37
ANTON
“Where?” I demand.
“One of my leads checked out,” Yulian says. “I planted one of my guys at The Looter. He’s been there posted up at the bar for the last couple of days. A few hours ago, he called to tell me that a woman came in earlier and asked about security.”
“She’s looking to hire mercenaries?” I ask.
“Yes. Apparently, she doesn’t have as many resources as we thought she did.”
“She has money, though.”
“Rodion would have set her up well,” Yulian agrees. “The point is, my man tailed her.”
“Do we have a location?”
“It’s a house in the middle of nowhere. Somewhere in the valley, removed from the suburbs, but close enough that she won’t draw attention to herself.”
“How do we know it’s really her and not just another lead that takes us to a dead end?”
“Because I followed my guy’s direction to the house,” Yulian explains. “I saw her myself.”
“You saw her?” I ask, watching my brother closely.
“With my own two eyes.” Yulian looks remarkably pleased with himself.
“Did she see you?”
“No, I made sure she didn’t.”
I hope Yulian is right about that. With Marina, there’s no way to know for sure.
“How many men does she have with her?”
“Not many,” Yulian says. “I counted ten on the property. There may have been more inside, though.”
I nod. “She’s keeping a low profile. That’s unlike her.”
“She has a plan,” Yulian says. “You’d have checked all the places she was likely to hide out.”
“Hm. Maybe. Something is not adding up about this.”
“What do you mean?” Yulian balks. “It all makes perfect sense. We have to go now.”
I consider that silently for a moment. My thoughts are whirling fast, too fast to vocalize.
Yulian is insistent, though. “Brother, we could lose her if we hesitate. I know you’re worried about leaving Jessa. If it makes you feel better, I will stay with her. I’ll protect her.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You’d do that?”
“I’m your right hand, aren’t I?”
Jessa steps to my side. She’s back in her sweater and black leggings. Her euphoric, post-coital expression has vanished.
“Did you see any sign of Chris?” she asks desperately.
Yulian’s expression clouds over a little. “She has him in the house.”