Page 53 of Sin Wager
The plan crystallized overnight as I lay in bed thinking about Vera's confession, about the fear in her eyes when she looked at me in the tunnel. The Radich crew has been operating on borrowed time since Pavel's death, and yesterday's conversation with Sonya proved I'm out of time. It's time for a more direct approach.
At seven fifteen, the black sedan pulls into its usual spot and Sonya emerges, checks her phone, then scans the area as if making sure no one is watching her. Her gaze finds me at the rail, and I see the exact moment she recognizes me, the disgust on her face. Vera may be innocent of the knowledge of who I am, but Ms. Radich is not, and she's not happy that I'm fucking with her plans.
Instead of avoiding contact, I walk directly toward her, and her eyes hold my gaze the entire way.
"Morning," I say, stopping close enough to make the encounter unavoidable. "You're here early."
She studies me with cold calculation. Up close, I can see the hard lines around her eyes, the way she holds herself with confidence. She's been in this business a long time. She knows what to expect from this confrontation.
"I could say the same about you."
"Track management keeps early hours. Especially when there are concerns about security."
"Security concerns?" One eyebrow lifts, but the hint of a smirk at the corner of her lip reveals she's not surprised to hear it.
"People who don't belong here, asking questions about horses and jockeys. Making arrangements that affect race outcomes." I toe the ground with my shoe and square my shoulders. "You understand."
Her expression doesn't change, but I catch the slight tension in the way her lips press together. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not. But if you did, I'd want you to know that management takes a very serious interest in protecting our assets. Our people."
"Your people?"
"Everyone who works here. Everyone under our protection." I cross my arms over my chest and watch her eyes darken.
The threat might be subtle, but it's unmistakable. Sonya's eyes narrow slightly, reassessing me.
"And you are?"
"Someone who notices things. Someone who remembers faces and connections." I check my watch. "I should let you get to your business. Whatever that might be."
I walk away without waiting for a response, feeling her stare follow me across the parking lot. The message has been delivered—she's being watched, her operation is known, and the people she's been manipulating are under someone else's protection now.
I can't come right out and make a move yet or it will bring a shitstorm of trouble, and perhaps an all-out war between the Vetrovs and Sonya's crew, but I'm not about to stand back and let her keep working boldly without at least a warning.
When I see Vera leaving the feed shed with her cart, I intercept her before she reaches the stable entrance. She smiles as I approach, but I don't have time for pleasantries this morning.
"We need to talk," I tell her, guiding her toward the tack room at the far end of building two. The space is rarely used during morning hours—perfect for a private conversation. She leaves her feed cart behind but walks with me without protesting. At least I've gained her full trust now.
"Is everything all right?" she asks as I close the door behind us.
"That depends. Has Sonya contacted you since yesterday?"
"No." Her voice is careful, cautious. "Why?"
"Because I want to make sure you understand how dangerous this situation has become."
I position myself between her and the door, not to trap her but to ensure our conversation stays private. The morning light filters through a grimy window, but through it I see other trainers and stable hands passing. We don't have long before someone needs this room.
"Misha, what's going on?" She wraps her arms around herself, a defensive gesture that makes something twist in my chest.
I move closer, close enough to see the flecks of gold in her green eyes. "From now on, I'm going to be more involved in your daily routine. Walking your routes with you, standing nearby when you're at the payout windows, staying in earshot whenever Sonya or her people are around."
"You want to follow me around all day?" Her eyes flick nervously toward the door where voices pass by, and she sighs. "I didn't think it was this bad. You don't have to babysit me."
"I want to protect you. There's a difference."
She searches my face, looking for something I'm not sure I can give her. "And if I say no?"
