Chapter 16
“We could have stayed home.” I gather my skirt and take Roman’s hand to exit the car.
“I owed you a dinner.”
“We should have gone back home after the restaurant. The club could have been left for some other time.”
“I have some business with Pavel here anyway, we won’t stay long.”
He could have discussed business with Pavel at the house; he’s doing this because of me. I just mentioned the club in passing yesterday, saying I had a great time and would like to go again sometime. I didn’t expect it to be the following day, damn it. He had to spend the whole day in the wheelchair after that stunt he pulled, and I hate that he’s pushing himself on my account. However, there is no discussion with Roman when he gets something into that thick head of his.
We arrive later than we did on our last visit, so the club is already packed. It takes serious maneuvering to get across the first room, even with Ivan leading the way. After we are seated, the waiter brings us drinks. I lean on Roman and turn to tell him something when I notice a tall blond man on the other side of the room. He’s standing with his back to me, chatting with a few other guys. I feel Roman’s hand come around my waist, and he asks me something. I don’t hear the words, my attention is focused on the blond guy. The more I look at him, the shallower my breathing becomes. Someone calls for him. He turns, and it feels like his movements are in slow-motion. Then, his face finally becomes visible. He looks up, our gazes clash, and I stop breathing.
I feel Nina stiffen next to me. It lasts for a few seconds, and then the hand she placed on my thigh starts shaking.
“Malysh? What’s wrong?”
She doesn’t react. It’s like she hasn’t even heard me. She just stares at the crowd. I follow her gaze, trying to see what may have spooked her, but I can’t find anything out of ordinary. People are drinking and talking, and nothing stands out except a man near the exit, looking in our direction. I don’t like other men looking at my wife, but it’s a common occurrence. Nina has an exotic beauty that attracts attention. However, the way this man is staring at her, it’s beyond ordinary interest—a mix of recognition and malice. He’s close to my height, so combined with the horrified way Nina is staring at him, the pieces of the puzzle click into place. Trying hard to control my rage, I take Nina’s chin and turn her head to face me.
“Is that the man who hurt you,milaya?”
She looks into my eyes without blinking, her lips pressed into a hard line.
“It’s him, isn’t it. He’ll pay,malysh. He’ll pay dearly. I’ll make sure of it,” I whisper and turn to take my crutches.
Nina grabs my arm. “No. You promised you wouldn’t kill anyone because of me.”
I never promised such a thing, but her voice is so small and upset, I don’t want to distress her further. I’ll deal with the bastard later.
“Ivan!” I bark and wait for him to approach. “See that motherfucker? There, below the exit sign. Blond, beard, tall. I want him thrown out of my club, and make sure the bouncers know he’s never to be let inside again.”
“Yes,Pakhan,” he says, and I feel Nina’s body relax slightly next to me.
“Good.” I put my arm around her back, turn to Ivan, and add in Russian, “Bag him and wait for my call.”
Ivan looks at me, and I let him see what I left unsaid written on my face. He nods, turns, and heads down to the dance floor.
I hold Nina next to me while Ivan and one of the bouncers manhandle the bastard. When I’m sure they are gone, I lead her out of the club. She’s silent for the whole trip home, and when we arrive, she heads straight to bed.
“Everything is going to be okay,” I whisper in her ear when I join her in bed.
She doesn’t answer, just curls into my side, and buries her face in the crook of my neck. After an hour, I finally feel her relax and her breathing evens out. I wait for half an hour more, until I’m sure she’s sleeping deeply, then get up and leave the room.
“Where is he?” I ask as soon as Ivan takes the call.
“Pavel has him in his trunk.”
“Take him to the basement.” I put the phone on the dining room table and leave the suite.
Maneuvering the narrow stairs down to the basement on crutches is a bitch, but I manage, and cross the short hallway that leads into the back room. Inside, the bastard is tied to a chair above the drain, his mouth gagged.
“Remove his shirt,” I say to Ivan who’s waiting in the corner, and turn toward the table by the wall to inspect the assortment of knives and other tools.
“Pakhan? Do you want me to call Mikhail?”
“Nope.” I take one of Mikhail’s knives and smile. “This one is mine.”
The street in front of me is dark, but I keep running. The sound of my footfalls echoes off the cobblestones lining the ground. Even though I push myself with all my strength, I feel like I’m treading through mud, my legs heavy and slow. A figure of a man comes around the corner, grabs me around my neck, and starts choking me.