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“I don’t call Mommy anymore,” he says. “I can do it on my own.”
“That’s a good boy.”
“That’s right. I am. I’m gonna be big as you and protect Mommy when I grow up.”
“And what am I going to do then?”
“It’s okay. You can protect her too.”
Too.As in he’s being benevolent by allowing me into her life. The little rascal is taking after Yan, I swear.
My phone vibrates and I think it’s Kolya, but the very familiar number gives me pause. I do a long sweep of the empty bathroom, then march to the entrance and lock it.
“Where are you, Papa?”
“Right here.” I go back in front of Jeremy’s stall, but keep enough distance so that he doesn’t focus on my phone call.
“Volkov.”
There’s a pause on the other end, the sound of a long stream of water before his signature smooth voice comes through, “Morozov.”
“Did you get the information?”
“No.”
“Then why are you wasting my time?”
I hear a gurgling before Kirill’s strained tone filters through, “This is also important. Hold on…” He switches to English, speaking to someone else. “Hi, I think we understand each other better now. So why don’t you tell me the name?”
Intelligible noises fill his end of the phone before there’s a distinctive plop into water. “Wrong answer, motherfucker.” He goes back to Russian. “So… Where was I?”
“Are you torturing someone, Morozov?”
“Waterboarding, to be more specific. This cunt has something of mine. But that’s not what’s important, Vladimir is.”
“Vladimir?”
“My intel tells me he’s getting close to solving Richard’s murder.”
I tap my finger against my thigh and smile at Jeremy when he grins.
I’ve been keeping Vladimir in the background, considering everything that’s happened. But if he’s been getting close, then I need to deal with this accordingly.
Having Sergei suspect me is the worst thing that could occur at a time like this, especially since I know he’ll demand retribution.
“How about you tell thePakhanwhat happened?” Kirill asks ever so casually as more gurgles come from his end. “He’s always been benevolent with you.”
“Is this the only reason you called?”
“The only reason? What’s more important than…I don’t know, your fucking life?”
I’m starting to learn there’s a lot. And in order to protect that, I need to remain safe and sound.
“Get me the information we agreed on.” And with that, I hang up.
Ever since I heard the information Lia gave me about Luca, the fact that he was her childhood neighbor and friend, my men and I have been extensively checking him out. This doesn’t only confirm Kirill’s suspicions, but it also raises mine.
It was never a coincidence. The fact that he’s on her trail and has stayed there for all these years. The fact that he takes risks to meet her. He knows who she is and her relation to Lazlo Luciano.
