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“Timur,” Pavel orders, “stop at the mall.”
Timur nods, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I need to get out of here for a few minutes, go to the toilet, breathe, walk, clear my head, and try to shake this awful feeling of dread that has me in its grip.
We pull into a small mall. Lev is in visible pain from his leg braces, which have been on too long. He hasn’t had his physio in two days, but he insists on coming with us. We pile out of the car, and I stand, taking a few breaths of air.
“Wait at the vehicle,” Pavel orders Timur.
Pavel, you have two women and a man who can barely walk,“ Timur points out. “We can get another vehicle if it’s compromised. You need someone else with you.”
Pavel stiffens and turns to Timur. “I gave you an order. If I need you, we’re on comms, and you’ll hear.”
Timur looks like he’s about to argue, but Pavel’s stern look makes him stand down and nod. Something is going on here, but I’m too desperate to pee to ponder on the inner conflicts of my brother’s small army.
Pavel starts directing us toward the bathroom. He offers to help Lev, who is trying not to limp, and I can see there is pain in his every step, but he pushes through. I make a mental note to ask my brother about Lev’s injuries.
“You two go ahead of us,” Stacy calls. “Lev and I will follow.”
Pavel nods, but we don’t walk too far ahead of them.
“What’s up with Timur?” I ask Pavel as he makes his way to the information desk. “He doesn’t seem to take orders too well, and Boris didn’t seem to like him.”
“Timur once held my position,” Pavel tells me. “He was Konstantin’s second in command alongside me but had rank over me. Like I am with Boris.”
“Oh!” My eyes widen. “What happened?”
“Timur got his sister, Valentina, killed,” Pavel tells me, stopping at the information desk. “Where are the bathrooms?”
“Around the back,” the woman tells us. “You have to go through that door.” She points to the right. “Then around the building. Follow the yellow footsteps.”
Pavel thanks her and directs us.
“Why doesn’t Boris like him?” I ask.
“He’s Boris’s older brother,” Pavel answers, and my brows shoot up. “Timur is lucky that Roman intervened on his behalf, or your brother would’ve killed Timur.”
“That’s a bit harsh. I mean, Timur’s sister died.”
“It’s also Timur’s fault that we didn’t get to Lev in time,” Pavel explains. “I think Timur is fortunate that Konstantin didn’t have the time to kill him that night as he nearly lost two people he loved that night.”
“What?” I gasp, my mind trying to take in the implications of Pavel’s words. “My brother loved Timur and Boris’s sister?”
“Yes.” Pavel nods, stopping to let Stacy and Lev catch up with us. “Valentina was Konstantin’s third in command. They were in love, but your brother never let his emotions ever belittle Valentina’s abilities, if you understand.”
“I think I do.” My brow furrows. “He treated her fairly and never tried to protect her or give her special treatment.”
“Yes.” Pavel nods. “Exactly. Your brother knows every one of his soldier’s strengths and weaknesses. He makes sure they are in a position that empowers their strengths and teaches them to strengthen their weaknesses. Konstantin is a brilliant man and statistician. Since he commanded the Zhukov Special Forces, we have become five times more efficient.”
“You really admire Konstantin.”
“All Konstantin’s men admire him. We would gladly walk through fire for him.“ Pavel’s eyes and voice reflect his loyalty to my brother.
“Except Timur?”
“Timur, me, and your brother grew up together. Or at least from the time Konstantin came to Russia when he was twelve,” Pavel explains. “We’ve been best friends most of our lives. But we’ve always known and respected Konstantin’s position amongst us.” He sighs and shakes his head. “Timur is fiercely loyal to your brother. But he is also a family man who loves his siblings. He was responsible for them when his father was killed, and his mother withered from the pain and died of a broken heart.”
I push my legs together and start doing kegels to try to keep myself from wetting my pants. I glance back to see Stacy helping Lev adjust something on his brace. I need to get to the toilet, but I also want to hear the rest of the story.
I know that Pavel won’t continue it in the car and will probably not answer again if I try to get him to talk at the compound. This is perhaps the only chance I’ll get, and I have to find out more before Stacy and Lev join us.
