Page 73 of Caged
“I have no doubts.” I’m glad to see a fire in her eye.
TWENTY-NINE
MILA
It’s so hot, my shoes stick to the asphalt while walking across the intersection.
Dread knots in my stomach as I get closer to the meeting spot with Kirill.
How is he not covered in sweat standing out in the sun with that dark suit on?
His crisply trimmed beard drops with his curt nod before he turns on his heel and leads me through the coffee shop.
At least we’ve gotten past the need for code words. Those are so nineteen fifties.
Standing with the handle of the door in his hand, he gestures me through to the small room where we met last time.
“Two things.” He starts as he closes the door. “First, has he mentioned the name ‘Zoya’ at any point?”
My nose wrinkles. Another woman? “No. I’ve seen no record of it either.”
His cold eyes focus on my face for a long moment before he walks around the edge of his desk.
“Fine. Second topic. Rumor has it, they’re selling the diamonds.” He sits in his chair and brings his fingers together in a steeple.
“Yes. It’s happening on Monday.” I try to look leisurely and relaxed sitting across from him.
I hope he can’t hear my pulse racing in my ears.
“Excellent. This is our opportunity to not only get them back, but wipe out the Volkov brats once and for all.” A thin smile is the only emotion he shows under his cold stare.
“Killing everyone wasn’t part of the plan. I’m here just to get the gems.” Sweat prickles down my spine when I lean forward. “We get in, get them, get out. Everyone lives, everyone’s happy.”
Elena’s smiling face flashes through my mind.
There’s no way I’ll take her daddy from her.
Pain tightens in my chest. I don’t think I could hurt Nikolai if I wanted to now.
Kirill’s nose wrinkles. “Yes, I figured you’d say that. I saw you with him, hanging on his arm like a love struck teenager.” He eases himself closer. “Is his cock so good, you’ve forgotten your priorities?” He pushes a polaroid across the desk.
Shit.
Daniil holds up the stump on his left arm toward the camera.
His whole fucking hand!
Panic barrels through me, but I fight to maintain my composure. “You’re an animal.”
He tosses the picture toward me, and stands to move around in front of me. “No, I’m a man on a mission. And you’re beginning to get in the way. You need to tell me where the drop is to be made.”
I raise my chin and glare at him. “I don’t think you’re necessary. My deal is with Ivan, not you. You’re just a middle man.”
I jerk up out of my chair just as his hand grips around my throat and barrels me sideways to slam into the wall.
“Tell me, or your precious new boyfriend is going to die anyway.” His breath smells like old garlic and it suffocates me worse than his fingers around my neck.
“Fine,” I squeak out. My palm lands on the corner of his desk, and I grab the first thing I can reach.