Maybe that was it then and all the drama was finally over and things would return to normal. Sitting there with her dad in the quiet hospital room her thoughts turned back to Vladek. She was still mad at him that he hadn’t told her what the guy had said about visiting her dad, it made her almost growl because he’d known what her dad meant to her and how close they were. He’d been stupid not to tell her, thinking she wouldn’t be able to deal with the news.
He definitely did stupid things. Even when he thought things through he still made mistakes. If he’d just trusted her enough to tell her, it’s not like she would’ve wanted to travel straight back before they’d dealt with the jewels. They could’ve figured something out together and he shouldn’t have taken that decision out of her hands.
He needed someone to stop him doing stupid things like that and getting himself into trouble. He had so many good qualities. She checked herself abruptly as she realized where her train of thought was taking her.
She hadn’t thought of him like that before, of someone who would be there in the future, someone that she might actually quite like to have around. It had been so exciting before and everything had moved so fast. She hadn’t thought what it might be like afterwards.
It felt like she’d changed so much in such a short space of time. Her old life seemed so small to her now and she even found it hard to think about going back to waitress at Bunk’s. She somehow felt bigger in the world, like she could do more and had more confidence to go after what she really wanted.
Vladek had been the catalyst and helped her get through it. Maybe she didn’t need to be one hundred percent responsible the whole time, maybe she could get mixed up in things she probably shouldn’t and take some risks. Life was short so maybe it was time to gamble more and see where it led.
She had to admit that the feelings of confidence he gave her were addictive. She wanted more of that. He brought out her wild side too, made her want to try things she never would have done before. But damn him, she was still mad at what he did and still didn’t know if he deserved another chance.
A short time later the medical doctor came by and gave her dad the all clear. The results of the tests were good and he could leave the following morning. They’d just keep him in one more night as a precaution. Then her dad’s psychiatrist, Dr. Adams, paid a visit and gave him his new prescription which would reduce his palpitations.
Everything seemed to be under control. Chloe even got the impression that her dad was getting tired of being fussed over and was eager for her to go home.
“Come on Chloe, you don’t need to hang around here all day I’m sure you have things to do. I’m fine really, you heard what the doctors said.”
Although she was a little reluctant to leave him she could see he was getting impatient and didn’t want to be the center of attention so she gave him another hug and went to find a cab home.
Exhaustion hit her during the cab journey out to Norwood. She been so tense and worried for the whole day, apart from around twenty minutes while they were leaving Manhattan and before she’d heard about her dad.
Once she opened the door of the apartment she saw straight away that it had been searched. Somehow she just took it in her stride and wasn’t too surprised. If she had been the Chloe Walsh of a week before she probably would have lost her mind but now she just started to slowly tidy up. Thankfully nothing seemed to be taken or damaged.
After she’d tidied up the worst of the mess and brought some order back to the place she sat down heavily for a rest. Her mind drifted aimlessly but a welcoming meow brought her back to the present. Jackson was at the window, half inside while he suspiciously decided if she deserved his presence.
His nose twitched and once he decided that it was indeed the same human he let think owned him and not some stranger he padded in and came up beside her on the sofa.
“Jackson, you managed to survive a couple of days without me then. I missed you buddy, did the bad man come and scare you while I was gone?”
Jackson even managed to look insulted that anyone could scare him which made Chloe laugh and draw him up onto her lap. “Of course not Killer, you weren’t scared and I’m sure he left quickly again when he saw you were about to savage him. Isn’t that right?”
Jackson meowed in agreement and then dug his head in under her chin. “What are we gonna do Jackson, are we just going to go back to normal now, the way it was before? And what are we going to do about him, you remember Vladek? He wasn’t all bad I guess, and he did get those bad men from New York off our backs. We shouldn’t be hearing from them anymore.”
She got up from the sofa with Jackson in her arms and went to the kitchen. “Time for some food buddy, I know that’s why you really came to visit, so let’s see what we’ve got.”
She poured some of the cat biscuits into his dish and then had a look in the fridge for something to nibble on herself. She thought idly back to New York, had it really only been that morning? They’d handed the jewels over and that should be the end of it but she couldn’t help but wonder where those jewels were now. Was some Russian mobster weighing them on scales at just that moment or examining them through a jeweler’s loupe?
But none of that was her concern anymore, all that was happening far away and couldn’t touch her anymore. Now she just had to get back to normal life again, catch up on her orders and start making serious plans for the future.
- 28 -
Mirko
Following Boris after Vladek handed over the bag of diamonds had been tricky. Mirko had worked with Boris when he was still involved with the Bratva. He was a good soldier, dependable and competent and Mirko guessed he must feel sick to have to work for Alexei.
It had been tough to shadow him without being spotted. Even though Boris wasn’t expecting to be followed he still took the proper precautions as a matter of habit before returning to Alexei.
He followed him all the way to a small appliance store in The Bronx, a few doors down from a busy looking bar which Mirko guessed was also owned by the Russians. There was an alley behind the buildings and with so many entrances and exits it didn’t make Mirko’s surveillance easy.
But he knew Alexei and was familiar with his habits. He was not the type to be out during the day or to use front exits. He scouted out the buildings overlooking the alley on the other side and managed to get access to a roof which gave him a perfect view of most doors at the back of those buildings.
Once he’d chosen his spot he decided to wait a day before beginning the hunt. There was no point in making it any easier for someone to connect what he was planning for Alexei with the arrival of the bag of diamonds from Ithaca.
He returned to his hotel in Hackensack instead and made his preparations for the following day. Thankfully the weather stayed dry overnight and he was back at his chosen spot on the roof in the late afternoon. Then he settled in for a long wait.
One of his favorite past times was hunting and he knew the value of patience. All you had to do was wait long enough in the right place and your prey would come to you.
The back entrance of the bar saw the most activity and he watched a couple of delivery trucks arrive and unload. Towards evening, someone emerged from the back of the appliance store and lit up a cigarette before wandering lazily up the alley and going in the bar’s back entrance. So, it seemed he was right and the two buildings were connected.
It was a classic Bratva tactic. They would buy not just one business on a street but several, making it much easier to escape from one building to another while keeping everything close and consolidated.
Mirko waited and the cold seeped deep into his bones. He’d known he might have to wait a long while for his moment and he’d dressed appropriately in his most inconspicuous thermal hunting gear.
He regretted not waiting longer before taking up his watch. Alexei was much more likely to be seen at any time after midnight rather than the hours before. To keep himself distracted and his hands warm he inspec
ted the rifle at his side over and over again. He might only get one chance to deal with Alexei so the least he could do was ensure his gun was in perfect working order.
His Stealth Recon Scout was fitted with a suppressor and a night-scope. Once the right moment presented itself, no matter what time of the day or night he would be able to deal with Alexei once and for all. He remembered how he’d found Karin after Alexei had her tied up in the cellar, hanging like a broken and bloody marionette, barely conscious.
He’d made a promise at the time and could only use his fists to punish Alexei but soon he’d have his full revenge. He’d never forgotten that day and what that psychopath had done to Karin and now he’d pay the price. The deal he’d made with Alexei’s boss Fyodor had long expired and it was time for some overdue payback.
He’d been pissed with Vladek at first, when he’d called about getting caught up with the Bratva. But it had been good as well, it had forced his hand and reminded him again that he needed to deal with Alexei once and for all. That he was helping out Vladek in the process wasn’t such a bad thing. Vladek was a good kid with good qualities, he just needed somebody steady by his side to curb his impulsive nature.
The hours passed and Mirko got cramp in his arms and legs. He’d been waiting too long in the same position and if Alexei didn’t show his face soon he’d have to call it a night. He’d soon be shaking so much he wouldn’t be able to hit a barn door let alone take a head shot at fifty feet. He tensed and loosened his muscles to try and ward off cramp and decided he’d wait another half hour.
Ten minutes later there was some commotion in the alley below. A large black SUV had pulled up and there were several burly looking guys hovering around the back entrance of the club. Mirko rubbed his hands vigorously to get his circulation going before getting the rifle back in position and focusing the scope on the door below.
Long moments passed and his finger felt stiff on the trigger. Then he was there, still the same deceptively overweight build, the long, greasy white hair. He was barking out orders through that cruel, thin-lipped, gash of a mouth that Mirko remembered so well.
He was moving to and fro making it difficult to get a bead on his skull and Mirko’s stiff hands found it hard to react to a moving target. He tried to keep calm and wait for his moment. Don’t take the shot if there is no shot to take, don’t force it.
One of the goons opened the back door of the SUV and Mirko thought his opportunity was gone as Alexei moved towards the open door. His body was almost fully shielded by the door but just before he ducked inside he turned once more to say something and Mirko saw his chance.
He breathed out once, held the crosshairs steady on the center of Alexei’s head and squeezed the trigger. He watched as Alexei spun and crumpled to the floor, a blooming wet spray of red appearing on his bodyguard’s face.
He drew back from the roof edge and began to quickly dismantle his gun while listening to the sounds of chaos in the alley below. It was done and now he had to move. He packed up the gun and jogged at a low crouch to the stairwell to make his escape.
He finally made that bastard pay for what he’d done to Karin. Any danger to Vladek and Chloe should now also be gone and they could move on with their lives. Alexei could do no more harm to anybody.
- 29 -
Chloe
The day after coming back from New York was a weird one and she’d spent the whole time in a kind of trance. She’d had so much excitement packed into such a short space of time that it felt like she was going through withdrawal.
She went to the hospital and helped her dad get back home. They’d had lunch together and she’d spoken about her craft shop idea. Her dad had been so good and promised to support her financially and urged her to get started on a business plan. There was no reason to wait.
He wanted to know about her new friend as well, the one who’d been so protective, but she batted his questions away. She wasn’t sure what to think of Vladek. She couldn’t even explain her feelings to herself let alone someone else. She was all mixed up and even speaking to Abbie that night hadn’t made things any clearer.
“I can’t believe you even agreed to go off with him like that Chloe. That just amazes me, it’s so unlike you.”
“But why do I have to be ‘like me’, you know Abbie, why can’t I do different things or be different. Maybe it was a crazy thing to do but I trusted him, and he made me feel good. I don’t know why it was but I just didn’t feel that anxious with him, it was like his confidence just rubbed on me. It felt good.”
“Ok Chloe, I mean you clearly like the guy, a lot. Why don’t we list his positives and negatives and see where that gets us. So, negatives?”
“Ex-con, stupid enough to be the getaway driver, didn’t tell me about my dad.”
“Right ok, so they’re pretty big ones Chloe, what about positives?”
“Ok, he was making a fresh start in Ithaca which I respect. He’s very loyal, which is why he got caught up in the raid. He really regretted it and wanted to protect me, which actually felt amazing if I’m being honest. He was so charming and I love his smile and his eyes and he was great in bed and God, I dunno, he just made me feel so confident, so good.”
“Well, ok then, he’s got a pretty solid list on the positive side, but how do they weigh up against those negatives?”
“I just dunno! And that’s exactly the problem, how am I supposed to decide that?”
And that’s how the conversation had gone, round and round in circles just like the thoughts in Chloe’s mind. And in the end the only thing she really did know for sure was that she remained totally conflicted.
But it had still been good to talk with Abbie and get everything out in the air instead of having it all stew around in her head. The only thing she’d been sure of going to bed that night was that she needed more information. She couldn’t decide anything until something else happened.
When she woke up the following day she was feeling quite low. She hadn’t heard anything from Vlad the whole previous day and she was beginning to wonder if that was it. Maybe he’d just decided that he didn’t want to have anything to do with such a boring girl who didn’t even appreciate what he’d done by trying to keep her safe.
She started her shift at Bunk’s with a heavy heart. When she’d been with Vlad she’d felt so confident and decided to hand in her notice at Bunk’s. But after being back on her own she felt the same old anxieties, maybe she would quit Bunk’s but she should at least have a back-up plan first, she shouldn’t just do it on the spur of the moment, that would be irresponsible.
And as she decided that she knew it was the old Chloe talking again. Had it really only taken a day being on her own to start feeling nervous about such minor stuff again, was she gonna keep putting her dreams on hold and wallow in the same old rut?
They were nice to her at the diner after the raid on Appleby’s and with her father being in hospital. Her mind really wasn’t on the job and her memory was shot to pieces but no one said a harsh word. Only Maggie, her supervisor, rubbed her back and asked how she was doing after she’d zoned out for what seemed like the umpteenth time.
She’d already mixed up two orders and had to go to the staff bathroom to give herself a talking to before things got embarrassing. “Come on Chloe, get a grip of yourself,” she said sternly to her reflection. “Sure it’s been a crazy time but you need this job right now, get your head in the game and let’s get through this shift without any more embarrassment.”
She took a deep breath, fixed her best smile on her face and went back inside to do a round of coffee refills. She just felt like she was pulling herself back together again when the door opened and in walked Vlad.
He looked nervous but his eyes lit up once he saw her. She didn’t know how to behave and some of the customers were watching which just made it worse. She was glad to see him, and it surprised her just how much, but she didn’t want him to know that.
“Hey Chloe, look, sorry for coming
here when you’re working and all. I just wondered if we could maybe talk once you’re on your break?”
“Oh, you mean you don’t want a coffee or anything?” she asked, giving him her most sickly fake smile.
“Eh, no thanks,” he said, looking around almost nervously. “I just have something to ask you, well show you really. I thought that if you had a break coming up then maybe you could give me five minutes. It shouldn’t take long.”
She thought about torturing him a little more but she could feel the curious looks of the diners and she had no wish to continue being the center of attention. Besides, she realized that just exactly what she wanted was to spend her break with Vlad.
“Ok, sure, my break’s in twenty minutes.”
“Great, cool, ok, I’ll be waiting out front then.” Then came his dazzling easy smile and it took all Chloe’s resolve to keep from reacting with one of her own.
If she’d already found it difficult to concentrate before now it was impossible. Twenty minutes and then she’d meet him outside, how was she supposed to behave and what did he want to show her?
- 30 -
Chloe
The next twenty minutes passed in a blur and in that time she managed to mix up two more orders as well as spill coffee on an old man’s hand. Maybe it would have been for the best if she’d just phoned in sick.
When her break came she hung up her apron and put on the big winter coat she was still wearing despite the warmer weather. Vlad was waiting by his car outside and came forward eagerly once he saw her appear.
“So, what is it then?” she asked.
“It’s just a quick drive, seriously, two minutes there, two minutes back.”
She gave him a skeptical look and then glanced towards the car and noticed the windshield was repaired but the dent still remained at the front. “I’m not going to get in and then you’ll tell me the Russians are back in town and we have to go on the run again or something?”
Rough Diamond (A Mafia Romance) Page 15
