30
LOSHAM
Losham strode toward the laboratory building with Rami by his side, two loyal guards behind him, and several more hidden between the buildings. There was no telling when or why his brothers would decide to eliminate him. Chances were that they wouldn't do it in broad daylight or in public, but he wasn't taking any chances.
The late afternoon sun was still punishing, making him regret the jacket that he should have left at the office. Then again, conducting an informal interrogation in shirtsleeves was not something he did. Appearance mattered, and Losham always chose to communicate authority and control. He also intended to project absolute certainty that he already knew the answers to the questions he was about to ask, regardless of whether he actually knew those answers or not.
It was a game he had played countless times before and had mastered.
He knew Dimitri Volkov's background well since he'd been tasked by Navuh to recruit Doctor Petrov and his assistant, and he still remembered the relevant details. The guy was in his mid-twenties, top of his class at Moscow University, and personally selected by Petrov to assist him in a top-secret government project. The project had been morally iffy even for the Russians, and when things became dicey, Petrov and Dimitri had been thrown under the bus, so to speak. Petrov had been committed to an insane asylum, and his assistant had been arrested and sent to a labor camp.
When Losham and Rami reached the lab building, Rami tried the door, but it was locked, which wasn’t surprising given the recent attack. He knocked on the glass door, and as Doctor Petrov turned toward the sound, they were immediately buzzed in.
The drop in temperature was a welcome relief from the heat of the day.
Losham hadn't visited the new lab in a while, but the interior was exactly as he remembered from his last visit. The workstations were arranged in a functional layout, the various equipment hummed quietly, and there was a faint chemical smell that pervaded every laboratory he'd ever been in. The place was clean, organized, and efficient.
Whatever else could be said about the Russians, they ran a competent operation, and now that they had an assistant, things were probably running even more smoothly.
Well, not really. The girl had caused more trouble than she was worth, and he would have ordered her elimination himself if not for the impact her death would have on Dimitri. For better or worse, Losham needed both scientists alive to keep Dave in top shape.
He’d noted that when Doctor Petrov had come down to open the door for them, a brief flash of alarm had crossed his face before it was replaced by a carefully neutral expression.
Good. A man who wasn't alarmed by an unexpected visit from the person who controlled his life was either very brave or very stupid, and Petrov was neither.
Dimitri's reaction on seeing them was slower and more measured. He appeared composed and greeted Losham with a nod of acknowledgment.
The man was too composed.
Losham studied him as he crossed the lab.
On the surface, Dimitri Volkov appeared unchanged from the last time Losham had seen him. The same lean frame, the same dark hair, the same watchful intelligence in his eyes. But there were subtle differences. He appeared more centered, more solid, as if his body had found a new equilibrium. The set of his shoulders seemed broader, but it was hard to tell under the lab coat.
"Lord Losham." Petrov said with the deference of a man who understood hierarchy. "This is an unexpected visit. What can we do for you?"
Losham didn't answer immediately. He deliberately let his gaze sweep over the lab, lingering briefly on the equipment and the drug storage refrigerator before turning to Dimitri.
"I came to check on your newest lab member," he said. "The girl who was injured in the harbor incident."
A flicker of surprise crossed Dimitri's face. "Mattie is resting upstairs. The doctor set her broken fingers, and she's recovering."
"Broken fingers." Losham made a sympathetic sound even though he couldn't care less. "That's unfortunate. She's started here quite recently, correct?"
Dimitri nodded. "She assists with cleanup and some routine tasks that don't require our expertise. She saves us a lot of time that is better spent on research."
"I see." Losham pulled a rolling stool from one of the workstations and sat down. "You were with her at the harbor when the attack occurred."
"Yes."
Rami positioned himself near the door to ensure that no one came in to disturb Losham while he was conducting his interview.
"Tell me what happened," Losham said. "I want to hear your version of the events."
Dimitri turned his chair around so he was facing Losham and folded his arms across his chest. "It was our day off, so we decided to take a stroll down the harbor and enjoy some fresh air. Four warriors confronted us, accusing us of being responsible for Tarik's death, which we had nothing to do with. They wouldn't listen and attacked us. I tried to defend Mattie and myself as best I could until help arrived."
"As best you could," Losham repeated the phrase without injecting it with sarcasm. "I heard you did well. How does ahuman with no military training defend himself against four experienced immortal warriors?"
"By running and ducking, mostly, and getting beaten in the process."
