“Evangeline might not be up to it.”
“Her brother doesn’t need to know that until he’s here. She doesn’t need to know he’s coming if she’s too ill. The point is to catch him off guard. I’ll talk to him, not you.”
Fyodor looked around, his fist doubled, as if he might hit the wall. “Evangeline’s had enough of all of this, and your woman is just beginning to get to know us. We’re going to have to put both of them under guard and keep them close. When do you think you’ll interrogate the prisoner? Maybe he’ll shed some light on this mess. And don’t forget to ask about our new cop—Anton Lipin. It will be interesting to see what our hit man has to say about him.”
“He probably runs the squad.”
“It’s a distinct possibility. Any man who would come into my home like that, if he is dirty or runs the hit teams for Lazar, has balls of steel.”
Timur was inclined to agree with his brother. “What are your thoughts on Evangeline’s family? Would they betray her? Sell her out for their own gain?”
“Her father and uncle distributed opium, although to this day, they say their father got them into it and they couldn’t get out.”
“They blame everyone but themselves,” Timur said.
“That’s right. They have never taken responsibility for what they did. Evangeline’s father refuses to admit in any way that he should have stood up to his father so his daughter could have an actual home, not live in the swamp, mostly alone.”
“The boys were kids, but they knew she was all alone out in that swamp,” Timur pointed out. “They knew, and they didn’t do anything to help her.”
Fyodor nodded. “That’s right.” He glanced in the direction of the bedroom. “I hate that I can’t just wipe all that out for her.”
“She wouldn’t want you to. She’s strong, Fyodor. Those early days are why she can live with you. With us. With what we do. We’ve got to keep Drake apprised. He’s leader of that fucked-up lair he inherited. Evangeline’s family falls to him.”
Fyodor nodded. “Good call. I should have been on that all along.” He glanced again toward the master bedroom. “What about Ashe? You’re certain she’s yours? Not just your leopard’s, but yours?”
“She’s mine.” He said it firmly. Irrevocably. “She can’t make up her mind whether or not to run. She’s leaning toward trying, but she has it in her head she has a choice.”
“It’s best to let her think that, Timur.”
“I got that impression.” Timur moved through the house on silent feet, making certain everything was in place. Leopards were cunning, stealthy creatures, capable of going into a house, choosing a target and then dragging the body out right under the noses of anyone else in the house. They were never seen. The last thing he wanted was for one of the hit squad to still be in the house, waiting, scent-blocker hiding them.
Timur didn’t trust everything to his leopard. He used his leopard senses, but he also used his brain. He spent a great deal of time working out strategies for making his brother’s home and vehicles safe. He changed routes regularly, and he especially covered the bakery and Fyodor’s office there.
The cops, as enemies, were a new twist. He didn’t mind playing cat and mouse with them, but when he thought one or more might be on Lazar’s payroll, that changed things significantly. A dirty cop had powers a hit man might not have. A cop could get in and out of places using his badge. He could persuade others to help him and could hide behind that badge. If Lipin was dirty, Timur needed to know and he needed to take him out quietly and very fast.
“I’m not going to let her go, Fyodor, even if she wants to try to run. I can’t. My life has been so fucked-up and it will continue to be—” Timur broke off and shook his head. What was there to say? What could he say?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want this for you,” Fyodor said immediately.
Timur shrugged. “It’s my choice. I’m suited to the work. I hate to admit that, but I am. Our father broke something in me and it can’t be fixed. I didn’t think anything could overcome it, but Ashe seems to be able to. When I’m with her, I feel. Not just feel—the intensity is like nothing I ever imagined. I can’t have that and then let it go, not when I thought I’d never have anything or anyone for myself.”
Fyodor sighed. “We put a lot on our women.”
The two moved down the hall toward the master bedroom. The hallway was wide enough for them to walk side by side, even with their broad shoulders.
“Do you think Lipin was looking for signs that his hit squad had been here?”