Page 20 of Her Russian Master
“That’s right.”He didn’t listen to the words, didn’t allow them to register, or he’d be sick.Better to be an empty hull, able to think clearly and act swiftly.Lucy would be safe.Now he just had to save her brother.If he managed to get evidence on the don before he was made, that would be golden, too.Leo was going to have Yuri’s ass as it was, it would be better if he could at least come out of this with something.
He sat back in his seat and drummed his fingers on the armrest.The morning sun had broken over the tops of the trees, streaking the light gray sky with beams of orange and pink.
Freddo drove to Parkhurst, a Los Angeles suburb, and pulled up at an address.They both got out of the car as a destroyed Jake tottered out of the door.His clothes were rumpled, as if he’d been wearing them for several days.His unshaven face sagged and deep hollows scored his eyes.
Yuri patted him down for a weapon and shoved him in the backseat of the Mercedes, getting in beside him.
Jake’s eyes bugged out of his head.“Where’s Lucy?”He lunged for the door on his side of the car.Yuri slammed his arm back against Jake’s throat, pinning him to the backseat.
“Not here,” he answered in his gruff accent.
Freddo took off.
“If any harm comes to her—”
“A little harm came to her,” Yuri answered honestly, still praying she might someday overlook the fact that he’d taken a belt to her ass.But why was he even hoping?Did he actually believe he had a chance with her when this was all through?The idea was scoffable.
Jake didn’t fight Yuri.Sweat beaded on his upper lip and forehead and his breath came in jerky pants.“Wh-what do you mean?”
“She’ll be okay if you take care of your debts.”He kept to his usual act.Jake may be Lucy’s brother, but Yuri didn’t owe the guy anything, especially considering he was the asshole who’d put his sister in danger and then didn’t contact her for eight hours.
Freddo drove them to the Blue Turtle and they got out.The morning sun lit up the parking lot, now strewn with evidence of the previous night’s party; paper tickets, cigarette wrappers, and empty liquor bottles from the cheapskates drinking out of their cars instead of buying from the bar.
Jake blinked in confusion.“What are we doing here?”
“Boss wanted to meet here.”Yuri shoved him forward.“Unlock the doors.”
Jake fumbled with his keys, his hands shaking.He unlocked the padlocked chain on the gate to the patio, then the inner doors, deactivating an alarm system.“I’ll just get the lights,” Jake mumbled, heading toward the back of the club.The place was windowless, so the moment the door closed, they were plunged into near blackness, other than a few nightlights.
Yuri trailed at a distance.He wasn’t too worried about Jake going anywhere or trying anything with his sister’s life at stake, but desperate men sometimes did desperate things.He himself was a perfect example.
Jake flicked various lights on at the box in the back of the club, including the harsh, overhead fluorescents.He didn’t look at Yuri as he trudged back to the main room.
The door swung open and Junior, Don Diego’sconsiglieriand attorney, came in.
Damn.Yuri had hoped Don Diego would come himself.That Yuri might, for once, get something recorded from the boss.This whole assignment was going down in flames fast.
Junior set his briefcase on a table and snapped it open, pulling out a sheaf of papers.“I took care of selling your club for you.”
Yuri didn’t think it was possible for Jake to go even paler, but he did.Sweat trickled down his temple.“Wh-what do you mean?”
“Just sign here.”Junior tapped the papers, which had sticky note arrows affixed to the signature lines.
Jake skimmed the papers.“I’m selling you the club for forty grand?The liquor license alone is worth that.”
Junior stared at him.“You need forty grand.I found you a buyer.Or do you want to tell the don you don’t have his money?”
“No, no.”Jake shook his head rapidly.“I’m not saying that.But this isn’t a fair deal.Why can’t I sign over a portion of the club for forty large?”
“Your choice.”Junior picked up the papers and chucked them in his briefcase.
“Wait—wait!Okay, I’ll sign, I’ll sign.But you gotta let my sister go first.”
“You don’t make demand,” Yuri growled.“Your sister will be free when the don has his money.”He cracked his knuckles for emphasis.
Jake fumbled with the pen and Junior slid the papers in front of him.Jake blinked hard at them, like he hoped the words would rearrange themselves into a better proposition.He swallowed a couple times.His hand shook so badly his signature probably looked nothing like it should, but Yuri had no doubt Junior had smoothed even more dubious transactions through the legal system.Jake signed his name at least a dozen times, until Junior took the sheaf of papers and stacked them with a satisfied rap.
Junior nodded at Freddo.
