We were all working together, bouncing ideas off each other, and,for a moment, it was almost like being back in the FBI. I felt a whisper of something, but I couldn’t put a name to it.
“Some of the clients are probably real patients,” said Bronwyn thoughtfully. “But some will be his customers. Could we get hold of a patient list?”
I shook my head. “Patient records are confidential. Even if I was back at the FBI, it’d be tricky to get that kind of information.” I sighed. “Grushin’s smart, I’ll give him that.”
“What about the numbers from Grushin’s phone?” asked Gennadiy.
I showed him the list of numbers Yolanda had given me, the printout now a rainbow of highlighter ink. “These are all numbers in Moscow; probably contacts he made while he was working there. So, whatever he’s selling, I’m guessing he’s getting it from Russia.” I pointed to the next few rows. “These are numbers here in Chicago. This is a company that does welding. I have no clue what that means. And this one is a small local transport company…I thought maybe distribution? But that makes no sense if his clients pick up their stuff from the clinic.”
Gennadiy nodded. “Good work.” A glow of pride spread through me. Even Radimir looked grudgingly impressed.
“What are the other numbers?” asked Valentin, pointing to the last few rows.
I sighed. “Those are numbers with no registered name or address. Burner phones, probably local criminals. I highlighted the ones Grushin calls a lot.”
Gennadiy nodded thoughtfully. Then his finger stabbed at one of the highlighted numbers, and he went pale. “That’s…” He trailed off, pulled out his phone, checked a number, and then double-checked it.
“What?” I asked, worried. “What is it?”
His voice was strangled. “One of the numbers is Yakov Beletski’s.”
47
GENNADIY
I sagged forward,and my palms thumped the smooth wood of the dining table. I could barely breathe.Yakov!My best friend.
“Could I have the room, please?” I grated. Everyone nodded and made themselves scarce until only Alison was left. She put her hands on mine and looked up at me with big, apologetic eyes.
I shook my head. “I needed to know,” I told her.
She nodded sadly and started to leave, but I grabbed her wrist. “No,” I said tightly. “Stay.” She nodded and squeezed my hand, and I squeezed it back…Blyat’, I used to spend every day planning how to slip away from her. Now, I couldn’t stand being separated from her. And she was becoming essential to the Aristov family, too. I could feel her being drawn into our world, getting used to breaking the law, just as I’d worried she would. But the truth was, we needed her. We didn’t stand a chance against Grushin without her.
“What are you going to do?” she asked gently.
I shook my head. “I have no idea.” Yakov had always been my rock. He was exactly the person I’d go to for advice in a situation like this. I took a deep breath...and felt the cold metal of my gun press against my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut. Traitors in the Bratva always met the same fate, but...I can’t. Not Yakov.
Alison slipped her arm around my shoulders. As I inhaled, I caught the soft, vanilla scent of her skin and all my senses woke...but like when I’d comforted her in the graveyard, it wasn’t sexual. This was about support. She’s so many things to me...
Radimir burst into the room. “We need to get to the casino. Right now.”
The fear in his voice made me not ask questions. Yakov would have to wait. We ran to the cars.
The casino was in uproar. My staff were arguing with men in suits. The state police were there, herding gamblers away from the gaming tables. The gamblers were clutching handfuls of chips, which they were being told they now couldn’t cash in, and everyone was yelling at everyone else. Worst of all, a news crew was filming the whole thing. I snatched a piece of paper from one of the suits and read it.
We’d lost our gambling license.
“That’s impossible,” I told Radimir. “Weearnedthat license. Legally. We ticked every fucking box.”
“This is Grushin,” said Alison. “He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do. He must have bribed the head of the gaming board.”
Mikhail shook his head. “Not possible. I know the man.Welooked at bribing him, but he’s a Boy Scout. Wouldn’t take a bribe. Grushin must have some other hold on him.”
The men in suits started hustling me out of the casino. As my family was pushed towards the glass doors, I could feel the anger building into a scalding hurricane. The casino’s my proudest achievement, and Grushin had taken it from me in just a few hours. “You were right,” I admitted to Mikhail. “I underestimated this guy.”
We were shoved through the doors and onto the street. A whole swarm of news crews saw us and ran towards us. “Go,” I whispered to Alison and pushed her away. The FBI was still looking for her: I didn’t want her on the front page of every news website. She noddedquickly and split off from us, becoming just another anonymous gambler in the crowd.
Reporters surrounded us, yelling questions. I straightened my jacket and stepped forward, telling everyone how this was just a mistake, how our legitimate business had been unfairly targeted, and how we’d be appealing the decision. But between questions, I kept catching Radimir’s worried glances. This was very, very bad. Not only was it a PR nightmare for our family, but losing the casino put a huge hole in our finances. It wasn’t just a money maker; it was how we laundered a lot of our cash, and if it wasn’t operating, we couldn’t turn our illegal money into legal funds that Radimir could invest. I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. This side of the business wasmything, and it was me who’d turned down Grushin’s ultimatum. It was up to me to fix this, and I had no idea how. My chest had gone tight:Jesus, I can hardly breathe.
