Not that I’m an expert on FBI procedures. I did hack in and download a training manual, though. Heh.
I skip breakfast and go straight to my computer. Lucy got back to me with her rewrites on Natasha’s admission essay, which are brilliant. I go to work internet time traveling to make it look like everything was submitted to all the schools last fall or winter.
It takes me all morning, and I’m surly with Natasha when she asks if I want breakfast because I don’t want her coming in.
Then I’m surly when I’m done because this is almost the end. We need to get out of this cabin, and then she’s going away for four years. It’s what needs to happen, but I still feel like punching a wall.
The video chat rings on my laptop, and I answer the call from Ravil. He’s in his office, Maxim sitting beside him.
“How is Nikolai?” he asks.
“Good. He’s moving around a little and eating soft foods. I think we could come back to the Kremlin if you think it’s safe.”
“Excellent. Is he awake now?”
“Probably. He’s awake more often lately.”
“Let me see him.”
I stand and unplug my laptop, walking to the bedroom. I sit beside Nikolai on the bed, so Ravil can see both of us.
“Nikolai. You look like shit,” Maxim says.
“I look prettier than you any day,” he shoots back.
“How are you feeling?” Ravil asks.
“Like a rhino trampled me,” Nikolai says. “Ready to get out of this damn bed.”
“Good. As soon as you feel up for the drive, you can come back,” Ravil says. “We’ve had no more visits from Alex.” He directs this news to me. “He never produced a search warrant or returned.”
“Part of me thinks he’s off the rails with the FBI,” Maxim says. “My theory is that he has a personal interest in us or else in Natasha. Something about the way he showed up here alone and then left with his tail tucked doesn’t feel by-the-FBI-book to me.”
“I’d love to know what report he filed after that game. Have you had any luck hacking the FBI?” Maxim asks.
I grumble in frustration. “Not really. I haven’t found case files—that’s what we really need here.”
“You say he wanted to get together with Natasha to explain?”
I nod. “Yes. He texted a few times and mentioned it again when she called him.”
“Have her take him up on it when you get back. He offered. I’d love to know his explanation.”
White noise fills my ears.
Cold prickles flush over my skin.
Oh, hell no. She’s not going out with him again.
“Absolutely not,” I say, even though defying my pakhan is idiotic.
Ravil raises his brows in warning.
Maxim lowers his. “Are you worried about her safety? An FBI agent isn’t going to hurt an innocent woman.” He folds his arms over his chest. “Or are you worried she’s actually part of this?”
I want to punch the laptop in, but Nikolai answers for me. “She’s not part of it.” He says it with total confidence and clarity.
“Then there’s nothing to fear. If nothing else, it will show us if our boy Alex is off the rails because of his feelings for her.”
I grind my molars, but there’s nothing else I can say. I don’t want her near him because I’m a jealous fuck, and that’s not a valid reason to defy Ravil. There is no defiance of your pakhan in the bratva. Not unless you want to face torture at the blades of all your brothers. Not that I’ve seen that happen under Ravil’s rule.
“Arrange it, Dima,” Ravil orders. “As soon as you three are back in town. I don’t like this cloud hanging over us.”
I scowl but force myself to nod, showing my acquiescence.
Nikolai also nods.
“Take care of yourself, Nikolai,” Ravil says. “I’m looking forward to having you both back. Things are quiet around here with Pavel gone and now you two.”
As if to contradict his father, the sound of Benjamin’s happy shriek suddenly comes across the screen.
Ravil’s normally inscrutable mask transforms into a broad smile. “There you are. Are you crawling in to visit your papa?”
The baby’s coos grow closer, and Maxim leans over and reappears with Benjamin. At nine months, the baby is sturdy and plump, with big thunder thighs and a buddha belly although learning to crawl recently seems to be slimming him down.
“Come here, big boy.” Ravil takes the child and holds him in the air, blowing a raspberry on his bare belly.
Benjamin giggles.
“Text me when you leave the cabin,” Ravil instructs. “And get that meeting with Alex arranged today.”
“Da, pakhan,” I murmur, ending the call.
Der'mo. Setting Natasha up on a date with Alex is the last thing I want to do now or ever.
16
Natasha
I come inside from sunbathing on the deck in the late afternoon and head up the stairs.
Dima’s been a dick all day—he’s back to snarls and not speaking to me. I can’t figure out what’s going on, and I’m sick of the whiplash I’m getting from this guy.