Page 39 of No Reason to Trust

“Yeah.” Livvy reached for her phone and dialed the Director’s number. She put the phone on speaker, and moments later, Diana’s voice said, “Director Redfield. How can I help you?”

“Madame Director, this is Olivia Dunbar. We have a situation here in New York and we’re going to need some assistance from the local FBI office.”

“What’s the situation?” Diana asked, her voice calm.

Olivia explained about Sergei, and how she and Jake were afraid he was going to be killed, how they’d contacted Sergei and offered the FBI’s assistance. “We need the name of an agent who can pick up him and his wife when they call, set up a safe house for them, and basically be their advocate with the FBI.”

Diana was silent for a long moment. Finally she said, “That’s a good thing that you and Jake have done. I’ll call the SAC of the Brooklyn office and talk it over with her. Get a recommendation for you with a name and phone number. So when your Sergei calls, you have someone to reach out to.”

“Thank you, Madame Director. We’re hoping he calls us tonight. I’m afraid that he’s a marked man now and it won’t be long before someone in his group kills him. Possibly his wife, as well.”

“That would be consistent with what we know of the Bratva. Let me make this call, then I’ll call you back immediately.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Livvy said.

Diana hung up, and Livvy ended the call. “I hope she calls back before Sergei calls us.”

“I’m guessing he’ll call us late, after his neighbors are in bed. He won’t want anyone to see him and his wife getting into a car.”

Livvy swallowed, and Jake’s gaze followed the ripple of muscles in her neck as she spoke. “I think we need to get Sergei and his wife out of that house as soon as possible,” she said. “I’m afraid that someone from that group at the meeting is going to try to kill them tonight.”

“That seems likely,” Jake said. “As soon as Sergei calls, we should tell him to get their things together and get out of the house. Maybe hide in the garage.”

“Maybe hide in a neighbor’s garage,” Livvy said. “If someone comes to kill them tonight, they’ll search the garage if they don’t find Sergei and his wife in the house.”

“Good idea.” Jake swallowed and began to pace the room. “Now all we need is a name and phone number from Diana.”

Tension swirled through the room, curling tight in Jake’s belly. When he looked over at Livvy, he saw the same tension in her expression. “Come on, come on,” Livvy murmured. “Call us, Diana!”

After what seemed like forever but was probably less than fifteen minutes, Livvy’s phone rang. She snatched it up and connected the call. “This is Livvy.”

“Olivia, I have a name and phone number for you.” She rattled them off, and Livvy scribbled them on a piece of paper. “This agent grew up in a Bratva family, so he knows what Sergei and his wife are facing. His name is Roman Peters. He speaks fluent Russian and will guide your Sergei and his wife through the jungles of cooperating with the FBI. I spoke to him and he’s prepared to leave at a moment’s notice to pick them up.”

“Thank you so much, Madame Director. Fingers crossed that Sergei actually calls.”

“Yes, I hope so, too. Keep me updated.”

“We’ll do that.” Livvy disconnected the phone, then looked over at Jake. “Do you think they’ll call?”

“Sergei probably grew up in the Bratva. Maybe his wife did, too. They know what’ll happen to them if they don’t get to a safe place. My guess is that they’re gathering what they want to take and packing it up. Once they’re ready to leave, they’ll call.”

“I hope to hell you’re right,” Livvy said.

She paced the room for the next half-hour, until Jake grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the couch with him. “You’re making me dizzy, Liv. Pacing isn’t going to make them call more quickly.”

She banged her head against the back of the couch. “All I can see in my head are people breaking into their house and killing them.”

“They’re gonna be watchful,” Jake said. “You know damn well they have weapons, and they know how to use them. They’re not defenseless. Do I want them out of that house? Absolutely, and the sooner, the better. But sitting here and obsessing about it isn’t going to make them call any faster.”

“He seemed so young,” Livvy said in a low voice. “Barely more than a kid.”

“Heisbarely more than a kid,” Jake said. “But I’m guessing kids grow up pretty damn fast in Bratva families.” He reached over and grabbed her hands. Twined their fingers together. “He’s nothing like you or I were at his age. He’s not helpless. Not naïve. He knows what the score is and knows what to expect from the other members of his group. I’m certain he and his wife have discussed all the possibilities. They know what the stakes are. They probably know exactly who’ll be sent for them.”

“What an awful way to live,” Livvy said.

Jake shrugged. “Guess that depends on your perspective. They probably think of it as knowing exactly what’s expected of you. Knowing exactly what your role is. There’s a lot of comfort in having a crystal-clear grasp of your role in an organization.” He curled his arm around her shoulders. “Take a few deep breaths. I’m guessing Sergei is going to call. Probably soon.”

Livvy stood up and began pacing again. She’d barely made it halfway around the room when her phone rang.

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