Page 10 of Beloved
“You and me both.” Especially since there were no other cars in front of our three prepared to take the detour. A fucking classic method of pulling planned targets into rural and secluded locations. “Find an alternate route.”
“Yes, sir.”
While Kirill was in the front car, Grigor was up front in the passenger seat, already scrolling his phone for an alternate route.
“Should I kill the maintenance workers?” Mikhail’s voice was ripped with grit and determination.
“We passed them on the way here, Pakhan,” the driver offered while staring into the rearview mirror.
While I didn’t like being a sitting duck, killing several men on a road crew could prevent our plane from getting off the ground. “Not yet.”
“I found two alternates, one a bit rougher than the other,” Grigor said as he handed me his phone. They were both fucking rural.
“Take the long way and step on it.”
As Grigor immediately contacted Kirill, I continued scanning the perimeter. All three drivers moved onto the shoulder, heading for an exit. The workers didn’t try to stop us.
The front SUV didn’t waste any time, barreling down the two-lane road.
I wasn’t prone to hysteria regarding any aspect of my life. Likely because I faced death with a nonchalant attitude.
Yet what I refused to accept was being cornered like an animal. If anyone was so stupid as to think otherwise, they would soon learn both a valuable and life-altering lesson.
But only while facing their own mortality.
Ten minutes passed with no additional disturbance, but I remained on edge.
“We’re about fifteen minutes out, sir,” the driver said.
“Good.” Finally leaning back, I glanced at my brother. “We will be in the air soon.”
“I know,” Mikhail said, staring straight ahead. “Smert’ ne posleduyet.”
Death shall not follow. I narrowed my eyes, studying his. Fear was unacceptable.
Before I had a chance to rebut him, once again the driver slowed.
“We have company, sir.”
I yanked the weapon into my hand and thankfully, Mikhail did the same. There were two vehicles up ahead and as soon as I turned around to stare out the back windshield, I realized we were about to be boxed in.
Fuck.
“Pull over,” I instructed while grabbing my phone, dialing Kirill.
“I figured you’d call, boss,” he answered.
“Whatever happens, get Mikhail to the plane. Do you understand me?”
“We fight.”
“You will do as I say. Period.”
Kirill hesitated, something I wasn’t used to with him.
“Do it!”
“Yes, sir.”
