And since I can’t stop him, I step aside.
Pavel walks past me toward the fireplace. He takes his phone from his pocket, taps through a few screens, and then holds the device to his ear.
“Cardona,” he says. “I want to meet.” He looks at me with a blank expression. “Tonight.”
I watch as Pavel sorts out the details. Every word that leaves his lips leaves me feeling weaker than the last. While my stomach does backflips, my knees wobble and my limbs flush with heat. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have just to stand there.
When Pavel is done with his call, he grabs his coat and heads to the door. It’s not until he’s gone that I sink into a chair.
I’m completely helpless to stop him.
And I’m not sure if I care anymore.
Chapter Two
Pavel
Stale river air greets my nostrils as I wander up the sidewalk to a rusty door. Behind me, the Hudson carries boats past me, cutting a line between New York and New Jersey. Instinct tells me to check my back. Paranoia tells me to do it repeatedly as I knock on the rusty door.
Within a few minutes, the door swings open and two guys check me. One of them shoves me against the wall while another liberally searches my body for weapons. He plucks my gun from my ankle holster and holds it up for me to see.
He ejects the magazine and clears the chamber. The clattering sound echoes, sending a wave of fury through me.
But I bite it back.
He tucks the gun into his pocket and points behind me. A long hallway carries us into a large warehouse room. Cloudy bulbs cast yellow light over a table. Cardona sits with more men behind him—four, as far as I can see. But there are likely more waiting just out of sight.
One of the guys behind me shoves me forward. I don’t trip. I catch the back of the chair and sit down in one fluid motion.
Though the building is old, I note the lingering scent of iron.
I rest my hands on the table.
“I’m glad you could make it, kid,” Cardona says with a hint of sarcasm. “You got anyone outside?”
“No.”
He squints as he clips his cigar. He cocks his ear to the men behind him. “Check the perimeter.”
The four men disperse. As anticipated, four more take their place.
“You should trust a man for his word, Felix,” I say. “Let’s cut to the chase. Tell me what you want.”
He holds a cigar to his lips. One of his men leans forward to light it, slipping back into the shadows as soon as the end glows red.
“I’m a simple man, Pavel. I don’t have too many demands.” Cardona purses his lips and blows a ring. “No loose ends. That’s all I want.”
Is that why you tried to grab my sister, you fucking bastard?I narrow my eyes at him. “And?”
“And that’s it.” He shrugs. “Simple enough. You give me the Bernadetti bitch and go home. The next day, this whole thing will be just one bad dream.” He looks like a viper preparing to strike. “You don’t, and we keep grinding each other down until one of us ends up becoming fish food.”
I cock my head curiously to the right. “Why do you want Liya?”
“Why do youthinkI want Liya?”
“I’m asking the questions, Felix.”
His expression sours. “That little bitch has cost me too many resources. She owes me. Big time. You both do.” He leans back, puffs his cigar, and exhales forcibly, shrouding his features with a black cloud. “But I’m being generous with you, Pavel. Give me Liya, and all your problems go away.”