Page 35 of The Enemy Protector
“I will definitely let him know if I talk to him again,” I tease.
And then I choose to forget all about Sergei Sokolov’s ridiculous proposal.
10
Sergei
Of course she turned me down. Stubborn girl. Sofia would rather fight on her own feet than take protection on someone else’s terms.
Half my age and twice the trouble. Twenty years between us and she still looked me in the eye like she was the most dangerous person in the room. She might be right.
Kirill walks into my office without knocking.
“She’s making moves,” he says, dropping a folder on my desk.
I look up from the port manifests I’ve been reviewing. “What kind of moves?”
“The financial kind. She’s been pulling records on Yuri—everything from his travel expenses to wire transfers. She’s also been asking questions. Quietly, but not quietly enough to get past my sources.”
I lean back in my chair, reaching for the folder. Inside are surveillance photos, financial documents, and what appears tobe a detailed timeline of Yuri’s activities since he arrived in New York.
“She compiled this?” I ask.
“Most of it. My guy on the inside says she’s been working twelve-hour days going through everything. She’s trying to get information out of Moscow, but from what I’m hearing, she’s not getting far. Yet. She’s tenacious.”
Smart.
Still naive, though.
“She’s also been reaching out to some of her father’s old contacts,” Kirill continues. “Testing loyalties. Seeing who still respects the Baranov name and who’s already shifting allegiance to Yuri.”
I flip through more pages, my respect for her growing despite myself. She’s going on the offensive in the only way she can—through information and leverage.
“She’s moving faster than I expected,” I admit.
Kirill smirks. “You sound impressed.”
“I knew she’d fight. I didn’t expect her to be this far ahead already. She’s already decided it’s Yuri,” I say.
My phone buzzes. A message from one of my contacts. I read it quickly, then look up at Kirill.
“Mikhail agreed to meet.”
“When?”
“Tonight. Seven o’clock.”
Kirill whistles low. “He’s in bad shape if he’s agreeing to meet you in public.”
“Or he’s desperate.” I close the folder and stand. “Either way, I need to know where he stands. If he’s backing Yuri, I need to know now.”
“You want me there?”
“No. This conversation needs to be just the two of us. But I want you close. “
“I’ll handle it,” Kirill says.
I arrive exactly on time to the Baranov-friendly restaurant.
