Page 115 of Little Deer
When we’re finally outside, everyone fans out, Massimo finally handing Soren back to me, and I keep him in my arms,careful to keep myself behind Massimo and close to the door in case I have to run again.
I’m not taking any more chances.
“Ivan,” Nico says, looking at the large man standing by his car at the rounded part of the drive. Two men flank him, tall, though not as tall as Urso or Lazaro, faces hard.
Ivan Morozov is a big man himself, broad, with silver hair, and a hard-lined face, speaking of the years that haven’t been the easiest for him. He’s intimidating, and I can see why Giovanni tried to align himself with him.
“Nico,” Ivan states, his voice thick with a Russian accent. “I hear you would like to discuss a truce and terms.”
“Excuse me?” Nico hisses.
“Ah, yes, I forgot to mention that part,” Tatiana says, stepping out, from between Rori and Amara. “Hello, Ivan, long time no see.”
Ivan’s entire demeanour changes. Gone is the hard man, and in its place is the face of a man who is terrified. And I’m not the only one to notice it, either, from the shifting and unease that starts to filter through us all. He just stares at Tatiana, unmoving.
“You,” he finally whispers.
“Oh, now, that’s not nice. I thought you’d be so happy to see me,” Tatiana pouts, stepping forward, slowly, almost like she’s prowling.
“What the fuck is this? What is going on?” Nico demands.
“No,” Ivan rasps, and then he starts to move.
“Aurora,” Tatiana orders calmly.
“Guard,” Rori orders, stepping to follow Tatiana when Hades launches forward, snarling and growling in front of the Russian.
“Now, now, Ivan,” Tatiana croons. “You’re hurting my feelings.” Then she lifts her gun and her tone completely changes. This time, it’s cold, hard, and lethal. “And we bothknow you don’t want to do that if you want to make it out alive, do you?”
“Someone better start fucking explaining and fast,” Nico barks, the tension in his voice setting everyone on edge.
“Rori, get the fuck back here,” Alonzo barks. “I don’t fucking trust her.”
“Mmm, that is probably wise,” Tatiana agrees, glancing at him over her shoulder. A shiver works its way down my spine. The look in her eyes is so much worse than it was in Nico’s office. It’s the eyes of a woman who has nothing to lose, and is getting a sick kind of pleasure out of all of this. She looks over at Rori, who is watching her with a look of acceptance, but also dread. “Maybe it’s time you told them why, Ms. O’Brien.”
“Fuck,” Massimo hisses, shoving me behind him, gun already rising. “You’re one of them.”
The men form a wall in front of us, guns drawn.
“There is nothem, onlyher,” Rori says calmly. I can’t see her, but I hear the sharp intake of breath as she continues, “ThisisAmara’s sister, but you’d know her better as the Chameleon.”
51
MASSIMO
You can heara pin drop with the silence that fills the space. Stretching, thickening as I stare at the woman. The same woman who no longer looks sweet, warm, and friendly. In her place is a cold, calculating killer. One that has the power to bring even a Pakhan like Ivan to his knees in fear.
The realization of just how long she was with the women, with Soren, hits me like a ton of bricks. Horror fills my gut.
“A bit of an anti-climactic reaction,” she remarks, not a lick of humor in her tone. “Well, another time.”
“What do you meanonly her?” Urso suddenly demands sharply, looking at Rori. “You told us that it was a team.”
“Because I shouldn’t have fucking told you about her in the fucking first place,” Rori snaps.
“Indeed.” Tatiana looks at Rori. “We’ll discuss that soon enough. We have somewhere to be shortly, and while I’ve enjoyed playing this part, I’m quickly growing tired of it. Orbeing here at all.” Then her gaze slips to Ivan. “And you and I, we have some unfinished business to discuss.”
“Tatiana, please,” Ivan starts.
