Page 57 of The Bratva’s Monster

The memory of her in that silver dress comes back to mind and the moment I first saw her and through the instant flash of jealousy I also felt like… like I’d been lifted up just a little.

“You were right about her, man,” I say. “She is one of a kind. I’ve never encountered anyone like her before and I don’t think I ever will.”

I have to stop. It feels wrong to talk about her like that to Gedeon. He knows about his own wife.

“I kind of feel like I betrayed you,” I say. “You told me to take care of her. The last thing you ever said on earth was to take care of her and I… I did my best. Even though doing it is starting to mean that I might have to fight Alex over her.”

A wave of nausea passes through me, then disappears on the breeze. “I know you’re innocent,” I say. “I’m sorry that I ever doubted you in the first place. I guess this is where I tell you that you should have told me about Stefan, but… Shit, I wouldn’t have understood. None of us would. You were right to keep your friendship with him a secret.”

I look up at the sky, changing colors from blue to purple and orange. My thoughts go back to Liz. Sitting on the couch, the feeling of her eyes on my back as she waits for my rage. Or really, my reaction.

“I think that I’m in love with her, Geddy,” I say softly. “I’m sorry, but… I think that’s what this is. Alex thinks that she’s selling us out to the Irkutsks and he wants me to take her off the board. I can’t do it, though. It’s not because of anything else except for the fact that I can’t imagine tomorrow without her. I can’t see any of my tomorrows without her being there.”

My chest suddenly feels lighter and my shoulders relax. A warm breeze comes up from nowhere and sweeps around me like a hug, embracing me with a soft whooshing of air.

I smile. I’m not a spiritual man, but…

“I’ll keep them safe,” I say to him. “I promise you, Geddy. No harm is going to come to them from anybody as long as I’m around. Not even Alex.” I take a deep breath and squat down to the stone, brushing off some of the dirt. “But if I’m going to have any real chance at keeping them safe, I’ve got to clear your name. It’s on me to convince Alex to back off.”

I kiss my fingers, then touch the stone. “Sleep well, Brother,” I say in Russian. Then I stand and walk back to the car.

Liz needs to know how I feel. She needs to know that I’m fully in her corner from this moment on⁠—

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I approach my car. It’s Kostya.

“Hello?”

“Hey. Drop whatever you’re doing. Word on the street is that one of our convoys is due to get hit tonight. Alex wants you to make sure the brigadiers are secure before they head out.”

Of course duty calls right at this moment. “Okay,” I tell him. “Which convoy?”

“Head over to Alex’s. He doesn’t want any information shared over the phone.”

“Roger that. Tell him I’ll be there in fifteen.”

I hang up and get into the car. This takes precedence, but when it’s done, I’m going to talk to Liz. She has to know that I’m all the way in before Alex turns the screws to me.

And hopefully together, we can clear Gedeon’s name once and for all. If not… I don’t want to think about what happens if not.

I start the car and pull out, looking in my rear view as Gedeon’s gravestone gets smaller and smaller behind me. I will honor your last wish, Gedeon. No harm will come to Liz… or your baby. Not while I live.

23

RIKKI

The convoy that Alex wants protected is a supply of arms that’s supposed to make it across town to the Blue Devils. Normally, we only deal in drugs with them, but they’ve kicked up some static with a Dominican gang near Washington Heights and they need some more firepower.

The word about the hit came to Kostya just as the brigadiers were loading up and getting ready to go, so I had to get here pretty fast to make sure there were enough men for the job.

I walk up to the warehouse as they’re loading up the last few bunch of boxes in one of three trucks. It’s a lot of firepower and a lot of money has already changed hands over it. If it doesn’t get there, we’re going to have a problem with the Devils on top of our issues with the Irkutsks.

I see Igor standing around the last truck, watching as his men load up the truck. Igor’s one of the older Brigadiers that I used to call ‘uncle’ when I was a kid and one of the last men to start showing me and my brother respect when we came of age.

He’s in a black turtleneck and slacks with an obnoxiously gold chain around his neck. He’s balancing a cellphone between his ear and his shoulder, talking in rapid Russian on the phone, but as soon as he spots me, he hangs up without so much as a goodbye to whoever he’s talking to.

“Rikki,” he says. “What are you doing here?”

“Alex sent me,” I say to him. “Word on the street is that Irkutsk is looking to hit this convoy tonight.”