Page 46 of Wintering with George

He chuckled. “Listen, Isaak couldn’t give a shit about who’s sharing his DNA—it doesn’t matter to him. Those bridges went down in a fire years ago. He has a set number of people he cares about, which includes me, Jared and Jing, Darius, and Rahm Doud, of all people.”

I’d read Rahm Doud’s dossier years ago. He too was a scary man.

“I fuckin’ hate Doud,” Chris muttered.

This was news.

“But see, Isaak likes him, which is why I can’t put a bullet in that fucker.”

I chuckled. “Aren’t you walking into church?”

“Don’t concern yourself with what I’m doing. I’m just telling you why all this took a minute longer than it should’ve.”

“Tell me.”

“Isaak took out four shooters—one from Colombia, two from Cancun, and one from Sacramento, I think. I wasn’t really listening. What I do know is that it was quick, they’re gone, giving back to the earth as we speak, and then, because Issak is a completist, he got permission from whatever oligarch over there to end Vladek.”

“He did all that for us?”

“Well, no. I’m sure Isaak told you. He did that for Darius, who did that for me.”

“God. I owe––”

“Please don’t start with that shit. You’ll make me all queasy before church.”

He was right. I knew better. Chris did not enjoy sentiment from anyone but his family.

“This is where it gets funny,” Chris continued with a snicker. “Apparently, as soon as Vladek heard that Isaak Skriabin was after him, that fucker got on the first plane back to Moscow. The word is that Isaak’s deciding if it matters to him enough to take a plane all the way over there. Either way, your family is safe, and you can all go home before the New Year.”

“You’re sure?”

“Am I sure that Vladek is hiding out at his father’s fortress near the Rublyovka Highway? Yeah, I’m fuckin’ sure. He ain’t coming back. If he leaves Russia, ever, he’s basically goading Isaak and saying to him that he’s not scared of him anymore. I can promise you that even if Isaak dies, he’ll leave an open contract with Rahm or me or whoever to waste Vladek if he sets a foot out of that country.”

“That’s kind of vengeful.”

“Yeah, well, that’s Isaak in a nutshell. Kinda vengeful.”

“Jing seemed to like him.”

“Sure. But don’t we all have weird friends?”

There was nothing to say to that because yes, without question, we did. Mine were an eclectic group to say the least.

“And when were you gonna call me? When was anyone gonna call me?”

“Christmas is a holiday, asshole. None of us work on holidays. I would’ve called you on Tuesday, no worries.”

I sighed heavily.

“Listen, Vladek did make a big mess, though. Whatever his business was, I mean, he was a pig. It was all prostitution and drugs and guns. The Feds or the police in Portland could have made a case, but Isaak doesn’t leave traces. Everyone who had anything to do with the business is dead, and it’s all literally burned to the ground.”

“That was fast.”

“Two days is fast?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I guess Jing was there with him, making sure he stayed on schedule.”