“An equal pleasure, I assure you,” he says. “I believe this will be of use to you.” He pushes a flash drive over the desk to me. “Petrov has a compound in Siberia. Isolated, well-hidden, and well-guarded. But I think you will find a way in.”
“I appreciate your faith in me,” I say.
“It’s not faith. I heard about what you did to his Moscow compound. It was his pride and joy.”
“It was,” I grin, pocketing the flash drive.
He nods, “Would you like a drink?”
“Please.” We enjoy the excellent vodka in silence for a moment, while he examines me closely.
“You’ve had an eventful newlywed phase,” he says.
I burst into laughter. “Nothing has been the same since my bride first walked into my club.”
His brow rose. “I know the King family, it’s hard to picture Aria visiting Dante’s Inferno.”
“You know it?” I ask.
He chuckles slightly. “My brother Yuri and his wife Tania are… adventurous. They were quite impressed.”
“Good to hear,” I grin, “I’m intending to branch out into Canada next.” I press the flash drive between my thumb and forefinger. “Tell me something.”
“If I can,” he agrees.
“Why are you helping me? This is a big leap, offering me the means to end Petrov.”
He lifts one expensively suited shoulder. “He is a menace. A selfish, foolish, greedysvoloch'.His father coddled him when he should have put him down like a rabid dog. He traffics in women and children. While I can’t openly make a move against him, I can offer you everything within my means to end him. If you need manpower or weapons, we are at your service.”
Finishing my drink, I stand, shaking his hand. “I appreciate the offer. I’ll make sure to send you some excellent, high-resolution images of his death.”
His grin is malevolent. “I will look forward to it.”
Svoloch' - Russian for bastard
Chapter Twenty-Nine
In which Lachlan introduces Aria to phone sex.
Lachlan…
Siberia…
“The Altai Mountains are known for iron, copper, and zinc mining.”
Tuvan is my guide here, a weathered rock of a man who could be anywhere from twenty-five to fifty-five. Life in the Siberian mountain ranges is not easy. “Arseni Petrov’s Bratva started mining here in his grandfather’s time. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, they tripled their mine operations.” His mouth thinned into a flat line, “Not bothering with safety measures has given them a good profit.”
“How many people does he keep with him here?” I ask.
“He’s here with his inner circle. About forty people.”
“Does his entourage travel with family? Children?” I’m scanning the compound with binoculars, categorizing weak spots. There aren’t any. High walls, guard towers on every corner, and only one way in and out, thanks to the steepness and rough terrain. It would have made an excellent prison if Petrov had ever abandoned it.
“No,” he sneers slightly, “they fly in prostitutes from Moscow now and then. I’m just happy they’re not harassing the local girls.”
“Perimeter weaknesses?”
“It will be hard to breach the compound,” he admits. “The walls are nearly impenetrable; he has a large security contingent and a front gate assault would be nearly impossible. He’s layered the roads approaching the compound with explosives. Very few people know the safe route.”
