Petrov took a long drink from his mug. "And they say Russians are pessimists."
"You are pessimists," Mattie said.
"No, we are realists who have been proven right so many times that the universe has given up trying to surprise us." He took another drink. "I don't think those other immortals can help us even if they want to, but I'm willing to give it a try. Besides, we need their help even if they only agree to save Dave and us."
Mattie chewed her lower lip again. "There's another problem we haven't addressed."
"Just one?" Petrov muttered.
"Whoever answers the phone might be the clan's compeller, and he might try to compel whoever is on our end of the line. Dave said that he was strong enough to bind Losham through a phone call. What happens if he tries to compel you?"
"To what end?" Dimitri asked. "We are powerless. That's why we are reaching out to them."
"The enhancement formula," Petrov said. "That's valuable. Or they can try to make us sabotage it."
That was a valid concern, but what choice did they have?
"It's a risk, but since we are volunteering the information they want, they have no reason to force it out of us. In fact, it's an advantage. They can verify very easily that we are telling the truth." Petrov drained the last of his drink and set the mug down. "It all sounds like a bad movie, so their ability to compel the truth from us is a plus."
"Or a good one," Mattie said.
Petrov glanced at her. "What?"
"A good movie. It sounds like a good movie. The kind where everything seems impossible, and the heroes are outnumbered and outgunned, and then they find a way because they have to."
"This isn't a movie,devochka."
"Still, it's a good story."
Dimitri agreed.
Communication was, at its core, storytelling, and the story they had to tell was compelling precisely because it was wild. Unprecedented events required unprecedented narratives, and the clan had already demonstrated a willingness to operate in the unprecedented.
They had captured Navuh, and they were planning an extraction of five bodies in stasis from a fortress island that was guarded by more than ten thousand immortal warriors.
"Dave still needs to agree to the plan," Dimitri said. "And we need to work out the timing."
"We'll discuss it with Dave tomorrow," Petrov said.
When Dimitri started gathering the empty trays, his eyes met Mattie's, and the look she gave him was filled with meaning.
Tonight,she mouthed, and the word pulsed between them like a shared heartbeat.
"Good night, Petrov," Dimitri said.
"Good night, children. Try not to break anything while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?" Mattie asked.
"The bar." Petrov winked. "I'll say hello to your friend there."
Dimitri doubted that was where Petrov was going, but he didn't voice his suspicion. If Petrov wanted to pretend that he was going to the bar instead of admitting that he was going to the brothel, it was his prerogative.
23
MATTIE
As Dimitri closed the bedroom door behind them, the world shrank to a size that Mattie could manage.
