Page 100 of Emerald Vices

She kisses his cheek. “I’m getting real information out of him. Shit we can use! This is good news.”

Shura looks like he wants to argue, but time isn’t a luxury we can afford. “What do you have for me?” I ask.

“Ah, that’s the less-good news.” Her gaze flickers around the restaurant, clearly wary of being overheard. “Viktor’s put a hit out on Mila.”

“On his own wife? The fucking coward.” Shura turns to me. “Ivan’s gonna blow his lid when he finds out.”

Speak of the devil…

Ivan’s Bentley pulls along the curb just outside the restaurant. There’s no way I can keep this kind of information from the man for long. But that doesn’t mean I can’t try.

“Leave Ivan to me. Katya, anything else?”

She bites her lip. “Mila’s not the only one with a target on her back. Slavik has put a hit out, too. On… your mother.”

My mouth drops. Even I never thought my father would stoop that low. “He wants to kill his mentally unstable wife?”

“He wants to hurt you, Andrey,” Katya explains gently. “He also wants to undermine your power. By taking out the people you protect, he thinks he can expose you as a weak leader.”

“Viktor’s apple certainly didn’t fall far from that fucking tree.” To think the same blood runs in my veins is absolutely repulsive.

Katya checks the time on her watch. “I really gotta get back to work.” She turns to Shura and lowers her voice a little. “I’ll be thinking of you tonight.”

His eyes remain cold as ice, but he kisses her back when she leans in. “Be safe,” he commands. “If he tries anything with you?—”

“I’ve been fighting off handsy men my whole life. I can handle Viktor.”

With a wave, Katya ducks out just as Ivan walks into the restaurant. He takes her place at the table.

“Gentleman,” he says morosely. “I hope you have good news for me.”

I don’t envy the miserable, balding bastard. He bargained on security and power when he insisted Viktor marry his daughter. Instead, he received an abusive drunk who, if he has his way, will get them all killed.

“I’m afraid good news is in short supply these days, Ivan.”

He nods grimly. “How is my daughter?”

“Safe.” We’re all running off lukewarm promises as of late, but it’s the best I can offer for the time being.

Ivan seems to know that. “Then we can move onto business. I assume I was summoned for a reason?”

“You’re one of the best smugglers I know, Ivan.” I mean it. He wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. “But this job requires slightly more finesse than usual.”

“Why is that?”

“Because what I want smuggled is not drugs.” He arches a curious brow, a silent invitation to go on. “We discussed this. Route Seven. One woman. I need it done quickly. Tomorrow at the latest.”

Shura spins to me, mouth hanging open. “We haven’t lost the war yet, Andrey. We have time.”

“Time is the one thing we don’t have, my friend,” I say wearily. “My pride is what killed Maria. Say what you want about me, but I learn from my mistakes.”

42

NATALIA

“You’re not eating.”

Katya eyes the plate of olives I just pushed towards her. “I’m not hungry.”