Page 9 of Legal Returns
His face hardens, but the fear in his eyes becomes greater than before. Unfortunately, I know that fear isn’t of me. If he only knew, he’s looking at the greater of two evils.
Telling me what I want will go over better for him than not. Even in death, I will allow him to play this game of pain he wants. I haven’t worked off enough of my anger just yet.
“Is that what you really want to know?” he asks with more confidence than I see in his eyes. “Elizaveta is untouchable. However, I think you are truly interested in her puppet.”
I fly from my chair, grab him by the back of his hair and pull my blade up the side of his face, filleting his cheek enough for the flesh to hang. He screams and thrashes in my hold.
“Do I look like you should fuck with me?” I roar.
“No. No, I’m not trying to fuck with you. I’m just telling you that finding Elizaveta isn’t something you want.”
I toss him forward and he lands on his face. He screams and flips onto his back, hands still bound behind him. I look down on him like the filth he is.
Hatred fills his eyes as he looks back at me. Good, I have more respect for his hatred than his fear. He struggles to sit up.
I squat in front of him and tilt my head to the side as I use the tip of my blade to clean my fingernails. I’m growing bored with this. When I lift my gaze back to him, he turns his ruined face from me.
His shoulders shake as he tries to sob quietly. Then he takes a calming breath and begins to speak again. “Her pet is the one who has wronged you and your friends. I can tell you where to find her.”
“I asked for one I want. Speak what I ask for or die.”
“I can’t give you Elizaveta. She will kill my family. But I can tell you where to find V?—”
“Then you die,” I snarl as I stand to my full height then pull the trigger.
“Why kill him? You didn’t get information,” Alexei asks as he tilts his head and narrows his eyes at me.
“I want Elizaveta. No one else. He talked too much.”
“You will have to deal with them both, Misha. At least, if you would have pressed him, you would know where find one of them to end this once and for all.”
“Net, do you know what you’re talking about?”
“Da, I do. I know better than anyone. Remember who you talk to.
“I chose you. I have made peace with what I will lose when you find Elizaveta. The question, have you?” he growls and turns to start cleaning up.
Elizaveta
Anxiety fillsme as I wait for news. It’s been three days since the setup was supposed to happen. Misha ask after me, I answer.
I need to know what has happened out there. However, it takes a few days for my men to get here to me with word.
Only the truly loyal know where to find me. To betray me would be death to their entire family. That much I still have in me.
I’m old, I’m tired, and I’m alone now. Nothing has gone as planned and here I am, waiting on my last hope to return to my life.
The door opens and I pull my gun and aim. I am always ready in case someone chooses to lose their family instead of remaining loyal. I will not go out with my eyes closed and my head in sand.
I relax when I see it’s Miroslav. I have come to rely on his help and loyalty. He gets me supplies and information.
Miroslav was good friend to my son, Ziv. Looking at him brings pain, but I need him. I don’t have choice. For now, I have to suck up and deal.
“He still lives?” I ask as he moves into the room.
“Da, Misha and his men all survived. They burn down complex and killed your men. They took Aaron, Dom, Levi, Boris, Vladimir, and Bela,” he murmurs the last name so low I almost don’t hear.
“What did you say?”
