but I don’t know which is the right one.”
“There isn’t ever any way to know what is the right choice and which is wrong. That’s life. But listen to your heart. It will rarely ever steer you wrong.” He looked me in the eyes with a slight smile. “You really like this Ilya guy, huh?”
I nodded. “Yes, papi. I think I’m in love with him, but I’m scared.”
“Now that’s not the daughter I raised. You don’t run away from something just because you are afraid. You stand firmly and do what needs to be done. If you really love this boy, then you start being truthful with him about your feelings and demand the same thing of him. Whatever secrets you guys are keeping isn’t worth losing someone you love.”
“Nana!” my mom called out. Within seconds, she was at the door of the room, holding it open. “Someone is here for you,” she said. My eyes widened and I stood in surprise. Could it be Ilya, I wondered. “He said his name is Aleksandr,” she said, watching me curiously.
“Aleksandr,” I said aloud in surprise. Why would he be here? How did he even know where my parents’ house was? And then my stomach dropped as a terrifying thought occurred. Had something happened to Yazmeen? I rushed from the room quickly, my parents on my heels. Aleksandr stood outside on the front porch. “Is Yazmeen okay?” I asked anxiously.
“Yeah, she’s fine,” he said, “even though I might not be after this. How did I let Amanda talk me into this?”
I watched him, confused. What in the heck was he talking about? Me and Aleksandr never had much contact, I just knew him as Yazmeen’s fiancé, so why was he standing on my doorstep, talking nonsense? “I’m confused,” I told him. “Why exactly are you here?”
He sighed, “It’s Ilya. He’s in the hospital.” I gasped and looked at him in horror. That was the last thing I had expected to come out of his mouth. I knew what Ilya did was dangerous, but it never occurred to me that he could be hurt. He was too large, and strong, and in command. I just could never imagine it.
“Which hospital?” I asked and then before he could respond, I turned to my parents. “I have to go. I’m sorry, I’ll call you guys later.” I pushed past Aleksandr and practically jumped down the stairs. “Are you coming?” I called back to him. “I need a ride.”
Chapter Twelve: Nana
The ride to the hospital was silent as I worried. I was grateful to Aleksandr for coming to get me, but I was still curious as to how he knew where to find me. “How did you know I was at my parents’ house?” I asked.
“Please, my family has connections. You should know that,” he said.
“Okay, so, what happened? How is he hurt?” I was hoping it wasn’t anything life-threatening. I mean, Aleksandr wouldn’t waste time coming to get me if Ilya was seriously hurt, right? They were all pretty close; he’d want to be there.
“It’s not going to kill him, but he’s pretty hurt. He was stabbed,” Aleksandr answered me.
I went back to worrying and biting my lip. I really hoped that he was okay. When me and Aleksandr got to the hospital, it took a lot of effort to match my speed to his. I didn’t know what room Ilya was in, so it wasn’t like I could run ahead, even though I really wanted to. As we walked down a hall, I could see Nikolai, Yazmeen, Amanda in her doctor’s scrubs, and another man I didn’t know. Standing across from them was Detective Callahan and O’Reilly, almost as if they were facing off with the others. As we got closer, I could hear what they were saying.
“We need to speak with him about the incident,” Detective Callahan was saying. The other man, who I didn’t know, shook his head.
“That’s not possible right now, so you’ll have to wait for that.”
I could tell Detective O’Reilly was getting upset as his face began to flush red. “Or we can just arrest him now, and you, for obstructing justice.”
The man chuckled, unfazed. “You have no reason to arrest him. My client was simply trying to enter a store when he was attacked and stabbed. He’s in the hospital right now, trying to recover and can’t give a statement. Once he’s given the okay to be released, he’ll come down to the department to give his statement.”
It was obvious that the man was Ilya’s lawyer and was preventing the detectives from speaking with him.
“Alek,” Yazmeen said as she noticed us. She looked between Aleksandr and me curiously, probably having no clue why we were together and why I was here at all. All eyes turned to look at us and it was the most awkward experience ever. Nikolai was glaring, Amanda was looking uncertain, Yazmeen indifferent, and my colleagues in disbelief. The only one who didn’t seem to care was the lawyer, who didn’t know me. But whatever, I wasn’t here for any of them. I just needed to see that Ilya was okay.
Before I could ask about Ilya’s condition, Detective Callahan stepped forward and grasped my arm in a tight grip. “What are you doing here?” Before I could try to answer his question, he spoke again, obviously not even really wanting an answer. “You’re not supposed to be here, Officer Valencia. Leave. Now.” He followed that up with a little push in the direction he wanted me to go.
“Let go of her right now,” Yazmeen said, stepping forward. “You have no right to talk to her that way or tell her to leave.”
My eyes watered a bit as I was overwhelmed with the fact that Yaz was defending me. I thought she hated me.
“This is police business, Mrs. Jones, and not of your concern, so back off.”
“But she’s not here as a police. She’s a civilian and was specifically invited by the patient’s family. You can’t just force her to leave,” Amanda told him.
Callahan ignored the two women with a roll of his eyes and focused on me. “Do you want to be suspended, Officer Valencia? You know this is a conflict of interest,” he said.
It was a clear warning. I was to stay away from Ilya, and the Prakenskis, if I wanted to keep my job. Sighing, I nodded. “Let me know how he is,” I said to no one in particular as I turned and walked away. I wasn’t really planning on leaving. I would just hide in the lobby until those two left and then make my way back up to Ilya’s room.
I was surprised when I saw Amanda and Yazmeen following me. I guess they were ready to have the talk we had all been avoiding. I was hoping they wouldn’t go too hard on me, but I wasn’t optimistic. We didn’t speak a single word until we were in the lobby, in a corner away from everyone else.
“Why did you ask Aleksandr to come get me?” I asked Amanda, wanting to be the first to speak. Still, I was trying to avoid the conversation of my betrayal.
“You told Alek to bring her here?” Yazmeen asked. Amanda nodded.
“I thought it would be what Ilya wanted,” she said, eyeing me. “And you as well. Aren’t you worried about if he is alright?”
“Yes, I am,” I answered truthfully.
“Why did those detectives try to get you to leave?” Amanda asked.
“They don’t think it’s ethical that I have any contact with Ilya now
that my cover’s been blown and he knows I was investigating him. It would implicate me as a police informant for a gang organization if I continued any type of relationship with him.”
Amanda and Yazmeen watched me thoughtfully. Yaz had still yet to say anything to me directly. I was sure that she was mad at me and I hated that. She filled the spot that was left by my older sister and I didn’t want to lose that. I didn’t want to wake up every day knowing that she hated me.
“We never got the full story. No one would tell us anything, saying that it was Ilya’s business, which I don’t think is fair because you’re our friend, or was that pretend too?” Yazmeen asked, finally saying something to me.
“No, Yaz. I would never pretend to be your friend. My friendship with you and Amanda is genuine. I would never use you guys,” I told her earnestly, hoping she would believe me.
“So, instead, you decided to approach Ilya and lie to him in order to get evidence against him, Niko, and Alek?” she asked, obviously still mad.
“I didn’t approach him trying to do anything,” I said, defending myself. “I never wanted to be involved in any type of undercover investigation. Me and Ilya met accidently and I was immediately intrigued, and you know how uninterested in guys I am, but there was something about him and I really liked him.”
