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“That’s the whole idea. Can you imagine how humiliating it will be for a man like this, who thinks so highly of himself, to be seen in public in this condition?”
“I don’t know who’s better at this whole revenge thing — you, or your bunny.” Eduard shook his head, shooting me an annoyed look in the rearview mirror.
“I guess we’ll find out whenever Kazimir shows himself.” I pulled my cigarettes out and lit two at the same time, handing one over to Eduard before taking a real drag of my own.
“Well, we know he knows about Daria,” he said, exhaling a cloud of smoke even as he spoke. “Sergei talked to him personally on the phone, but Kazimir wouldn’t reveal his location or what the fuck he’s doing here.”
“We know what he’s doing here. He’s probably looking for me. Or Misha.”
Eduard didn’t disagree, which wasn’t all that comforting.
“So, what did Sergei say?” I prompted.
“How sorry he was for his loss.” Eduard snorted, taking another quick puff. “Can you imagine? Apologizing to someone after you shot their brother?”
“Did he say anything else? About Viktor or Yuri?”
“Somehow Kazimir already knew about both of them. Except, he thinks it was you who killed Viktor.”
“Of course he does. I’m sure Dimitri told him and Sergei didn’t bother correcting him. Why would he?” I rubbed my forehead, willing away the dull throbbing that took up residence in my temples. It refused to budge, no matter how many cigarettes I smoked. “And now he’s coming to kill me, no doubt.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. Sergei won’t sanction that. And besides, the man’s been in prison for the past ten years.”
“And you think that somehow makes him less dangerous?”
“It at least makes him ten years older.”
“And ten years angrier.”
“It’s not your fault he was arrested. Many people had it out for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Viktor was the one who tipped off the police, considering what he tried to pull with Sergei. I mean, there was a reason Viktor left Russia and I’m not sure it was necessarily by choice.”
“I know…” I inhaled as much nicotine as I could, releasing the smoke through my nose slowly.
“And it’s not your fault Daria was killed. Misha’s the one who should be worried about that.”
“I know that too.”
“Then what areyouworried about?” Eduard asked with a shrug.
“What’s taking him so long to get here? We know he flew into New York. So where the fuck is he?”
Before Eduard could offer a possible answer, Phillip started to stir. Perfect timing.
“Are we close?” I asked, snuffing out my cigarette on the bottom of my boot.
“Two more blocks.”
Pulling up the black gaiter over my nose, I crouched next to the door, waiting for Eduard’s signal.
When the light changed green, Eduard whipped into the center of the intersection at State and Madison and slammed on the brakes. I threw open the back door and shoved Phillip out.
He hit the pavement hard and rolled a couple of feet before landing, face-down. Cars honked and tires screeched. People shouted — at us, at Phillip, at each other.
During the resulting chaos, Eduard gunned it, zigzagging away through the city grid as quickly as he could. “I can’t believe you just let him go. I thought for sure you would kill him for what he did.”
“It’s part of Roan’s plan.”
“Yeah, well I still can’t believe you’re lettinghimcall the shots either. What the fuck does he know about any of this?”
