Page 29 of Alik
But that piece of information only makes me look like a pussy. The way Roman’s face neutralizes from irritation makes me think he knows the situation anyway.
“She has no idea what you were here to do,” he realizes aloud.
“I’m her neighbor. She has this sense of familiarity that’s breeding false trust. I used it to our advantage.”
“Yeah.” He leans back and nods a few times too many to be sincere. “I bet you did.”
With a frustrated exhale, I gesture to the road with the swat of my hand. “Look, it doesn’t really make a difference what you think anyway, so why don’t you get me back to the Pakhan so I can give him the situation.”
“No.”
“Why?” I grind out, this car suddenly feeling too small.
“Becauseyou are not a fucking lieutenant.” He thrusts his hands at me to punctuate each of his words. “Get that through your fucking head.”
I scoff and pull my gun from my waistband, my lip curling as I stare him down. I take the gun by the barrel and hold it out for him. “If I’m so disposable, then dispose of me.”
He doesn’t reach for the gun or even take his eyes off me. “Twice in one night? Don’t you feel that’s a bit much?”
“I don’t know. Don’t you feel the constant threats to my life are a bit much? Because I’m growing tired of them.”
“I’m not interested in disposing of you, you idiot.” He closes his eyes and puts his hand to his temple like my life causes him such a headache.
Why did Roman have to be the one to come? I would’ve preferred Sergey. Or Maksim. Or any other person.
“Here’s what we’re going to say.” He lowers his hand and looks at me. “You and I jumped her while we were both wearing masks. She had the video footage on a camera in her purse, and while you were undressing her,like Nikita told you to do, I found it. She told us what she had planned.Itold her if she went through with it then we’d spare her. You did not say shit. You did your job like the good errand boy you are and didn’t make any executive decisions.”
“Then what?” I ask, my voice cold and accusing.
He blinks. “What do you mean?”
“What are you going to say when he still wants someone to take care of the girl? Are we truly sparing her life?”
His eyes narrow. “We both know the second the Irish catch wind of this, she’s dead.”
“Right, that’s the idea, but Nikita?—”
“Let me worry about Nikita.” He eyes me up and down while his brow furrows. “What does it matter to you anyway?”
I face forward and try to answer the question for myself. I do know the answer, but I don’t understand it.
It matters because if the Bratva gets their hands on her, her death will be brutal. Everything I pictured in my mind tonight will become her reality, and it will have been better if I’d just killed her mercifully in that alley. If the Irish do it, it will be a quick bullet to the head that she won’t even feel and may not even see coming. They have their style. We have ours.
“Why does it matter toyou?” I ask, partially to steer the conversation another direction and partially because I’m confused as to why he’s doing this. “Why are you helping me?”
I watch him carefully, expecting him to spout off some shit about brotherhood and sticking together. If it were someone else, I might buy it, but not with Roman. There’s always another motive.
His face turns to stone. I guess he isn’t going to fake a heart-to-heart, after all. “As much as I think Nikita would slit your throat for walking down the wrong street, I’m not stupid. I know you’re his little spy, and he’s had you following me.”
It’s all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes at the disdain in his voice. I am the errand boy who is to do whatever he’s told unless, of course, it doesn’t benefit Roman.ThenI should go rogue.
“Good, you’re not denying it.” He nods once, but I don’t miss the way a knuckle pops as he flexes his fingers. “I want to know how you’re tracking me. Maksim said you had a device on his car, so I’m assuming there’s one on mine as well… Is that all?”
I don’t answer. It isn’t that I’m not willing to tell him, but everything with Roman feels like a test. I like to think things through.
“Seriously?” His eyes widen. “After everything I’m willing to do for you, you’re not willing to tell me how you fuckingtrackme?”
“It depends on why you want that information and what you’re planning to do with it.”