You Don't Know Me (The Russian Don 3)

I knew instantly it was them because one of them has his glass down and his elbow is resting on the edge of the window. A blind man couldn’t miss those tattoos. As our cars pass I look in and see them. You can tell they are thugs from a mile away – they have hard, mean faces and they look pissed as hell.

Well done, Jack. You just fucking missed them by seconds.

Thirty-eight

Noah Abramovich

Present Time

Where The Wild Roses Grow

Frozen, she stares at me, her eyes bigger than I’ve ever seen them. So vulnerable. So childlike. And one step away from a murderer. If I’d waited one more second she would have pulled the trigger and the loveliest, purest human being I know would have been tainted with blood forever. In a daze she wipes her nose with the back of her hand.

‘I would have done it,’ she says in a strange whisper.

‘That sin is not for you,’ I say.

Her lips quiver. ‘But it shouldn’t be on you.’

I smile. ‘If I have to go to hell for anything let it be this.’

Fresh tears fill her eyes and start running down white cheeks. ‘If you’re going to hell then that’s where I’m going too,’ she sobs.

‘You won’t like it. It’s hot down there and the Devil lied when he said they have ice cream.’

Her eyes roam my body restlessly. She is still in shock. ‘I thought you were dead.’

‘I thought I’d stay around for a bit longer. See what setting up house with you will be like. Maybe move to Nice. Maybe have a couple of kids.’

She tries to smile, but the emotions pouring through her are too much and it comes out like a grimace. She sways as if she is about to faint, and I lunge to catch her. The movement makes my ribs fucking sing. Fuck. I feel sweat break out on my forehead as I hold her trembling body. Her hands grasp my jacket fearfully, and her eyes look at me anxiously.

‘Oh! My God! You’re hurt,’ she cries, pulling herself away. The panic in her voice echoes around the room.

‘It’s nothing,’ I brush off.

She reaches for the zip of my jacket and pulls it open. Her hands fly to her mouth. ‘Oh, God, you’re bleeding through the bandages,’ she exclaims, staring at the blood soaked mess of my bandages. I must have opened the wound in my rush to get here.

‘What the hell, Noah?’

‘Hey, it’s not as bad as it looks. I just need some fresh bandaging and I’ll be fine,’ I say in a calm voice.

As I watch, the delicate hot-house flower becomes that single scarlet rose growing wild amongst rock, daring men to brave her thorns and take her. I watch the transformation with awe. This woman never stops surprising me.

‘No, you’re not fine, Noah, you’re losing blood. No wonder you’re so pale. We need to get you to a hospital.’

‘I’m not going to a hospital. I have a doctor waiting to attend to me.’

‘How did you get here?’

‘I drove.’

She nods distractedly. Her mind figuring something out. She tilts her head back. ‘How did you find me?’

‘You gave the address to your grandmother. I called her.’

She nods again, frowning. ‘You’re not staying at your house, are you?’

‘No.’

‘Are you somewhere safe?’

‘Very. I’m staying with some Irish gypsies.’

‘Irish gypsies?’

‘It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it when we have the time.’

‘Fair enough. Will you be able to drive yourself back?’

‘Tasha. Stop right there. I’m not going anywhere without you. I’m staying right here. I’m calling some people. First thing we have to do is get rid of him, then get you back to the house with a credible story.’

She shakes her head. ‘No need. I’ve already made all the arrangements and I’ve got my story ready.’

‘You have?’ I stare at her with surprise.

‘You don’t rob a bank without a getaway plan,’ she says.

I smile, impressed and proud of her. ‘No you don’t. Tell me the plan.’

‘All right. First of all, I went to see Dimitri Semenov.’

I whistle with admiration. Dimitri Semenov. Her father’s most bitter enemy. He must have been cumming in his pants. When Tasha decides to do something she doesn’t do it in halves.

‘He gave me two of his men. They helped me bring Pa … him here and they are going to dispose of the car and body. All I have to do now is call them. I was going to get them to drop me off at a minicab company in town, but now that you are here you can do it.’

I frown. ‘Okay, so they get rid of the body and the car. What happens then?’

‘I wear a black wig. You drop me off at the first minicab company we come across. I then tell the taxi driver to drop me off two blocks away from my house. I jog to my house and call my grandma. She throws the rope ladder over the fence. I climb it and get into the house and pretend I’ve been in bed all night. Tomorrow morning, when the household discovers my father is missing, we’ll call the police.