Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]

Chapter FIFTY THREE

Konstantin Ivanov

"I need to find out what kind of case they have against you both-- The Attorney General is probably going to hear arguments from the prosecutors to have me recuse myself due to conflict of interest--" Kirby relays her stream of thoughts on strategy, talking more to herself than me as I drive us downtown towards the precinct. I am far more distracted by my own curiosity and caught up in questions, like where exactly Lucky had gone this morning and why she hadn't woken me up?

She'd worn my shirt and taken my keys, forcing me to use my spares, but her actions only confirmed to me that she had every intention to return..

Lucky didn't leave me.. Wherever she went, she was coming back..

"Maybe I could call in a favour- I know some great defence attorneys, we can put together a legal team and-"

-BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ-

My busy mind and Kirby's anxious musings are both interrupted by the vibrating ring of my cell in my pocket..

-BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ-

I lift the phone to my ear, keeping my eyes on the road ahead as I answer, already dreading taking a call that only serves as a disruption to my priorities... "Da?"

"Tell me it iz done, Comrade?" Nika growls down the line, enquiring for what feels like the hundredth time after the demise of Detective Juarez.. The man is so fucking impatient, I wonder who would do his dirty work if I were to refuse.. I'm sure one of his other brigadiers would step up to fill my shoes.. But they could never work as efficiently and effectively as I do..

There is a reason he has kept me alive this long.. My kills are untraceable..

I have built a stirling reputation and a collective of men far more loyal to me than they are to him, both of which have allowed me to run businesses, make money and move unnoticed to the benefit of the entire Bratva brotherhood.. Meanwhile everything Nika does is to serve himself, he is a greedy and selfish leader.. One who takes from the pockets of every one of his soldiers and forces loyalty through fear of reprisals though unspeakable acts.. He has raped the wives of his brothers, he has slain their children and crippled their parents..

He is a damaged and psychotic soul that is due for harvest..

"Da, rabota sdelana.." I snap hastily in confirmation.. He doesn't need to know the details of Diago's death, that I had failed in my duty and that Lucky had been forced to carry out my directive.. It would only draw his attention back to the very person I am trying to protect..

Last we had seen each other I had spoken out of turn and proven disloyalty through my refusal of his unthinkable demand to sleep with My Sunshine.. I am sure Nika has some kind of punishment in mind to penalise me with, but there is nothing I can do to prevent it.. I must accept my fate he had planned and if the opportunity to overthrow the crown arises in the moment, I won't hesitate to take it..