Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
That aligns with what I learned from the driver’s nephew.
My jaw tightens. “Who gave you access?”
Pavel hesitates. I step closer and rest my hand on his shoulder. My grip is gentle, which makes him flinch anyway. He’s expecting more pain, and the anticipation is doing half the work for me now.
“Answer me,” I say.
He exhales. “One of your new guards. I didn’t know his name. Dmitri gave him cash and told him he’d die if he didn’t do it.”
“Describe him.”
Pavel stares at the floor, thinking through pain.
“Young. Brown hair. Scar on his chin. He kept looking over his shoulder like he knew he was dead already.”
Well, that’s sealed the kid’s death warrant. Once this is all over, I’ll have him taken care of. For now, though, all my attention is on Pavel.
Pavel tries to breathe through his sobs. “That’s all I know.”
“That’s not all you know,” I say.
His eyes widen. “I swear.”
I lean closer. “Dmitri coordinated the breach. Dmitri snuck in the phone. Dmitri knows where she is now. I need his location.”
Pavel’s whole face goes slack. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Then you’re useless,” I reply.
He shakes hard. “I’m not. I can help. I can get you into the wedding.”
I keep my voice calm. “How exactly will you do that?”
Pavel swallows, then forces it out. “They’re doing it in two days. Mikhail wants it to be a public spectacle. He wants it in front of everyone. He wants the whole city to see her as his.”
My jaw clenches. “Where is it?”
He shakes his head.
“If I tell you where it is, you’re going to kill me,” he says as calmly as he can.
He’s not a total idiot, then. He realizes that his value on this earth is quickly coming to an end.
“If you don’t tell me, I’m going to break your legs.”
Pavel’s voice breaks. “It’s in Red Hook.”
My attention sharpens. Red Hook is a reasonable guess if you want water, space, and controlled access. Red Hook is also a place where a lot of families have interests, which means a public wedding there is a message. It tells Brooklyn that Mikhail is not afraid of stepping into contested spaces.
“Where in Red Hook?” I ask.
Pavel shakes his head. “I promise I’ll take you there myself and get you in,” he says quickly. “You have my word.”
I stand and walk to the table again. I don’t pick up pliers this time. I pick up my knife. It’s not a showy blade. It’s a working blade. I walk back and rest the flat of it against Pavel’s cheek.
His eyes lock on mine, terrified and pleading.
I keep my tone mild. “Your word means nothing to me.”
He starts to shake harder. “Please, Mr. Kovalev,” he weeps. “I have no reason to lie to you. I will even hand you the head of security so you can get the rest of the men in.”
My grip on the knife stays steady. “Who is handling security for the wedding?”
Pavel hesitates again. I press the blade slightly, not enough to cut deep, just enough to draw a thin line of blood. His breath catches and his words spill out.
“Yuri Belov,” he says. “He runs Mikhail’s perimeter crews. We work together a lot. If I tell him to come out, he’ll do it. He trusts me.”
I know that name. It was also in Sergei’s report. Pavel is telling the truth. Do I trust him enough to help me, though? Hell no.
I step back and wipe the blade clean on my sleeve. Pavel’s face is streaked with tears and sweat. His hands are mangled. His hope is thin and desperate.
“Do we have a deal?” he whispers.
I look at him for a moment, then nod. “We have a deal.”
He starts to cry harder, relief and pain mixing.
Misha shifts behind me as I walk away from him. “Do you want him alive?”
I keep my voice flat.
“He can get us into the wedding,” I answer. “As soon as he lures Yuri out, he’s no longer useful to me.”
Misha nods. I leave him there to keep Pavel company until the wedding. I head back toward the safehouse to start working on the attack. We have a small window of time, and a lot to prepare. I gather my men and raid my weapons supply.
We’re going straight into the belly of the beast, and I’m going to get Anya back.
Even if it kills me.
26
ANYA
They keep me in a small room off the main space for most of the morning. Dahlia and Mikhail clearly decided it would be better if I didn’t see the whole venue until the last possible moment. They somehow think surprise will throw me off my game. They’ll get to enjoy my little surprise with the rest of the guests.
The room smells like hairspray and freshly steamed fabric. This room should be a place of joy and excitement, not one that feelings like the waiting room to my execution.