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Ivan’s name flashes on the screen of my cell phone.
Though it’s the middle of the night, I hurry to pick up the call. After the way the past twenty-four hours unfolded, I need rest. But my head is killing me, making it impossible to drift off to sleep and, for a blissful moment, forget the world.
“Boss,” Ivan says. “Katarina has been spotted at Solanum.”
“Is your man still on her?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s keeping an eye on her from a distance,” Ivan replies. “Her friend is with her. They’ve both been drinking.”
I get up, put the phone on speaker, and start to get dressed. “Keep me posted if anything changes. And text me the address of the club. I want to be there just in case they decide to leave.”
“Will do,” he says. “Do you want me to meet you there?”
“No, I’ll do this alone,” I tell him, checking myself in the mirror. I adjust my collar and square my shoulders. “You get some rest. You’ve earned it.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he mumbles. “Keep your eyes open, Nik. We don’t know who else could be lurking in Solanum’s shadows.”
“Rest easy, brother,” I tell him and hang up.
A young man on security detail perks up when I walk into the hallway. “Everything okay, boss?”
“What car do you drive?” I ask, thinking I should go for something less conspicuous.
He seems to hesitate before he finally clears his throat and collects himself.
“It depends. Do you need a driver, sir, or someone to wait for you?” he asks in an overly professional manner.
“Neither,” I tell him and clear my throat. “I’ll be on my own tonight. It’s personal. So, what car do you drive?”
The man seems to relax, standing straighter.
“I have a black Honda Civic,” he replies.
“That will do,” I tell him. “I need your key.”
“Of course, sir,” he says as if on autopilot, handing it over.
“I’ll remember this,” I tell him with a nod. “Where did you park?”
“On West 79th, between Columbus and Amsterdam. South side of the street.”
“I’ll be back soon,” I say. “Wake up Miss Olga and tell her that I’ll be bringing our guest.”
I head out and get in the security guard’s modest car. In no time, I’m out on Riverside Drive, speeding downtown and keeping an eye on my back. This is it. I didn’t even need to wait weeks for the chance to snatch Katarina Sokolov.
She was practically gift-wrapped for me.
All I have to do is take her and stash her away.
It doesn’t take long for me to find Solanum in SoHo. It’s more hidden than the clubs I’m used to, which surely benefits its reputation of being exclusive.
I park the car in front of a pump, not wanting to take the time to look for a garage. This won’t take long. With a racing heart, I hurry out, cutting past the long line straight to the bouncer. His eyes widen as he recognizes me, and he immediately steps aside, letting me in.
“Welcome, Mister Volkov,” he says, as I slide him a hundred-dollar bill.
My phone pings with a text from Ivan confirming that Katarina is still here.
It takes a moment to spot her in the crowd. She’s in the VIP area, sitting dangerously close to some guy. Her head is tilted to the side. When I take another look at her, it’s obvious she’s been drinking.
