“Hold on.” I put my phone on speaker for Leonid’s benefit. If shit is going down, it will save time if I don’t have to repeat the message. “What happened?” I bite out as we clear the gates of Molotov’s property.
“Stefanov executed Pavlov and wiped out his whole senior commanding team.”
What the fuck? “He did what?”
“That’s not all.” Another pause. “He decapitated the body and delivered a headless corpse to Pavlov’s doorstep, apparently to send a message.”
“What message?”
“He claims Pavlov betrayed him,” Igor says. “Sold him out.”
Leonid catches my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Stefanov is cleaning up after himself.”
Exactly my thought.
“What did our man see?” I ask.
“He says Pavlov arrived first and later his underbosses. He didn’t see them leave, but their cars were driven away. That’s when he suspected something was happening. Soon after, the bodies were carried out of the house in broad daylight for all to see. He reported it to your man in charge, who sent a drone. He’s got footage of the body being dumped on Pavlov’s doorstep.”
That’s a strong message to send. Everyone in Russia will think twice before double-crossing Stefanov. He may have set up the massacre to look like a justified bratva execution, but the fact that he silenced Pavlov means he’s getting nervous.
Good.
I have a feeling more action is about to go down.
I can hardly wait.
29
Kate
We arrive back in St. Petersburg with the same strict security as before and make it to Alex’s house with no incidents. Lena and Tima welcome us in the foyer. I convey my mom’s and William’s thanks to Tima for the food and excuse myself to have a shower.
When I come downstairs for dinner, Alex calls me into the library. I enter cautiously. He’s sitting on the sofa with his laptop on the coffee table in front of him.
“Is anything the matter?” I ask.
Steepling his fingers, he gives me an examining look. “Not at all. Why would you think something is wrong?”
“Because you’re being hunted by a killer? Because my mom is sick, and lots of bad things can happen while I’m not there? Because you look serious, and that always means bad news?”
His mouth tightens. “You’re exaggerating.”
I walk to the sofa. “Then what is it?”
“Joanne sent you a message to say Merry Christmas.”
I tense. The fact that Alex is filtering my messages is wrong on so many levels. My voice comes out harsher than I intend. “How kind of you to convey the message. I hope you told her Merry Christmas from me too?”
His blue eyes narrow marginally, but he smooths it over with a smile. “How about telling her yourself?”
I glance at his laptop. “Now?”
“If that’s fine with you. She’s available. They visited Joanne’s parents in Hudson for Christmas Day but returned home this morning. She’s saving her vacation time for warmer days.”
“Wow.” I utter a laugh. “You know more about my friend’s life than I do these days.”
“Katerina,” he says with a frown.
I shrug. “It’s true. So? What did you tell her?”
“I told her we flew out to see your mom, but that we had to return straight away due to my business obligations.”
“I see.” My smile is wry. “Is there any point in me talking to her then? Since you’ve already told her everything you want her to know.”
He gets to his feet. “Why are you so agitated about this? I thought you’d be happy to speak to her.”
“You know what will make me happy? Reading the messages she sends me without having them censored and relayed by you.”
He rounds the sofa. “What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” I backtrack a step. “What’s wrong is you.”
I turn for the door, but he grabs my wrist and hauls me back. “Katyusha. This isn’t like you. I thought we had a good time in Deep Creek. I thought you were happy to see your mother.”
“I was happy to see her. Very. I already told you that.”
“Then what’s gotten into you?”
“Everything,” I say, pulling free of his hold. “This.” I wave around the room. “The fact that you lock me up here and filter my messages. And how about the fact that I don’t have a life any longer? You land your plane in the middle of Idaho and leave me there while you do whatever the hell it was you did there. I don’t know how you justify that behavior to yourself, but it’s not okay, Alex.”
His frown deepens. “I had a business meeting. That’s all.”
“It doesn’t matter why you went there. What matters is that you’re selective with the information you share with me. How do you expect me to trust you if you read all my emails but keep me in the dark about your affairs?”
He watches me quietly, his eyes gleaming with anger, but I’m too upset to care.
After a terse moment, he says, “I apologize for leaving you in the plane. It was for your safety. It won’t happen again.”