Page 6 of Betrothed
“Then I would say I’m the scissors and you as the beast are the rock.”
“Interesting analogy.” I moved to one of the other chairs, sitting down on the edge. As usual, his expression was blank, but even though he was wearing dark shades, I sensed a hint of amusement. I’d been called the beast orZver’in Russian more times than I could count. The nickname suited me much like the devil did with the Pakhan. “Then who is the paper?”
He took a pull on his beer before removing his sunglasses, pocketing them and sitting up. “According to a buddy of mine, that would be the Ghost.”
“The Ghost.”
“Yes. I believe the analogy of the game works.” With his upper lip curling, he allowed the statement to linger.
“What is this, some gameshow I’m being graded on with whether I figure out what the fuck you’re talking about?”
Besides Rafaela and perhaps Stash, I was the only person allowed to talk to him with such disrespect.
His laugh was less flatlined and more like my friend who used to coerce me into doing dumb shit years ago. Long before he was forced into the position of Pakhan. “Yes, it would seem our mystery player goes by the Ghost. Fitting since he disappeared without a trace.”
We knew that with the assailant being unsuccessful, he’d likely return to finish the deed at some point in the future. “Alright. Any other brilliant information other than he wears sheets andgoes around terrifying people by jumping from behind furniture whispering ‘boo’?”
His eyes flashed. No, he wasn’t losing it. The man was the most cunning asshole I’d ever met. “It would seem the Ghost is a world traveler. Supposedly, he’s left Moscow for New York.”
“New York. As in the Big Apple?”
“The very one. And guess where you’re going?”
“Are we moving?”
He reached to a table next to him, grabbing an envelope. “Maybe. First, you’re headed to New York for an extended stay.”
There was an unmistakable tone in his voice, distinctive in a way that I knew well. “Where are you going?” I accepted the envelope, uncertain what I’d find inside. He waited until I opened the flap, finding a first-class plane ticket.
“Who says I’m going anywhere?”
“Because we own two jets. Why would I need to fly on a commercial airline?”
Chuckling, he kept his eyes pinned on me. “Have we become spoiled in our riches?”
My snort was exactly how I felt. “Hardly.” He knew how I lived, keeping my wealth to myself. “You’re playing a game of your own.”
“Games provide a break to the doldrums. However, you’re right. I’m taking Rafaela and my sons to a secure location. I can’t have them placed directly in harm’s way.”
“No offense, Pakhan, but Rafaela comes from a powerful lineage in organized crime. She is completely adept at handling aspects of danger.”
He locked eyes with mine, allowing his veil of determined power to break if only for an instant. “Did you know Golden Angel was nicked by a bullet?”
Exhaling, I shook my head. “No, I didn’t know.”
“Do you know how close Golden’s head was to Artem’s little face? An inch. One. Inch. Sasha tried to protect his mother, putting him directly in harm’s way. I can’t allow my son to grow up with a ghost lingering under his bed.”
I did understand. “How’s Golden?”
“She’s fine. Lucky. And Rafaela won’t allow her dog out of her sight.” He looked away briefly, flexing his fingers. “I’m angry, so enraged I can’t think clearly, Kirill. That’s not the behavior needed from the leader of a powerful army or the CEO of a billion-dollar corporation. I need to focus and I can’t do that here. You need to be my eyes, ears, and my right arm. Can you do that?”
“Of course I can,” I said without hesitation. “Am I to assume you plan on using a decoy to hide your eventual destination?”
“You would assume right. Plus, I don’t want anyone other than Dimitri and a few of our trusted men to know you’re in New York. If the Ghost wants to play a game of hide and seek, he picked the wrong goddamn family.” He fisted his hand, his entire face pinched.
“Understood. I assume your cousin is eager to help us flush out the Ghost.”
“More than eager. Plus, with the hotel reopening, your presence when discovered won’t appear as anything other than business.”
