jumped out.
None did.
We entered the room.
Boris pointed. “That’s Erik.”
The man sat on a green couch with his hands up. Three men stood by him with their hands up too. Max grabbed their guns and shoved them down on the floor.
Two of my other men entered the room.
So, this is the little ruler of the krokodil house?
Broad and hard-looking, Erik resembled a gangster from a cartoon. Round head and pointy eyes buried deep under bushy brows. Huge nostrils and big pink lips above a fat chin. He had a fat body too that he’d dressed in a chocolate track suit.
Boris yelled at Erik. “Get up.”
He rose.
I gestured to him with my gun. “Do you speak English?”
Ignoring my question, he spoke fast to Boris.
I aimed at his head and spoke as good as I could in Russian. “Your people and you need to leave.”
He paused and spat in my direction. “I am not going anywhere! I am someone you do not want to know—”
I shot him three times—one in the forehead, another in the heart, and the last in his big belly. Boris took out his men. My people rummaged through the apartment.
Max yelled at them, “Anyone in the back?”
Boris headed that way and then returned. “Only a woman.”
Two guys pulled her out.
Nude, she held a syringe in her hand and stumbled forward. Her eyes had a dizzy look to them. She glanced at Erik but didn’t appear sad or alarmed as she muttered something. She had no teeth in her mouth.
I squinted, “What did she say?”
Boris frowned. “She wants to take a last hit.”
The men let her go. She took the syringe, stuck it in a vein on the inside of her hip, and injected the dark liquid.
Bile rose in my throat. “What should we do with her?”
Boris shrugged. “Maybe, give her some clothes and take her to the church.”
“I want more.” The woman pulled out the syringe and dropped it to the floor. Blood beaded from the tiny would. Then, she stumbled to the side and leaned against the wall, mumbling low in Russian.
Hell no. This drug doesn’t need to be anywhere in my district. I did the right thing.
My phone rang.
I pulled it out. “Hello?”
Kaz’s deep voice came on the line. “You’ve been busy, mysh.”
“Busy?”
“My people have told me quite a story.”
“Your men are fast with their info.”
“They’re just keeping me up to date.”
“And what did they say?”
His tone held anger. “That you’re in a drug house, shooting it up.”
“That’s not exactly how it went down. I only let out three shots.”
“Anyone important?”
“Abram may think so.”
“Very cute, Emily.” Kazimir groaned. “Get to the penthouse now. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Like what?”
“Get your ass to the penthouse and stay safe.” He hung up.
Alrighty. He’s pissed.
Chapter 23
Naughty Mouse
Kazimir
I sat on the balcony waiting on my mischievous mouse.
The staff prepared the table for dinner, setting out flowers and lighting candles. No food yet. I didn’t yell, before we dined.
What’s taking you so long, mysh? You should have arrived by now.
My men did more research on the people her men and she had killed in the building. Although Abram claimed to not make money in Kapotnya, he’d been a busy man—drug houses and a mega brothel for the hugely rich and depraved.
While Emily hadn’t acted on the brothel yet, she would. It was only a matter of time.
Pavel stepped onto the balcony.
I glared at him. “Where is Emily?!”
Pavel cleared his throat.. “She has been back for a while, but she wanted to clean up and change.”
I bet she did.
I fisted my hands. “Was she injured in any way?”
“No.”
“Clothes tattered? Or blood on her shirt?”
“No.” Pavel shook his head. “Emily had on a bulletproof vest. And her hair was in place, pulled back in a bun. I believe they call it a chignon du cou. This is a bun at the nape of the neck with a small braid wrapped around the bun and the rest of the hair was slicked back. Not even a loose strand out of place—”
“Enough with her hair, Pavel!”
Pavel cleared his throat. “It looked like no one had touched her. No injuries at all.”
My men had reported the same. Still, I had to see it with my own eyes. “Thank you.”
“Kazimir, what are we going to do with the French?”
“David has them in his apartment. His people are watching them. That’s enough.”
Pavel nodded. “It’s a good idea to keep them close.”
“Of course it is. So, what is the problem?”
“I talked to one of David’s men. The French