The God (Bratva Blood #3)- S.R. Jones Page 0,59
armed, but he was leaving to go to Paris for a while. I think Andrius has other armed help. I’ve seen distinctly weapon-like bulges on the maids under their uniforms.”
“Christ, he is paranoid,” Number Two mumbles. “Armed fucking maids?”
“I’ve had an invite to go for a drink with Vasily,” I tell them. “Should I stand him up? I thought I’d say yes in case you wanted me to?”
They’ll know I went anyway. They monitor my phone, see where I am always. They probably spy on me too. Who knows what they do or how deep their tentacles are?
“Go, but he’s not really of interest now. That may change. So any information you can get on him will be good.”
“I don’t get why?” I blurt out. “He’s the one in charge now. Konstantin really does appear to have washed his hands of things.”
In the past, they’ve always had me spy and report on men of wealth and power who use that wealth and power for nefarious purposes. I got involved when I was recruited to this shadowy organization from the Army. When I realized they weren’t British Intelligence as I had been led to believe, I tried to leave, but they used the best and most effective blackmail one can against a mother. My child.
I sag in my chair, so sick of this.
“You promised me. You said if I wormed my way into Konstantin’s life, it would be the last job, and after that I would be free. That Esme would be free.”
Esme. I think of her. Named after her grandmother, who I lost when I was only young myself. Long brown hair and big brown eyes. She looks like her father. I lost him too. He got blown up in Iraq. I have no one. Nothing. Only my daughter.
These bastards know that, and they use it against me at every turn.
“You failed, though, didn’t you?” Number Two asks, all reasonable.
I hate him. I want him dead.
Would Vasily help me if I asked him? Would Konstantin? Would they take me in and give me shelter and hunt these shadowy men down? Find out who they are working for? I used to think, at first, these men were a secretive part of the British State; now I know they most certainly are not.
“I might have failed to screw him, but I got to work for him, and I got to visit his home in Corfu. I’ve given you all the information I can on the man.”
“Is his partner friendly with you?” Number One asks.
I shrug. “We get on okay, but I don’t really know her.”
“Change that. If you go back again, get to know her. Become her new best friend. She’s probably missing her girlfriends out there. Get to know her and get invited to the beach again. It sounds like they are relaxed there.”
I laugh in disbelief. “You want me to do what at the beach? What the hell are you hinting at? I don’t call it relaxed. With an armed guard and Konstantin armed?”
“Does he swim?” Number Two asks.
I nod. “Yes, but he takes his gun in with him, in a plastic bag. Don’t forget he’s Spetsnaz.” I shake my head. “He’s not an ordinary Joe or a street guy.”
“Oh, we know what he is.” Number Two smiles sadistically.
“Can I see her?” I ask, hating myself for showing this weakness. I let them use my one weakness against me. I should walk away, but then I have no doubt they’d harm her. This way, she gets a fighting chance. If I die doing this, which seems highly likely with the way things are heading, at least Esme gets to live.
Number Three opens his briefcase and takes out an iPad. He opens it, puts it on the desk, and messes around for a moment. I hear her voice before I see her. My baby.
She’s seven now.
Her uniform is pretty. I wish they’d tell me which school it is they have her at now. I’ve seen her in three different uniforms to date. I’ve looked them up, but found nothing. None of them have anything distinctive like a school coat of arms by which to go on.
She’s playing, squatting down, looking at something on the ground.
A shadow looms over her, and a horribly familiar voice says, “Don’t touch that, Esme. It’s poisonous.”
Number Two. He’s with her in this video. Oh God.
I cover my mouth because I feel like I’m going to throw up.
He hunkers down and smiles at her. She smiles back,