The Bodyguard

17

"Where are we going?" I ask Nik, as we get in the taxi.

"To steal." He responds. My jaw drops. I grab his hand. He turns, looking at me, obviously startled.

"Is this a joke to you?"

"To Pierre's please." Nik tells the driver. He turns to me. "Not at all, Ms. Leister, in fact, this is the best way to get to Volkov, as you call him."

"By stealing? Are you kidding me? Are you trying to turn me into a criminal? In a foreign country?"

"I'll explain better when we get there." He says, and I look at the driver. I look back at Nik, tilting a brow. What if he told someone about our conversation?

Nik nods at me, and says something to the driver in Russian. "There's no need to worry."

***

"What is this place?" I get off the cab, adjusting my face cap. Nik walks beside me.

"It's a clothing store. It's where I shop from. And, Ms. Leister, you don't need to wear that here," He says, referring to my cap. "No one would recognize you here."

"Except for Volkov." I state.

He chuckles. "Well, isn't that what you want?"

I exhale, a sudden wave of tiredness engulfing me. It suddenly felt like I was carrying a very heavy weight on my shoulders, which in reality, I truly was.

As we go in, I see that the employees are all smiles with Nik and I. The store looked expensive. Scratch that, it looked really expensive, luxurious, even. Was Nik that rich to command such respect?

A woman walks out of nowhere, and immediately, begins to chat with Nik. I don't understand a word of what they're saying, so I just stand there, mute.

"This is my colleague," Nik looks at me, his mouth ajar, and his left brow up. I take the cue and nod,
"Andrea." I state, shaking her hand.

"Would she understand English?" I ask Nik.

The woman laughs, "Of course, I do." She states, and I chuckle nervously. He still hadn't told me what we were doing here, or how robbing a boutique would lead us to Volkov. Could it be that Volkov owner the store? Was this an undercover spot for Volkov's drugs? Money laundering?

"Ms. Leister." I hear, as I snap back into reality.

"Hm?"

"Our changing room for a ready. Shall we?"

"Our?" I ask.

"Yes." He simply responds.

*

"You may leave now, thank you." Nik says to the attendant in the changing room.

"Does everyone in Russia understand English?" I ask him, curious.

"No, not exactly. It's taught in schools, but not everyone takes it. Besides, you could always learn if you wanted to." He explains. I nod.

"So, why are we here? What exactly is your plan?"

"There's a nightclub very popular here. It's located in the heart of the city."

"And?"

"It's located in the heart of the city, which technically speaking, is the middle ground. It means that all families have a right to it."

"Mafia families?"

"Yes. As far as I know, Volkov's family is part. It means that his men would obviously be there. I heard tonight, there's an initiation ritual. I don't know from which family, but it's probably a son or nephew who's getting initiated."