AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“From this network of cameras,” he says as he brings up a map dotted with pins on his second screen, “I was able to triangulate his position. And then I found him along this road in this car … here.” He points as he moves through the video.
My heart is racing as I get snapshots of the car going through the city. It moves from different angles, depending on the camera. A front shot, a side, a rear view. Bit by bit, I’m getting closer to tracking this bastard down.
He’s moving, if the cameras are right, to the southwest. They lose him for a bit, and my stomach sinks. But then the man taps a few more keys, and Yevgeniy’s face is back on the screen. My pulse speeds up further when I recognize the park where I picked up Galina. Then there are back roads and houses in a cul-de-sac. There’s no more footage once the bumper of the car goes half off screen.
That’s the best angle the last camera can capture.
“That bastard hasn’t moved …” I breathe.
That arrogant fool.
“I know where to find him!” Galina blurts. “I know where that house is!”
I stand up and survey her with a burst of hope. “You’re sure?”
“Yes!” Her eyes light up in wonder. “I thought for sure that he’d go elsewhere like he did before, but maybe he didn’t want to upset—” she suddenly stops herself, darting a nervous look at me.
Unsure of what’s gotten her so uneasy, I want to ask more, but now isn’t the time. My body is thrumming with excitement that all of this is about to end right now. I’m ready to act.
“I’m going immediately.”
“You’re just going to show up at his house?” Her jaw drops.
“Much less noticeable than bringing a bunch of boeviki with me. Alone, I can sneak in, catch him off guard, and do what’s necessary.”
Plus, I need to save up my manpower after the last failed attack on the Winter Palace. But I don’t want to admit that. I don’t need to saddle her with more worries about things that she can’t control.
Galina is chewing her bottom lip ragged. I take her hand into mine and speak to her in a gentle voice. “I’m going to save your mother and reunite your family. Just like I promised.”
In spite of my encouraging words, she still looks anxious.
“You’re dismissed,” I say to Matvey. “I need a moment alone with my wife.”
“Pakhan?”
I scowl viciously. He half falls out of the computer chair, waving for the others to copy him. They all flee the room, shutting the door, leaving us alone in the sweltering box full of glowing monitors and computer fans. The digital glow creates a halo around Galina’s head when I tilt her back to stare into her eyes.
“You don’t have any reason to be worried.”
“Don’t I?” she asks miserably. “Every time I let you out of my sight, you come back bleeding and hurt.”
“I could say the same for you,” I reply. Her narrowed eyes belay her annoyance. Pressing my cheek to her forehead, I breathe in and out. “Galina, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
She lowers her eyes away from me.
Cupping her chin, I make her look my way while speaking in a gentle voice. “Your future, our baby’s future …” I lay my palm on her belly; she starts, but then leans into me. “That’s all I see when I close my eyes. Soon, that’s all I’ll have to think about too.”
“You mean it…” she whispers. It’s not a question.
“With my entire being, I do.” Through the years, I’ve learned many skills. Weapons … schmoozing … finances … and lying. There’s no better tool in the criminal underground than the ability to keep secrets with a straight face. Lying can be the difference between life and death. Because of this, I can convince anyone of what I want. I’ve lied convincingly to both friends and enemies. I’ve even lied successfully to a priest. More than once.
But when I tell Galina that her future is all I see …
It’s not a lie.
It never has been.
22
