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“Kirill didn’t show any suspicious activity,” Kolya says, tapping rapidly on his laptop.
When he received military training, Kolya excelled in both the intellectual and the physical departments. In a way, he’s the most valuable second-in-command in the entire brotherhood. And he’s smart enough to hide his actual worth so that thePakhandoesn’t take him for himself. Nikolai Sokolov came close once, but he died before he could fight me for him.
“Don’t allow the men to slacken around Kirill,” I say, still watching Lia. “He’s most likely waiting for an opportunity to strike.”
“They’re my best men. They wouldn’t disappoint you.”
“We will see.” I pause, tapping on the desk. “How about Vladimir?”
“We can’t tell for sure.” Kolya pauses and stares for a beat at his laptop screen before his brown eyes slide back to me. “He’s keeping his cards close to his chest, but since thePakhanhasn’t said anything, he knows nothing.”
“He knows nothingyet. That could change any second.”
Kolya taps a few more things into his laptop. “Vladimir’s movements have been normal. He’s done nothing unusual except for going to the police station.”
“He could be getting help.”
“From whom?”
“Mikhail. Igor.Rai,” I enunciate her name. “Keep an eye on the three of them and on her husband. He has killer friends and wouldn’t hesitate to use their intel if he thinks it would benefit her.”
“Not Damien and Kirill?”
“Kirill wouldn’t have told me if he were going to choose the other side. His game is different than internal affairs. And Damien doesn’t get involved in anything that won’t allow him to use his fists.”
“On it.”
“And Kolya?”
“Yes?” He lifts his head.
“We need to have a meeting with the Italians.”
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down with a swallow. Nothing gets that reaction from my second-in-command. Not blood, not killing, and not even bombing a place just to get me out. When we were in our twenties, he single-handedly killed five men to save me from an attempted assassination.
He’s the most courageous and loyal man I know, and it’s been tested throughout the twenty-five years we’ve known each other. The fact that he’s even showing a sliver of discomfort right now is for one reason, and one reason only.
He’s worried for my life.
“I’m against it, sir.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion. I only told you that it will happen.”
“With all due respect, if Sergei or any of the others find out, it’ll be the last strike. They will have every reason to question your loyalty.”
“They already do. Might as well get things done.”
“Suspecting you and having proof are entirely different. This will get you killed. You should stay away from the Italians for some time, until we at least know what Vladimir is up to.”
“You know full well that I don’t have time.”
“You could carve some.”
“Time is like a ticking bomb; the more I wait, the faster I’m heading to the end.”
He sighs heavily, running his hand over his light hair.
“What is it, Kolya? If you have something to say, say it.”
