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“Dad, I spoke with Ryan and Tommy about the plan to get the diamonds back from the Ivanov family. Is this really what you want? Is this a good idea, given you want to fight Andropov? Ivanov is one of Andropov’s enemies. We should keep them on our side if we want to win”
He makes a face, like he’s in pain. “I didn’t want you to get mixed up in this part of things, but now that you know, Ethan could really use your help. You know how to run an operation, being in Army Special Operation. This is the last thing before we start go after Andropov. We need those diamonds, Harrison. They’ll help us pay off whoever we need to pay off. I don’t have the cash flow at this point to do that. We must pay off local bosses, local politicians, local police…”
“What does this involve?”
“The diamonds are being kept at a Russian-backed bank in Manhattan. The boys are going to go in, get them from the safety deposit box, and get out. That’s it.”
“You have the key?”
My father shakes his head. “No, but we know the number and Tommy has experience with C4. He’ll blow the box and get them that way.”
“C4?” I frown, a shock going through me. “Jesus… You’re going to rob the bank in broad daylight? You’re going to blow up the safety deposit boxes? Why not just force the bank manager to open the box? They have a master key…”
He frowns like he hasn’t even thought of it. “You might be right. It’ll be at the start of the day, just at opening time. There’ll hardly be anyone in the bank. In and out.”
I don’t like the idea. Not one bit.
“I don’t suppose I can talk you and Ethan out of this?”
My father shakes his head. “We need those diamonds. They’re ours. The Ivanov clan should never have taken them.”
My brother nods in agreement. “It’s only right that we get them back, Harrison. Besides, it was one of Ivanov’s sons who was responsible for Liam’s overdose. He’s friends with Andropov’s son Maxim.”
I turn to my brother, my jaw dropping.
“What?”
He nods. “I have intel from an FBI snitch who wants special treatment in prison that they believe one of Ivanov’s sons provided him with the drugs. Alexi. The bastard is like ten years older than Liam, yet he still let Liam drink and do drugs at his club.”
I sit and digest that piece of knowledge. My brother died because of Ivanov’s son Alexi? I thought it was Andropov…
“We need this, Harrison,” my father struggles to say. “After we take care of Andropov, Ethan can fund his exit from the group with those diamonds. Go legit. It’s what you’ve always wanted,” He grips my arm. “Help him in this, Harrison. Please…”
What can I say?
I’m starting to feel like I want to go along on this heist, get those diamonds back, and maybe, get some revenge for my brother’s death.
It’s still early enough that I decide to call an old friend and talk to him.
Maybe he can talk some sense into me.
We agree to meet at a bar near where he lives, and so I slip down to the garage and take my vehicle, driving through the streets of Manhattan to meet my old friend and hope to hell he can talk me out of this.
CHAPTER 10
Natalia
The Present…
It wasn’t easy,but I convince my fellow students to go to The Watering Hole for drinks after one of our practical exams. We usually go to a bar near the hospital, but we each have the chance to pick the venue. It’s my turn so I choose The Watering Hole. Hopefully, I’ll get to see one of Alexi’s crew and meet him. Several weeks have passed since Sherri’s death and nothing has been done to prosecute those who are guilty of giving her drugs, and nothing will be done. Harrison’s family has the prosecutors and cops in their pockets.
I lean against the building and listen to my fellow medical student Hannah. She needed a smoke break, so we left the others and went out the back entrance to the smoking area.
The evening has grown almost too dull for words and so I join Hannah in the back alley outside while she has a vape. I don’t smoke, but I’m happy to have an excuse to leave the bar. One of my fellow med students, Pete Ellison, has been hitting on meall night, and I find it difficult to be polite when he thrusts his face close to mine and makes that face, his eyebrows wagging suggestively. It’s only been a week since Sherri died and I’m not in the mood to take any bullshit from anyone.
I want to tell him to get lost, but I can’t. He works on my unit and is friends with the head of the department of medicine. Instead, I smile and act dumb, as if I don’t know he’s trying hard to impress me and invite me back to his place after the evening’s over.
“Well, I’m done,” Hannah says and puts her vape pen away. “Let’s go back inside.”
