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“Because they know things,” I said, struggling to keep my anger under control. “They can show us where Maksim’s been staying, where he’s weakest, where his men are weakest. They tell the girls things after they sleep together.”
“So ask them for this information.”
“I can’t do that and you know it. They’re not stupid enough to just give it away. And I can’t just abandon them either.”
Hedeon grunted and looked at Leo. “What do you think?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t agree with her.”
“Of course you do. You always agree with the pretty ones. A pretty girl flashes her eyes at you and you jump, is that it, Leonid?”
I frowned but refused to step up to the bait.
“You know that’s bullshit,” Leo said. “You’re just trying to press our buttons, and I’m not sure why.”
Hedeon grunted. “Maybe that’s true, or maybe I want you to give me a real good reason to help these whores.”
“They’re people,” I said.
“Whores, people, whatever you want to call them, I still don’t care about their lives.”
“Aside from the information, it’ll be a blow to Maksim’s business,” Leo said. “He doesn’t have much going aside from selling drugs and running girls. We take away his girls, we take away another income source. If he can’t pay his guys, his organization begins to crumble.”
“Interesting.” Hedeon touched his chin with his good hand. “These are convincing reasons. But for some reason I’m not convinced.”
“Then maybe do it for Leo,” I said. “Since he saved your ass.”
“Careful,” Hedeon said, glaring at me. “My patience has limits.”
“Good.” I glared right back. “I hope you get mad. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, maybe you’ll do something.”
He showed his teeth like a rabid dog. “Give me a reason not to hurt you, girl.”
“Hedeon,” Leo said. “Enough. We’re saving the girls whether you approve or not. And maybe Robin’s right, maybe you need to get shaken out of this little funk you’re in.”
Hedeon looked at Leo and for a second, I thought he might stand and things might turn to violent. Instead, Hedeon let out a breath, glanced at Oleg, then nodded.
“All right,” he said. “We can save the girls.”
I blinked in surprise. “Really?”
“Really. You may have three men. I want good information out of this, and I want some cash. I’m sick of living like a fucking pauper and all my goddamn money is too hot to collect right now.”
“We’ll make it happen,” Leo said, though the edge in his tone remained.
“Good.” Hedeon moved back from the table and stood. “This war is going to come to an end soon, Leonid, whether we like that or not. I hope you’re ready for what’s coming.”
“I hope you’re right,” Leo said.
Hedeon left the table and walked back to the stairs. He went up, moving slowly, and disappeared beyond the wall. I heard his footsteps on the floorboards above us.
“Time to go,” Oleg said. “Unless you want to stick around and finish off my whiskey with me.”
“No, thanks,” Leo said. “Maybe another time.” He stood and gestured at me.
I stood and together we walked to the door. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw Oleg standing in the kitchen doorway watching us with a strange look in his eye. I couldn’t tell if it was anger, confusion, or something else. He held up a hand, waving goodbye, and I waved back. He grinned as I left and shut the door behind me.
Leo shook his head as the rain fell harder. “Fucking rain,” he said.
“Hedeon’s not in a good spot,” I said.
“No, he’s not.”
“You were right to warn me.”
“And yet you still almost lost your cool in there.”
I looked away. “Sorry. I just… I didn’t mean to.”
“He pushes people sometimes. He’s good at it. And when he’s in a bad mood, it never ends well.”
“I still should’ve had it together.”
“You’re fine.” He put his arm around me. “Come on. We’re getting drenched and we have a rescue operation to plan.”
I nodded and leaned against him as we hurried down the sidewalk, past boarded-up windows and trash in the gutter, toward his car parked at the end of the block.21LeonidI parked at the end of a quiet, nearly suburban northern Philadelphia street. We were outside the city proper, though still technically within its borders. The streets were wider and there was more grass and more trees towering beside the houses. Robin shifted in her seat and craned her neck to see as far down the block as she could. Streetlights gave off a vivid white glow.
“Looks quiet,” she said. “Do you think the others are in position?”
“Better be.”
“Who’s coming?”
“Oleg and Reid, as far as I know, though Hedeon wasn’t very specific.”
She nodded and pulled her knees up to her chest. “I’m worried about them, Leo.”
“I know.” I leaned across the seat and kissed her neck. She leaned into me and gave me a smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “We’ll get them out. I promise.”
