Timur and Stepan are distracted right now, so this would be the perfect time to show her around without them going postal on me. It's not easy to be let down by someone you set expectations for. And standing around waiting to be disappointed only makes it worse. So I take my phone out and try again, and this time, she finally picks up.
"Where are you?" I ask, turning away from the crowd so nobody reads my face.
"I'm still at home." Her breathing is off, like she's afraid or something. "My ride fell through, Kaz. Can you come get me?"
"Right now? The card starts in thirty minutes." I glance around knowing if I leave right now and Timur finds out, it's my neck on the line.
"I know. I'm sorry. I wouldn't ask if I had another option."
I pinch the bridge of my nose and look up at the booth where Timur is watching the monitors. He's not going to like it when he finds out, but I want her here with me for this. I don't want to shirk responsibility to go get her, but my real job doesn't start for a few more minutes. I have the rest of the security team in place. They can afford to miss me for a second.
"Yeah, okay. Be ready, okay? I won't have time to mess around."
I hang up the phone and weave through the growing throng of people until I'm outside. The line wraps around the building with folks excited to get in and see the fights. Even without the American fighting, we're gonna have record numbers in attendance, and if I miss this, Roman will have my head.
So I get in my car and push it, risking being pulled over and getting a speeding fine, but I have to get there and get her and then get back before things get started. When I turn onto the highway my phone rings. I assume it's Zora calling to ask where I'm at, so I use handsfree to answer without thinking.
"Yeah, Z, go…"
"Kazimir?" I hear, and it's a distinctly male voice, one I recognize.
My throat constricts, and I take a calming breath before speaking again. "Yeah, Federov, what is it?"
The man sounds annoyed again, which isn't the best indicator of how tonight may go, but it's a red flag waving around to get my attention.
"I heard there were threats of a police presence tonight… What's going on? Do you have things set up right? I can't afford another fuck up." Federov has given us his trust over and over again and after the betting flub, if I screw this up again, he'll singlehandedly take out half of our trusted bettors.
"Where the hell did you hear that?" My mind starts spinning while I'm zipping across town, dodging in and out of traffic. Zora had better be ready for me.
"From reputable sources." He huffs. "If this is a setup somehow, believe me?—"
"Jesus Christ, Federov, it's not a setup. These fights have been planned for months. Relax a little. Trust me. The night will go as planned."
I turn onto Zora's street and park at the curb. Her building's dark on the ground floor. The streetlight on her block is burned out and the only light comes from the upper windows. I kill the engine and get out, taking the steps two at a time. I don't really mind being helpful. I just wish she'd have called me earlier. As it is, we'll barely make it back in time.
When I get to her door, I knock a few times and she yanks the door open immediately, looking scared. "Thank God you're here," she says. "Close the door. Lock it."
I close the door and turn around, wondering what's going on. Her face is white as a sheet, arms hugged over her chest. She looks frantic and on edge.
"What happened?" I ask, crossing to her.
"There were men outside my building." She backs away from my touch and rubs her biceps like they're cold. "They were wearing masks and I swear one had a weapon. Kaz, I don't want to go out. I feel scared. Please stay here with me."
I sigh, glancing at the window where the shades are drawn. I can imagine how scary it must've been for her to see masked intruders. I just can't do anything about that right now. The safest place for her will be with me at the fights.
"Zora, I can't stay. The card starts in fifteen minutes."
"Forget the card." She pulls me toward the couch, tugging my arm desperately. She's terrified. Her palms are clammy. "Please, Kaz. Stay with me. What if they're out there now?"
"I didn't see anyone. Come on, baby. I really have to go." I don't have time for this. As much as I love her, she's being difficult for no reason. Why stay here if she fears someone is out there? Going with me is much smarter.
"Please, forget the card…" She looks like she's on the verge of tears, pleading with me to protect her, so I pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her.
"I can't forget the card. Every bettor we have left is in that building right now waiting for me to run the floor." I kiss the top of her head. "You can trust me, Z. You'll be safe with me."
"Send Timur." She pulls harder, both hands on my arm, trying to physically anchor me to her living room. "You don't have to be there."
"I do have to be there. Roman is counting on me to do what only I can do." I take her hands off my arm and hold them betweenmine. They're trembling, and a few tears have slipped down her cheeks. "Zora, these fights are my redemption. After everything that's happened, if they fail…" I shake my head. "If I'm not on that floor when it starts, everything I've been working to rebuild falls apart."
