I don’t, however. Beyond the calm and casual faces that I come across, I’m watching for anything out of the ordinary. Anybody that doesn’t quite fit in. Even when we’re in plain clothes, we all kind of have a look that’s distinctly ours. After some years, you get good at spotting another Bratva in a crowd of civilians.
So far, so good. I don’t see anyone out of place.
The fountain is in sight, an angel with its wings spread and its face turned to the sky stands in the center, water springing up in arcs all around it. Seems fitting for this meeting. I could use an angel watching over me right now.
Natalya’s already here. She’s sitting on the fountain’s edge with one hand in the water, moving it slowly back and forth like she’s testing the temperature for a bath. She’s got her long red hair up in a ponytail and she’s wearing a simple blue T-shirt and jeans. The mood is to blend in, but there’s nothing about her that does that. Maybe it’s the way the sun brightens the red in her hair or how her skin has a deep, creamy alabaster hue to it. Even in T-shirt and jeans, she’s still the most beautiful woman in the room.
I take in a deep breath to force myself to focus. This isn’t a date. This is business and there’s a lot on the line.
She sees me as I walk up and her sapphire eyes brighten. She starts to stand, but I motion for her to remain sitting. “Hey,” she says, her voice shaking a little. “You made it right on time.”
“So I have.” I sit down next to her. “I wish this were a more casual meeting.”
Her smile turns up smartly on one side, almost into a smirk. “Yeah, no kidding.”
“I’ll get right down to it,” I begin. “What you saw last night… you know it wasn’t for your eyes. I figure your being Vladimir’s daughter, you probably understand what kind of trouble you might be in.”
I’m looking away from her as I speak. Partially observing my surroundings, but mostly to keep myself on track. Looking directly at her is like looking into the sun.
I see her nod out of my peripheral. “You probably know a little more than I do, though. Am I in danger?”
“Possibly,” I tell her, then, “Not from me. I have no intention of hurting you.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I see her hands relax in her lap.
“Those men,” I tell her in Russian. “They’re part of another Bratva that I’m at war with. What you witnessed was the escalation of it. More violence is going to come, and soon. Because of what happened last night. I fully expect retaliation.”
“I wish I could say I was surprised,” she replies in Russian. “Is… is it safe for you to be out here like this?”
“I’m safe enough for now,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t worry about me, though.”
She takes that in and nods slowly. “Am I in danger from the other Bratva?”
“Maybe. Probably.” He sighs. “If you haven’t already, you need to reach out to your father. Tell him the situation and ask for his protection. It’s the best way for you to stay safe.”
She doesn’t respond. I look over at her to see she’s looking at her hands.
“What? What is it?”
“I, uh, tried to go to my father,” she says. “It didn’t work out. There’s no way he’s going to protect me.”
I just stare at her. This is unexpected.
“Things have been pretty bad between us for a long time,” she adds. “I had to leave home about two months ago because of it.”
“Where are you staying now?”
“With a friend. I’ve got a little job and I’m saving up for my own place.” She looks at me, her soft blue eyes searching mine. “There’s no way I can go back home. He thinks of me as a disgrace and…” She stops herself, looking away from me and out at the park. Maybe beyond that.
“The point is that I can’t go back home. Not under any circumstances. He won’t help me.”
There’s more to this. A lot more. The story behind her eyes is a long one. One that I might want to be privy to should she survive all this. For now, though, she’s told me the most important thing that I needed to know.
“Is your friend part of this?” I ask her, and she shakes her head.
“She’s my best friend from high school. It’s a good thing she isn’t, too. She’s the only person I can trust right now.”
This is a potentially worse situation than I imagined. Some poor bystander getting caught in the middle of all this is the last thing anyone wants. “You’re going to have to leave town.”
