Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
"I'm sure there are street races down here too." I tuck Teddy tightly into my side.
"Cool." Teddy's eyes are everywhere as I lead her toward the warehouse. There are two men manning the door.
"Little birdy," I tell them in Russian before they can ask us anything. One responds, letting me know where I can find Maxim and opening the door for us.
"What was that? Ptich-ka?" Teddy asks once we're inside.
"It means little bird. It was a code."
"So there are secret handshakes and words."
"Sort of." It wasn't for us to get in. That was so they'd tell Maxim I was here and would tell me where to find him.
"Ptich-ka," Teddy chirps, then suddenly stops walking. I can hear the fights in the distance. "Oh, like a little bird told me!"
"Maybe don't shout these things." Her eyes go wide, and she presses her lips firmly together. "Come." I lead her farther in and watch her face light up when we enter the main area where a match is already going on in the center ring that's lifted partly off the ground, giving everyone a better view.
Teddy cringes a few times as the man in blue shorts takes a couple of bad hits, blood gushing out from his nose. She peeks over at me and mouths the word gross. That's tame.
I linger, letting her see some of the action and take in the people. Teddy really has kept herself tucked away from the world. It makes me want to show her more things but with me by her side to keep her safe. Then I can take her back home, where she wants to be most of the time.
"Are you ready to go see a man about a thing?"
A giggle bubbles free from her, which is what I was after. "Wait, I don't know what we are getting."
"Later." I put my hand on her back and lead her to the other side of the ring. A man spots me and gives me a nod to the right. Teddy is so focused taking in her surroundings that she doesn't notice him. I head down the hallway, keeping Teddy close. Another man is standing at a door, and he opens it. I grab the side over the strike plate and slide in a pin. I push it farther open, and it appears I'm only doing it to keep the door open for my girl to enter.
Maxim sits behind a long folding table; stacks of money are lined out across it. A money changer counts the bills. There is a girl laid out on a couch beside him, her eyes glazed over. Honestly, I know everything isn't as it should be. Alarm bells are going off, and for once, I have to fight to keep a calm demeanor. Normally I can do it as easily as breathing, but the stakes are higher than they have ever been.
"I need one of those." Teddy points to the machine. Maxim gives her a strange look. He has no idea that she's not joking; instead, he's trying to understand what the joke is.
"You bring a date?"
"She's not your concern," I tell him coolly.
"Everything inside of the warehouse is my concern." I stare at Maxim, letting the silence fall except for the sound of the machine shuffling through the money. Maxim clears his throat, shifting in the folding chair. Teddy's eyes bounce between us, as if she is watching a real-life reality show, which she loves.
"All right." He gives an easy smile, except it's not easy at all. "I got what you asked for." He goes to reach into the pocket of his jacket, but I'm quicker, pulling out my gun.
"You want to die tonight?" I say in Russian.
"It's really inside there," Maxim rushes to respond, his eyes widening, and I see how glassy they are.
"Have your girl get it," I tell him, switching back to English so the blonde hears me.
"Not my girl, a whore." Maxim is dismissive of her. That has the girl coming out of her high, barely.
"That's rude," Teddy mutters under her breath. "Sex worker." Maxim is smart enough to not respond, but his eyes linger on her.
I have not seen Maxim in a few years, but shit has gone downhill for him, it appears. This operation isn't as clean as it used to be.
"I won't repeat myself."
"Tasha," Maxim snaps, and the girl hurries to her feet. "My front left inside pocket," he tells her.
"No," I tell her, and she smartly stops. "I want the right pocket." That was the one he was going for. I already know from the blood draining from Maxim's face that it's a weapon. The girl does as she's told, pulling out the gun.
I'm pissed. No, I'm fucking enraged. "What the fuck did you think you were going to do here?"
"Nothing, I swear," he sputters, but I don't believe him. "Okay, things changed when we saw you had a girl with you."