Matáis sighs and nods. It’s not like he’s pussy whipped or anything, but he and Catalina have been married for nearly forty years. He knows which battles to pick. They exchange a kiss that makes me look away.
Oh, God.
They’re practically my parents!
Could Alejandro wind up with a little brother or sister the same age as our kids?
From the way they kiss…
I don’t know why he’s an only child, but it’s definitely not from lack of passion.
Luciana elbows me and grins. “Welcome to the family. It’s a wonder I only had three since my Este and I were the same. Pablo and Juan were difficult deliveries for Margherita, even though she’s a midwife, so she and Luis only had two. They—” She smirks in her sister and brother-in-law’s direction. “—only had one because Alejandro used to scare the shit out of them with the way he could disappear. They said their hearts couldn’t take the risk of having more than one. Theniñocould disappear while you were looking at him, I swear. Luckily, he was usually looking for food or playing outside on his swings. However, losing him in the Bogotá airport and finding him chatting with the pilot and co-pilot sealed his fate as an only child.”
I picture a miniature Alejandro wandering through the congested airport, impatient for his flight. I’m surprised Luciana didn’t say he was charming the flight attendants. I bet he was cute as sin when he was a child because he certainly is handsome as sin now.
I drop additional ammunition into my cargo pocket before pulling on my beanie. All four of us women have bulky hoodies on to disguise our shape and beanies to cover our long hair. We have camo paint on to keep our skin from glowing in the dark. Gloves hide our skin and leave no traces.
Matáis sprayed the sliding passenger door earlier, so it’s silent as it opens. Elle pulls it nearly closed but not all the way. While Elle and I were trained for missions like this, Catalina and Luciana weren’t. At least, that’s what I assumed until I watch them fall into position like well-trained Cartel soldiers. Catalina leads with Luciana behind her right shoulder and me behind herleft. Elle brings up the rear, pivoting frequently to ensure no one follows us.
Margherita’s on her own mission right now. We’ll meet up with her after we’re done with Yuri. Hopefully, she’s as successful as the rest of us intend to be. Matáis has a drone buzzing overhead, so he’ll direct us as our eyes and ears around the entire salvage yard.
“Osa uno, claro avanzando.” Bear One, clear moving forward.
Catalina is Bear One, Luciana is Bear Two, and Elle is Bear Three—as in Mama Bear. I’mCachorra—Cub. I think it’s rather sweet.
We advance to the fence, where I step around Catalina and cut the wires until I can pull it back wide enough for all of us to pass through. I resume my position in our formation until Matáis guides us to a vantage point where we can see and hear the meeting.
“Yuri, your nephew won’t like this.”
It’s the man from the café today. The one who told Yuri that the shipment’s more than just ordinary car parts.
“I give no fucks what he thinks, Mikhail. He’s little boy who’s not ready for job like this. He should stay with his mama and let me run things again.”
Elle gave me an abridged history lesson on the way up to Boston. The Elite Group—a bratva branch’s senior council—ousted Yuri. They brought Rurik to power instead of waiting for him to inherit after his uncle’s death. They allowed Yuri to retire.
“Canadians should be here in ten minutes. They texted me when they got off highway.”
According to Elle, they forced Yuri out for botching several major deals that cost their branch millions. It landed four high-rankingbratok—soldiers—in prison with life sentences. Theytook the fall for Yuri—of course. He was theirpakhanat the time, so they’d never narc on him.
On the way here tonight, Elle also shared that Yuri refused to allow Rurik’s mom to get treatment while Rurik was away at university. Rurik didn’t know the severity of his mother’s condition until he moved back to Boston after studying at Stanford. Apparently, the woman’s been holding on for the past six years with inoperable cancer. Rurik stepped in to get her proper care; however, she’s exhausted all treatment, so now they’re waiting.
“If they’re not here in fifteen, I’m leaving. You deal with them.”
If Yuri weren’t going to die tonight, I’m certain Rurik would do it the day his mother passes. She’s Yuri’s younger sister. If he weren’t Rurik’s uncle, he wouldn’t be alive. According to Elle, as long as his mother’s alive, Rurik can’t bring himself to kill his uncle. He’d be too ashamed in front of his mother. All bets would’ve been off once she died. I almost feel guilty that we’re robbing him of that. Almost, but not really.
“Yes, Yuri.”
Mikhail sounds deferential, but the four of us watch him roll his eyes as Yuri turns away.
“Tractor trailer approaching from the west end of the lot.” Matáis gives us an update.
We hear the truck rattle toward us before we see it. When it comes into view, there are six vehicles that have seen far better days. I suspect they were fine when they crossed the border. Then someone bashed them up, shattering the windows to make them look ready for the junkyard.
We observe as the driver pulls around to the spot in front of Yuri, Mikhail, and eight of theirbratoks. Neither of the other guys from this morning are in sight. It makes me wonder if they’re staked out somewhere nearby.
“Mr. Volkov, thank you for letting us dispose of these here. They don’t look in good shape, but there are plenty of serviceable parts left.”
Yuri shakes the driver’s hand before prowling over to the trailer. He climbs onto a tire then onto the truck. He’s more agile than I expected. He moves along it, inspecting the vehicles. He arrives at an SUV with a spare tire on the back hatch. He pulls a knife and slices into it, pulling back the rubber. White powder pours out of the slit. He presses the rubber back into place before swiping his index finger through the tiny mound at his feet.
