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Slowly, Nik grins. He holds a phone out to me. “Give this a try.”
I arch a brow. “What’s that?”
“Jenkins’ phone. He got a text from an unknown contact fifteen minutes ago asking if the job is done. The text thread goes back a few weeks.” He shrugs. “If I had to bet, I’d put my money on it being Pavel’s number.”
I snatch the phone away and scroll through the thread. The messages are innocuous. They don’t give anything away. That’s on purpose. But they’re vague enough to raise an eyebrow.
What time?
Meet at the place.
Don’t forget what’s at stake.
“It has to be,” I breathe. “It has to be him.”
“What are the chances he knows Jenkins is dead?” Nik pulls the phone out of my hands and types out a message. “More importantly, what are the chances Pavel will show up if I text him as Jenkins and say we need to meet?”
“It’s the best chance we’ve had so far. I’ll tell Dima to get here now. He and his men are already in the area.”
Nik nods. “I’ll tell Pavel to meet you in the morgue.”
“The morgue? That’s a little on the nose, don’t you think?”
Nik smirks. “I figured it would save you all some time. I’m ready for that bastard to be cold and dead.”
Nik sends the message and hands me the phone.
I look past him towards the birthing suite. I want to see Luna. I want to kiss her forehead and let her know everything will be fine. But if I go in there, I’m not sure I can leave again.
“Text me if there is any change with Luna,” I order.
Even if there is a change, I can’t come back until Pavel is dead. I’m going to kill him or die trying. Nik seems to know that. He reaches out and clasps my hand.
I pull him close and clap him on the back. “Take care of my woman, brother.”
“You know I will,” he says.
I leave Nik outside of Luna’s room. No matter what happens next, I know he’ll take care of her. Now, I need to go take care of Pavel.
62
YAKOV
Fifteen minutes later, Dima is tucked in a corner of the hospital lobby wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Much less understated than his usual suit and cigar. He winks at me as I take the seat two away from him. “I’m undercover.”
“You might be undercover for nothing. Pavel hasn’t responded.”
“Maybe not, but my men saw a black car with tinted windows pull into the employee entrance five minutes ago.”
“Were your men spotted?”
He shakes his head. “Give me more credit than that, Yakov.”
I hold up a hand in silent apology. “My fiancée is upstairs about to give birth. I’m not taking any chances.”
“Fair enough.” Dima pushes himself to standing. “In three minutes, follow me. I’ll head down to the morgue and see if our friend has decided to show his face.”
I tense up. Dima is my partner. I chose to work with him. But sending him in alone to what could very well be the final battle is a risk.
