“I have a few hackers I can grab.”
“Find a home base. Make sure they feed all footage to Circuit’s crew. It will make everything go faster. And answer to me, not Kazimir. The Lion will be like a walking bomb ready to explode. If he knows about your base, he’ll be there screaming at everyone and slapping people around for no reason.”
Nodding, Naveen studied me. “And what is your plan with Leonid?”
“I’m going to him so that he’ll free Valentina and Natalya.”
Naveen frowned. “Who will be on your side?”
“Get the Mouse back to the Lion and those codes on our side. That’s your only focus.” I turned around.
Naveen grabbed my shoulder. “Hold up. You can’t go to Leonid by yourself. He’ll kill you.”
I faced him. “That’s not your problem. I told you what your goals—”
“Misha.”
“All of this—the codes, kidnappings, Leonid, and the Xecutioners—ends today.”
“But how?”
“I have a long flight.” I pulled out the unicorn chess piece. “I’ll figure something out.”
Naveen’s frown deepened. Then, he did something surprising. He also yanked me into a hug and tightened his hold. But with his embrace, he rocked us from side to side.
Stunned, I asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m embracing you like Maxwell, and I’m hoping that this isn’t the last time I’ll see you.”
I left his hug. “You’ll see me again.”
“Will I?”
“Promise.” I shook my head. “And when we do, we’ll need to have a conversation on how to properly hug another man.”
Naveen gave me a sad smile. “Too strong?”
“You bruised my ribs.” I forced a smile back. “And the rocking?”
“Thought it added a little jazz.”
“It added something.”
“Maxwell will have to teach me his gentle embrace.”
“We’ll talk about jazzy hugs later. For now, get the fucking Devil.” I turned around and walked away.
Naveen called back at me, “Be safe, Misha.”
“You too. I would make the headquarters on the outskirts of Paris. With the Lion pissed this city won’t be safe.”Chapter 26
Ava
I woke up to loud noises outside my door. Yawning, I rose from the bed, put on my robe, and went over to the door and opened it. To my surprise, Yefim stood on the other side.
I yawned again. “Why are you out here?”
“We’re at high-level security.” Yefim gazed at the craziness in the combat room. “Circuit asked me to stay by the door and make sure nothing happens to you.”
“He thinks someone is going to come down here?”
“He’s just on edge.”
The hectic chatter rose. I left my bedroom and scanned the combat room. Yefim walked on my side. My guards followed. Rainbow Hats rushed around. Computers beeped and flashed. Others typed as if their lives depended on it. If they weren’t on their laptops, then they ran around checking illuminated maps.
I checked the map. “That’s Paris. What’s going on? Is Misha okay?”
“A lot is going on, but Misha is fine.”
On another wall, several screens displayed live footage. It was all scenes of chaos. In one neighborhood, men fought each other. On another screen, men shot at each other. A diesel truck crashed into a restaurant on the other screen.
Oh my God.
My nerves frazzled. Panic filled my heart. “Paris is a war zone!”
Yefim kept his voice low. “Don’t worry. Misha is on a plane back to St Petersburg.”
I let out a long breath. “Thank God. Then what is going on?”
“The Lion’s lover has been kidnapped.”
“Kazimir’s girlfriend?”
“Yes.” He bobbed his head. “Circuit and the rest of the team are tasked with getting her back. That’s why there’s so much mania.”
“If they don’t get her, then. . .”
“The Lion will come here after destroying Paris and he’ll blow us up. However, that’s just my assumption.”
I searched for Circuit. After scanning all the frantic people, I found him on the phone, shaking his head. “Misha, I-I understand, but. . .what do I know of these sort of people? I’m a computer guy.”
I inched closer and made sure I was out of the way.
“But. . .no. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to leave now.” Circuit paced. “Our Rainbow Hats are good, but not good enough to be without me. Not for something so important. I have to guide them if we’re going to get the Mouse back. Yes. Yes. But. . .Misha? Misha?”
Circuit slung the phone at the table and wiped the sweat off his face. “He’s crazy. What do I know about gangsters and—”
He paused when he saw me. “You’ve got to go back in the bedroom, Ava. We don’t need any more people kidnapped.”
I raised my hands in the air. “I’m safe. Yefim is protecting me. I just want to know how I can help.”
“How you can help?” Circuit grabbed his now cracked phone and handed it to me. “Maybe you can call up Misha and tell him to calm down. He’s doing too much. We have to focus on one tragedy at a time.”