Dirty Passions An Interracial Russian Mafia Romance (The Lion and The Mouse #5) - Kenya Wright Page 0,143

time to meet him. His name is Timur.” I looked his way. “Get out of Moscow. The longer you stay here, the more Kaz will want you dead.”

“We’ll be gone this evening.”

“Good.”

“But not forever.”

“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes. I got ready to talk again and glanced over my shoulder. But, Jean-Pierre had already headed the other way.

Max and Boris returned to my side.

Kaz’s men remained on across the street. One of them had his phone to his ear. Surely, he was letting Kaz know what was going on.

Damn it. Why, Pavel? I liked him.

Chapter 34

What’s next?

Emily

“What did he say?” Max asked.

“The person behind all this is Pavel, and that he’s working with someone on the outside.”

“Naw, man.” Max shook his head. “I fuck with Pavel. It can’t be him.”

“All the tortured men said his name.”

Max’s face held disbelief. “Maybe, some guy told him to say that shit.”

We rounded the corner and headed back to the penthouse.

Boris spoke, “And who would be the outsider?”

“I think this is all connected to business in Italy. But I have to talk to Kaz and figure this out. Until then. . .you see Pavel, stay close to him.”

We arrived at the penthouse.

“We’re supposed to stay close to you,” Boris said.

“Keep an eye on Pavel. Do you know where he is?”

Boris opened the door for me. “Kazimir sent him to watch the French.”

“Hmmm. I wonder if Pavel knew the French were looking for him.”

Max added, “Or figured it out today.”

“No matter what. You see Pavel, stay close, and let me know. But no matter what, don’t have him around my baby.”

Max eyed me. “And where will you be?”

“In the penthouse, waiting for Kaz to get home.”

Everyone stayed busy. Blue and Max took out the French’s cameras throughout the penthouse. I was tired of Jean-Pierre stalking us.

Meanwhile, the wait for Kaz didn’t last long. Barely twenty minutes after I finished talking to Jean-Pierre, Kaz met me inside the bedroom, pacing in front of the door with my gun still in its holster.

Without saying a word, he pulled me in his arms and held me.

“Baby,” I whispered against him. “I’ve got bad news.”

“Pavel said the French were heading here. And then, my men reported that you talked to them. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine and I did talk to him.” I met his eyes. “And. . .Jean-Pierre showed me the torture tapes.”

Kaz stiffened against me.

“I have the name.” I leaned away. “The inside guy is Pavel.”

Sadness broke across his face.

“Jean-Pierre didn’t know the guy that Pavel is working for, but the tortured men said that he’s in Italy. Jean-Pierre planned on finding Pavel and torturing him, but of course it was impossible to get his identity as a French guy in Moscow.”

Kaz let go of me and pulled out his phone.

I headed for my own phone. “I have the footage, if you want to see it.”

“No. You’re one of the only people that I completely trust. I believe you, and I have faith in your judgement.” He put his phone to his ear and spoke, “Where’s Pavel?”

My heartbeats increased.

The last thing I wanted to witness was Kaz torturing Pavel. I liked the man, but facts were facts. And if he conspired behind my baby’s back, then he would have to go.

“Okay.” Kaz grimaced. “Let me know as soon as you find him.”

My mouth opened in shock.

Kaz pocketed the phone. “No one has seen Pavel since an hour ago.”

“When was the last time you talked to him?”

“When he told me the French were on their way here.”

I returned to pacing. “Somehow Pavel was tipped off.”

“I tipped him off.”

“How?”

“He knew that Zahkar was dead. When he asked, I blurted out in anger that Abram was dead too, and that he should be careful to not meet their fates. From that, he must’ve known that it was only a matter of time before I came to him.”

“Wait. What?” I held my hand out to the side. “You killed Abram?”

“I did.” Kaz ran his fingers through his hair. “And I had David and his men head to Kapotnya, to shut down the brothel and kill all clientele on the premises tonight. He will be reporting to me soon.”

“Wow.” I walked over to the bed and sat down, needing a minute to gather my thoughts. “Abram is dead. Zahkar too. And now. . .Pavel.”

All of his friends are dead or will be. My poor lion.

“Mysh?”

I gave him a sad smile. “I don’t like that it’s Pavel.”

Kaz walked over to me. “Me either,