“Boss, the other call was on hold. Should I put him through now?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, boss.”
The screen came alive again and I answered the call.
“Mr. Lobanov. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Hmm,” I muttered, nodding. “I was told you insisted on speaking with me.”
He looked like a fanatic to me, despite the streaks of white in his buzz-cut.
“Yes, I did. I have an important proposition for you. I couldn’t risk any part of the details being lost in translation, you understand? I guess you do, as a mafia boss and all.”
“What is the business about?”
“Yeah, straight to the business. Sorry. You’ve got consignments to attend to,” he went on, chuckling and smiling.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his wife was in that room with him.
I considered ending the call, but I decided to hear him out first. Whenever Yuri, Mikhail’s right-hand man, passed a client over to Sergei, they were always high-profile clients who needed goods or services in my current location, were too intimidated to reach out to Viktor, or assumed the youngest Lobanov brother would be more malleable.
This man was proving to belong to the last category. But, in addition to that, he seemed like someone who was trying to impress. He perfectly fit the type of guy who would name-drop carelessly just for prestige.
“One of the big guys from my rival political party is holding a charity gala in St. Petersburg. He’s well-respected even though the bastard runs different criminal rings. Simply because no one has been able to get any dirt on him. I want to change the narrative,” he explained, his smile gone.
“How do I come in?”
“The event is a small, highbrow event. I’ll get you an invite, and you’ll attend. The job is to mingle and get vital information from fellow attendees, most of them are his guys, dirty criminals who work with and for him. You’ll get damning keys and information, and we’ll spin the web around him, alongside the media.”
I ran a hand through my hair.
“Blending into a highbrow event, getting elites to talk…that’s not my type of job.”
“Listen, I can pay whatever price you name. Just let me know what it’ll cost me.”
“You have the wrong brother,” I pointed out.
“What do you mean? I know Mikhail, and he directed me to you since you’re in Russia. I know your other brother, too. You all do the same job. Is there another brother?” he went on, laughing.
“If you have to ask,” I remarked, shrugging. “We’re done with this discussion.”
“What—”
“I’m sure our name isn’t the only one on your list. Feel free to strike it out,” I cut in, ending the call.
I opened the news tab and scrolled through the crime news. Unsurprisingly, Vitya’s arrest was still making headlines. Then there were independent blogs dissecting different parts of the story. When I opened one with the title,‘Criminal accomplice or unfortunate lover?’ I was hit with a realization.
The media was already spinning the case. Some curious eyes were looking into Alina, being one of the names listed as Vitya’s frequented contacts. It wouldn’t be long before someone discovered she was nowhere around her home or work.
She couldn’t be reported dead or missing right now without causing complications. Killing her in Lobanov custody would blow back on Viktor. It would definitely ignite a scandal.
I need another solution.
After another hour of considering options, I stood from my seat and left the study with the only tenable one.
Pushing the door open, I found her sitting up against the headrest of the small bed.
