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Chapter 2 – Viktor
Blood perfumed theair, its tang sharp.
“Just tell us where they’re stashing the goods and all this can end,” I coaxed, sliding my knife along the poor bastard’s arm. The Metak Gang were nothing but bottom feeders, as this prime specimen of Serbian heritage could visually attest. Balding and overweight, we’d picked this porkchop up from his dump of an apartment.
Despite his living situation, the twin-inked bullets on his throat marked him as a ‘higher-up’ in the ranks, and his lack of brawn meant Goran Ilic had brains.
“Come on, comrade. Just tell me where the fuck the stolen goods are. You can only save yourself,” I promised. I held up the knife, so Goran could watch the drops of blood fall.
“They didn’t steal from you!” the man howled.
“See, that’s not the truth, is it?” I grit my teeth, aware the other soldiers in our syndicate would have lost their temper already. This was important to the Pakhan. Our reputation was at stake if we let a theft like this go unresolved and unpunished. It was why I was brought in to do the dirty work. It wasn’t a job I was grateful to receive. I hated this task, even though I was one of the best at extracting information.
A phone went off on the plastic-covered folding table. I flicked a glance at Toli, one of our Bratva soldiers, who went to pick it up.
“It’s your cell, Ace. Someone labeled ‘Prep Chick,’” he called out after reading the incoming caller on the screen.
A flicker of confusion went through my mind, soon followed by a slow smile. Briana Pelto was callingme? My uncle and cousin had just picked my sister up from MIT. I’d wanted to be there myself, but this hellish situation needed handling immediately, and my lot had been drawn.
One of my biggest regrets about not going to see Sophia had been missing the chance to see her flat mate, the little legal vixen. I’d wanted to tease her until she blushed red. While I used a burner phone to pretend to be a nonexistent aunt and text Bri from time to time, I’d never made contact with her on my own phone. But I’d had her number for years. Just in case.
I tapped the blade of my knife on the Serb’s thigh. “It’s your lucky day. You get to have an unscheduled break. I suggest using this time to think through how you want the rest of our interview to proceed.”
I rose, grabbing the towel Boris held out, then took the phone from Toli. I slid my stained finger over the green button before the call could go to voicemail. “To what do I owe this pleasure, mia amore?” I grinned as my cheesy endearment made her huff.
“Hi—wait! How did you know it was me?” Briana demanded.
“This brilliant technology calledcaller ID. Haven’t you heard of it?” The smirk curling my lips was automatic. Saints, just hearing her voice had a lightening effect on my soul.
“Sophia,” Briana surmised. No other explanation was needed. We all knew my sister’s talents were damn near limitless. “Alright, well, anyhow. Viktor, do you have a minute?”
“For you, babe, sure do.”
I could feel Briana fuming on the other end of the line as I looked at Toli, then tapped the bottle of isopropyl alcohol while jerking my chin to the Serb I’d just cut into smithereens. When he gave me a nod in return, I hurried from the room, shutting the thick metal door of the dilapidated meat locker just in time to avoid Briana catching Goran’s screams of agony.
The sound of a car coming down the line made me ask, “Where are you?”
“New York.”
I checked the time on the device before pulling it back to my ear. “Why are you outside after ten, Bri?”
“I was having a drink, and now I’m talking to you,” she snapped.
I pursed my lips. “I don’t like to think of you out alone in that city.”
“Oh, saints! The bar is on a nice block, and there are plenty of business professionals going to and from work. I’m not stupid, Tor.”
Tor. The nickname she used for me had never been tolerated from anyone else’s lips. I liked it.
So, she was in the city that never slept. I clenched my jaw tight. Socializing after working so late was a recipe for trouble. Those Wallstreet types prowled late, looking for exhausted prey. Going out after work increased her chances of getting into trouble—not that I could protect her from everything, but I didn’t have to like it.
