Page 87 of Mistaken
“Brother,” Yuri spoke softly so the men could not hear us. “Are you ready for this?”
“What do you mean-” I snarled, but he cut me off.
“You need to be Pakhan right now, to save Ella and finish these bastards off. We’re facing a considerable amount of firepower, much, most likely stolen from us.” Yuri’s expression was compassionate, but his warning was clear.
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out. “I’m ready. Where are we dropping her?”
“No!” She leans over him to grab my sleeve, something he regards with alarm. “I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving her this time!” Tania’s crying and I sigh, removing her hand.
“We do not have time to protect you,” I said sharply, “do you understand?”
“Yuri says this car is armor-plated,” she said stubbornly. “I’ll stay here. I won’t move.”
“Tania,” Yuri takes her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I cannot see you hurt or taken by these scum.”
“It’s my choice,” she argues. “Don’t take that away.”
He sighs, rubbing his forehead. “Do you know how to shoot?”
She brightens, “I do! My dad used to take me to the gun range.”
My idiot brother pulls out his gun and shows her how to use it.
I put in my earpiece and hear my brigadiers sound off, then Giovanni chimes in with a count for the Toscano soldiers, and Alexi with his Turgenev group. Closing my eyes in relief, I dare to hope we can do this, save Ella and wipe out the pestilence of Katya Sokolov and whoever she has dragged into her sewer.
“I think Patrick should be here as yourObshchak,”Yuri says quietly, “I have worked with him for ten years.”
My jaw tightens, “We know we have a traitor on the inside of the organization. We know the Irish are somehow involved. We cannot risk it.”
He shakes his head, but he knows better than to argue with me.
I listen to everyone count off their positions one last time and look at the heat signatures from the drone. “The largest group is centralized in the northeast corner of the building,” I said, “there’s five guards at least at each entrance, and another four on the roof. We can see there’s a lower level. Keep your gas masks close. If they deploy the gas, you’ll have only a few seconds’ notice.” I pause, gritting my teeth against another stab of fear. “My wife is in there. Most likely with Katya, who will attempt to use her as a shield. My wife’s survival is paramount.”
Pulling on my bulletproof vest, I take Yuri’s arm. “Be safe.”
He grinned back impudently. “You have told me the same thing since I was ten years old. I am still alive, brother.”
I give the signal, and I hear the rapid gunfirebegin.
Ella…
I thought the pain I felt in the hospital was the worst pain any human could endure. I was wrong. Three of the fingers on my left hand won’t move, crooked and limp on the table. I screamed as Katya watched Vasily break each one, smiling at me sweetly the whole time. My left side feels like there’s nails being pounded into my chest when I try to breathe. Blood’s pooling on the horrible stainless-steel table. I’m not sure where it’s from.
It’s hitting me all at once and when I try to catch my breath, she does something else and I’m screaming again.
But there’s worse pain. Who knew? It’s because of my brother.
My eyes are screwed up tight, trying to pretend I’m not in this place and so ashamed that I’m crying. I’m sure Maksim would be laughing in their faces right now.
“Every time I see you, you’re all broken up and on your back.” It’s my brother Charles. He’s dressed in an expensive blue suit and looking down at me with disgust.
Kayta is glowing with happiness, hovering behind him with an expressionless Vasily.
“Charles?” I’m sobbing and I feel so stupid but I can’t seem to stop. For one second - just one - when he walked through the door, I thought he was here to save me.
“The O’Connell clan has a stake here,” he’s talking to Katya. Their voices fade in and out like a bad phone connection.
I don’t want to breathe because it makes my ribs move and scrape against each other.
