Page 112 of Warlord’s Empire

“Whoa!” Havel said, stepping between Radik and Branislav. “We have a plan we need to stick to here. You agreed.”

Radik stepped back from Branislav. “Apologies. I didn’t like his tone.”

Nor did I, Jozef signed, watching dispassionately as Branislav sputtered and gagged. But maybe you could pull your punches a little.

“Yeah, man,” Havel said, rubbing his jaw where Radik had punched him when Havel refused to allow him to go after the ambulance. “Your fists are made of concrete.”

Radik grinned, unrepentant. “I will give you a chance to take your revenge later in the boxing ring.”

“Deal!” Radik didn’t doubt Havel wanted to fight. They were roughly equal in size and ability. It would be fun to pit their skills against one another.

Jozef snapped his fingers to gain their attention. Branislav had quieted down, but his wife was now wailing.

“What should we do with this one?” Havel asked, circling Irena.

“Please don’t hurt my wife,” Branislav begged, his words slurred. “She’s innocent.”

“You brought her into this when you ran to her family,” Havel said dismissively.

Radik added, “She enjoyed the riches you provided from your corrupt tenure in office. She is not an innocent.”

“We were in a partnership,” Branislav appealed to Jozef. “Your wife, Dr. Koba, saved my life once. We were friends. Please, at least let Irena go. I’ll do anything.”

With those final three words, he buried his wife. They told Radik how much the man loved his wife, which meant she could be wielded for maximum mental anguish as they tortured him.

We were never friends, Jozef signed while Havel translated. My wife saved your life because it’s her job. It’s my job to run the Czech branch of the Bratva. I own this city and I own this country. You are a fly who has become annoying and must be swatted to make room for the next fly I install in the office of Prime Minister.

“Please, I’ll do anything you want. We’ll disappear and you’ll never hear from us again.” Branislav finally seemed to realize how insignificant he was. He was Prime Minister because Jozef allowed it and now Jozef was withdrawing his support in the most brutal manner.

I’m done talking, Jozef said. Kill the wife.

“Allow me,” Radik said, bloodlust rushing through his veins.

“No!” Branislav screamed as Radik put a bullet between her eyes. She slumped forward in her chair, dead. Branislav sobbed, “Oh god, Irena.”

Kneeling next to his chair, Radik said, “You would have done this to Saskia if given the chance. This pain you feel is what you wished on us when you targeted one who we love. Spend your last few moments on this earth thinking and atoning, for the sake of your now departed wife.”

Radik didn’t know if Branislav made his peace, but soon the Prime Minister was beyond caring as Radik, Havel, and Jozef made short work of their prisoner, taking out their rage on his rapidly weakening body.

As they finished, Branislav having taken his last rattling breath, Havel looked down at the mess they’d made. “Not sure how we’re going to make this look like a car accident.” All three of them were spattered in Branislav’s blood.

We’ll bribe the coroner, Jozef signed with a shrug. The world will believe they both died on the highway, coming back from visiting Irena’s sister in Minsk. Come, I prefer to finish this operation with the scent of something besides blood in my nostrils.

Jozef led the two men to the house and into his office where a fire snapped cheerfully in the fireplace, a vase of white roses on the mantelpiece. Jozef handed out cigars and the three of them lit up, the scent of blood, roses, and cigar smoke mingling in the air.

Jozef held his hand out to Radik.

Radik took it, giving it a squeeze. “Truce,” he said the word Jozef couldn’t say out loud. “We are bound by this moment.”

A companionable silence fell until Havel broke it. “But fuck with Saskia and you end up in a chair in the shed, like Branislav.”

Radik grinned. “I would expect nothing less.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

6 Months Later

Saskia clapped enthusiastically, peeking past the crowd in front of her as Deputy Saagan approached the podium. Radik said something into his earpiece, and she noticed Saagan’s security move a little closer. It wasn’t Radik’s job to adjust Saagan’s security, but he thrived on this sort of thing and Saskia didn’t mind sharing the responsibility with him.