I lean forward, look excited, and play the perfect part.
“So.” He leans forward, too. “There’s been a change of plans. I’m so sorry to spring this on you, but my friend is a real busy guy. He was wondering if we could go meet him, instead.”
The trap is so obvious it might as well have flashing neon signs. In my ear, I hear Valentin hiss out a ‘yeah, right,’ and I make sure not to smile.
“Right now?” I ask, pretending to be flustered.
“I know, it throws off your schedule. But, he’s pretty nearby.”
“Play along,” Valentin whispers. “We're ready to move at a moment's notice.”
I chew my lower lip and act like I’m thinking, before giving him a nod and a polite smile. “Sure. This means a lot, and I really do need new clients.”
“Excellent!” He claps his hands, and I swear I see a look of relief in his eyes.
I call for the bill and start gathering my hands, throwing Alex another grateful look. “I'm excited to meet him.”
Alex throws down some cash at the waitress and looks like he’s in a hurry to get out of here as he ushers me toward the door. “My car's just outside.”
As we walk out of the café, I see a couple of Valentin’s men in plainclothes. Under usual circumstances, I’d be scared as hell. But with these guys around, I’m starting to feel like I’m made for this mission.
I slide into Alex's car, and then we’re moving.
“We're tracking you,” Valentin assures me through the earpiece. “Just keep acting innocent.”
***
Ten minutes later, we pull up outside a desolate-looking building with no people or cars parked outside. My hands feel clammy when I step out of the car.
“We’re … meeting your clienthere?” I ask incredulously, just like I would if I didn’t know what was going on here.
“He values his privacy.” Alex looks sheepish as he leads me inside.
When we step in, I notice it's a warehouse that's been converted into a kind of den. There’s expensive leather furniture, bookshelves, dim lighting, and even a bar.
And no windows.
My eyes flicker to the man standing by one of the bookshelves, with his back to us as he peruses the titles.
Alex clears his throat, and the man turns slowly, like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and then, my eyes meet none other than Viktor Zakharov’s.
“Mrs. Yuri,” he says, “how nice of you to join us.”
“You…what are you doing here?” I force a tremble in my voice and take a step back, my eyes darting to the door.
“Don’t even think of running, Mrs. Yuri,” Viktor hisses. “There isn’t a person for miles who will see you, let alone hear your screams.”
Like hell. The bastard doesn’t know there’s a whole army out there, listening in to every word he says.
“You!” I look shocked as I turn to Alex. “You set me up!”
“Now, now, let’s not make this unpleasant.” Viktor walks over. “We’re only here to talk.”
“I don’t have anything to talk to you about!” I snap.
“Thank you, Alex.” Viktor dismisses him with a wave, completely ignoring me in the process. “That will be all for now.”
I watch Alex scurry out like the rat he is, leaving me alone with Viktor. In my ear, Valentin whispers, “We're moving into position. Keep him talking and find out all you can about his plans.”
