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“The bell hasn’t rung yet, so you’re not late in my opinion. And even if you were, I’m sure you had a reason.” Helena winks comfortingly in the student’s direction.
I take this shift in focus as my cue to leave. I step backward silently, unsure if she looked in my direction or even noticed that I left. A part of me hopes that she does. I will return now that I know where to find her. I get my hands on a copy of Henry’s schedule to learn what name she’s going by here. I’m sure it will be onlytooeasy to find out everything about the life she’s trying to lead.
Now that I've seen her in person and witnessedhow stunning she is, I believe I should alter my plans slightly. There's no harm in causing her some...discomfort. Her painwill be my pleasure.
Before I destroy her, I’m going to make her mine.
* * *
Finding a decent meeting place in this dump of a town was next to impossible. At least the owner of the motel did not ask any questions when I rented out the entirety of the west wing for my purposes. I have total privacy there for the remainder of the month. It’s not the lodgings that I would prefer to have my men in, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
When I arrive, there is a line of black SUVs and Range Rovers parked just out back of the motel, all of which are cleverly positioned so they’re not in direct line of sight from the road. This place is just outside of town, so no further questions about what happens here will be asked.
I recognize my men’s cars from those belonging to Nikolai’s. They are all waiting for me inside the largest room. Nikolai is thumbing through an old, weathered copy of the St. James Bible that he pulled from one of the nightstands when I enter the room.
“You know, I half expected there to be condoms stuck in between the pages. Since this place is available to rent by the hour,” Nikolai says in his dark voice. He snaps the old thing together with an audibleclapthat sends dust motes flying up into the air. He uses the closed book and motions me further into the room.
“She couldn’t have picked a more fitting shithole to crawl into, I will give her that, at least.” Nikolai continues without looking directly at me. He seems to judge the rest of the room we’re in just as harshly as I do. At least after this job, I won’t have to work for anyone else ever again. Having Nikolai's contacts in Las Vegas, where his turf is, will be critical for alliances. When we part ways, and I return home to New York, I will be free of him.
“I trust that the intel that I’ve provided you with thus far has been adequate?” Nikolai asks in a commanding fashion. This is a test. He knows that it was more than enough. He’s wanting a status update.
“More than adequate,” I answer plainly. I don’t want to give too much away before it is time.
Behind Nikolai, his capo cracks his neck from one side to the other. To most people, it’s a move that would strike fear in their hearts, but I’m used to attempts at intimidation. Nikolai doesn’t take me seriously, not yet. But, he will.
When I don't offer any further information, Nikolai snaps his fingers and his capo hands him a bundle of paperwork: a manilla envelope tied shut with twine and a couple of folders stuffed with information. It's probably more than I'll ever need, but he extends the bundle to me, and I accept it with a nod.
“Here is the rest of the information on Helena. I presume I don’t have to tell you that there will be eyes on you at every given moment. Nor, I hope, do I need to explain to you that I will expect regular updates in regards to your progress.” Nikolai’s eyes seem to darken with the underlying threat of what will happen to me should I not comply with his demands.
My pride wants me to smirk and utter something sarcastic. My ego wants to remind him that we arenoton uneven footing, no matter how much my father might have tarnished my family name.
Nikolai Volkovich is the leader of a Russian Bratva with territories in Las Vegas and parts of Washington. My father has been the head of the New York Mafia his whole life—the same as his father before him. The Colombo family name can be traced back for generations. I only need his assistance to secure our footholds in New York against competitors—against those who want to overthrow us.
Nikolai has an incredible number of men under his command. We could never compete with him, no matter how many men I managed to draw from the family and from Italy. Our territories do not border one another, and if it were not for the fact that Helena is firmly hiding herself away in my territory, I do not know if he would have ever come to me for help. He might have the upper hand, but weneedone another. The fact that he feels that he can talk down to me in this way is deeply insulting.
However, he knows as well as I do that I need this alliance to work. I have no choice but to nod in gratitude.
Nikolai should leave things here… but he can’t resist a final jab. “I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you, Colombo. Not after that sneaky business that your father pulled. This is your only chance. If you cross me or fuck this up in any way, I will not be forgiving.”
“I have everything in hand,” I say in equal firmness. “I have my men looking into Helena and finishing the investigation so that nothing is missed. It won’t be long before she is out of the picture entirely.”
Nikolai seems to relax a bit after that. There’s a subtle shift of his shoulders as he nods once. The gesture is so small that I almost don’t recognize it as agreeing with my comment. “See that you do. I think that this will be a prolific alliance for both of us should you pull this off.”
If nothing else, Nikolai trustsI want to reclaim my family's power. He believes in my motivations and my determination to succeed. That’s all that matters anyway.
“I’ll be in touch.’ Nikolai says as he leaves the room, leaving the dirty door open as his capo follows him out. I don’t move again until he and his men are all loaded back up into their cars. Their tires kick up clouds of dust in their wake.
Michael, my most trusted man and consigliere, steps into the open doorway from where he was waiting just outside. A tall but thin man with broad features—he looks deceptively harmless. Rather, hemightlook harmless, were it not for his thick, dark eyebrows and the jagged scar intersecting the tattoos moving up the side of his neck.
He looks at me anticipating an update. Neither of us was expecting to have Nikolai check in so suddenly, but I’m not bothered.
“Everything is going according to plan,” I inform him easily as I watch the dust settle on the road once more. “Better even.”
“How so?” He asks with an impressed inflection.
“I’ve already found her.”
* * *
