Chapter 10
"Ibrahim Mazur" my father's voice rang out, "what business do you have?"
"Baba" I whispered into the phone.
"Kiz?" he asked skeptically.
"Evet, Baba" I replied, "its me."
"What kind of trouble are you in now?"
"What makes you think I am in trouble?" I replied, the sigh on the other end let me know that he knew it was serious.
"You didn't murder a queen did you?"
"Yok Baba" I answered angrily, "of course I didn't kill a queen. I need help finding someone. Do you have a pen and paper?" He always had them at hand, just in case. "I need the current whereabouts of Victor Dashkov."
"May I ask why?" he was skeptical of receiving an answer. What the hell. I had nothing left to lose.
"I plan to kill him" I replied with as much indifference as I could muster.
"Ah" he said, I could hear his pen scratching the paper. Then I heard the click of a busy typer. "I am so proud," well that was good news, "I will call you as soon as I locate him." I thanked him and clicked the phone shut and headed back to the apartment.
"My vacation to Baia will have to wait" I sighed as I walked through the door. "You two go on ahead. Oh and would you mind giving a message to Dimitri?" Mikhail was more than happy to oblige, "Tell him that I love him."
"Where are you going?" Mikhail asked as I packed a single bag.
"I am off to find Victor Dashkov" I replied packing my recently cleaned stake, "and then I am going to kill him. When everything is said and done, no one will be the wiser. There will be no body, no murder investigation, and certainly no funeral."
"Rose stop" Mikhail closed the door, blocking my route. "You can't be serious. How can you kill a moroi and a royal moroi at that? If someone discovered what you did, you would be stripped of your title again and maybe even thrown in prison."
"It doesn't matter" I replied pushing past him. "I have to do this, because of me he is walking the world doing god knows what. I made the mistake of breaking him out of prison, now I have to right my wrong."
"Two wrongs don't make a right" Sonya said as I walked through the living room.
"Listen, I don't know what he is up to" I glared at them. "All I know is that he is planning something big. Too big. If I don't stop him, people might die. Those deaths will be on my hands." I slammed the door behind me. I hailed a taxi to the nearest airport.
I sat there for two hours just staring at the departures and arrivals. If I were Victor, where would I hide? Somewhere obvious, so obvious no one looks there. Court! I purchased a ticket and was in the air within hours. A four hour layover left me stranded in London. The flight canceled due to a terrible storm. I took a room at the airport hotel. I had slept for an hour and forty minutes when I was awoken by my stupid phone.
"Hello" I mumbled groggily into the cell.
"Rose its Abe" I sat up and fumbled for the pad of paper and hotel pen that sat on the nightstand. "I had to go through some serious contacts to get the information."
"Where is he Abe?" I demanded tapping the pen impatiently.
"I have a request" he said, "I want you to take Pavel on your little mission. You need some back up."
"No!" I didn't yell, just spoke firmly. "I don't need any help. I just need a location."
"Oh stop having a temper tantrum like some kind of child" he demanded. "if you want my help, then you will have to abide by my rules."
"Your rules!" I was shouting now. "I played by your rules for five years. This is my personal mission and I am going to do it my way. Either you help me or I will find another mobster to give me information." I pounded a fist on the nightstand. I ignored the crack of wood and continued my rant, "if you don't help me I will sign on with Bartolini." I shouldn't have gone that far.
My father and I attended a very prestigious party in Romania. I met several of the European mobsters such as Lorenzo Bartolini. His personal guardian and I had it out after a minor disagreement. Mr. Bartolini was very impressed when I kicked his guardian's ass that he offered me a job. Promised to pay twice whatever Abe paid. He didn't know that Abe was my father. Most people don't know that. I declined but promised to keep him in mind if I chose to leave Abe's service.
"You wouldn't" Abe's voice was business, "of all the ridiculous notions. My own daughter betray me and work for my worst enemy."
"Information is business and business is money" I threw his own words in his face, "I need that information."
"He's in Las Vegas" he sighed, "Pavel will meet you there." Then I heard the click of a phone disconnecting.
Well at least I had my location. I rubbed my eyes and walked through the hotel lobby and back into the airport. The storm had eased and some flights were planned to leave soon. I booked a ticket on a flight scheduled to leave in an hour. I rushed back to my room for my bag and caught my flight.
I changed flights in Chicago before heading out to Las Vegas. As my father promised, I found Pavel waiting nervously. I waved and followed him to the car.
"I guess no one is out in the early mornings" I commented as we drove through the empty streets.
"Most people come out at night for the all you can eat buffets, gambling, and drinking" he replied pulling up to the Luxor hotel. "Here we are."
"Leave it to Abe to book this place" I sighed, "so much for trying to stay under the radar." We checked into the hotel. Abe had booked us two rooms in the pyramid with a spectacular view of the strip. I was exhausted as I threw my bag into the plush carpet. The bed was covered in gold satin sheets. I don't think my head even hit the pillow before I fell asleep.
It was night before I awoke. Damn jet lag. I felt like shit. I needed a drink. I showered and changed my clothes before heading down stairs. I took a seat at the bar and ordered a vodka and coke. Yes coke goes with almost every alcohol. Two drinks later I was pretty happy.
"Hmm" a man sitting in the next chair sized me up. "A dhampir. Long hair, not a guardian. Yet the face is familiar." He rested his chin on his fist as he examined my face, "Rose Hathaway, I assume. By look of those scars, you have had many run-ins with strigoi."
I emptied my glass and ordered another, "yes. Still a guardian, only in love with my hair. Definitely the name in question. Strigoi suck."
"There is more vodka in that drink than coke" he replied. I looked down at my nearly clear drink. A small line of coke lined the bottom of the glass.
"That's the way I like it" I replied taking a sip of my fresh drink. "Moroi" I examined him. He had dark hair that curled down to the nape of his neck. It took me a moment to put a name to the face. "Russian in descent, raised by your mother in Spain. You speak Russian, Spanish, French, and Italian. Your guardians are sitting at the table behind us, but you wanted to speak to me. You might want to threaten me." I laughed, "good luck!"
"Abe Mazur keeps files on all his business associates" he replied.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Sergio Delgado" I smiled. "What brings you to Vegas?"
"The same thing that brings you here" he replied, snapping me into attention. "Yes, my spies informed me of your little plan. I want in and I am willing to back your little operation."
"Why?" I asked setting aside my drink.
"Ten years ago, Victor used my… services to gain information on a select group of royals" he took a sip of his red wine, "the point is, he didn't pay up in full. His empty promise left me in trouble. Five years it took me to regain some of the status I once held, but I can't get it all back."
"Revenge is sweet" I said after a moment of silence I added, "why didn't you take him out before."
"I had planned to have him assassinated in Tavarsov," he replied with indifference, "someone messed that up."
"Sorry" I said before I could stop the word. His eyebrow shot up. A small greedy smile crossed his face. I asked the bar tender for a glass of coke.
"Cunning, viscious, and absolutely gorgeous" he said reaching out to touch my hair. I slapped his hand away and he let out a small amused laugh. "Such a prize for anyone in need of a highly qualified guardian."
"My loyalties lie with Abe" I replied shortly. "However as of right now we both have a common goal. What do you have to offer?"
"Five highly trained guardians and myself" he replied taking a sip of his wine. "I am a fire user, I want to watch his body burn to ashes. I need to know that he can not survive."
"Victor has at least two guardians with him at all times" I said sipping my coke, "he also keeps a small entourage of moroi. All of which are highly trained killers. He himself specialized in earth, but I suspect his strength to lie in charming objects."
"Yes, I have heard about the necklace" he replied simply.
I cringed at the thought of that day, before my trouble all began. "He also keeps a pack of psi hounds" I continued. "His greatest strength lies with his brother."
"Victor Dashkov has no siblings" he replied confidently.
"I have met his brother" I replied, "the man is smart and conniving. Victor believes him to be weak minded but the man is more than capable of fending for himself. His specialty is Spirit."
I watched him as he took into account all the information I had given him. "The alchemists assured me that he has no siblings, only a daughter long dead."
"Natalie, yes she is dead. I watched her die after she attacked me" I replied as the light headed feeling of the vodka began to subside. "I tell you in all honest faith, that I have met and acquired knowledge about his illegitimate half-brother."
"Does he have a name?"
"He does, but I don't know if I can trust you with it yet" I replied sipping half my drink.
"Rose!" Pavel found me. He rushed towards me, but was met by four guardians forming a wall between us and him. "Don't trust him Rose."
"Pavel sit" I ordered him. He had no choice but to obey. As the daughter of Abe Mazur, I was technically in charge. He grunted but did as I said. Sergio's guardians returned to their chairs. "Like I said" I continued, "trust is an issue I have. It's not gained easily."
"I understand" his eyes remained on Pavel. "Why would Mr. Mazur allow his two best guardians to run this kind of a mission?" I didn't answer, only sipped my drink. "This is your own personal vendetta" he was thinking out loud, "Mr. Mazur represented you in court five years ago, I remember that story. He won your case, even though all the evidence pointed to you." I could see the wheels turning, but he couldn't figure it out.
"We will need a contract" I replied standing up. He snapped his fingers and one of his guardians stepped forward and placed a single sheet of paper on the counter. I picked it up and read it three times. "Plain, simple, and to the point" I replied, "I will look it over and return it to you with my corrections."
"Corrections?" he looked skeptical. "What kind of corrections?"
"It's too open for interpretation" I replied. "I like to be specific when it comes to contracts."
"Abe Mazur is very particular as well" he sighed looking at the pathetic excuse for a contract. Basically it said that both parties had to be in constant contact with the others. "How about this, I will assign one of my men to you. You go about your business, and everything else. My guardian will keep me informed, if you head out I will go."
"Ha" I let out a burst of laughter, "so he can murder me in my sleep? No way."
At that moment my phone rang. Abe. I answered in Turkish, keeping everything business like. I wasn't taking any chances.
"Don't get yourself into trouble" he replied when I explained the situation. "Sergio Delgado is extremely dangerous, however he does have it out for Dashkov. They had a big fall out some ten years ago."
"I will watch my back, sir" he laughed as he listened to me be formal. I suppose it reminded him of those good four years we had in Turkey together. "Are you adequately covered?"
"Don't worry" he replied, "I have four guardians and Belikov is on his way."
Shock rang through and I answered in english by accident "why is Dimitri going to the house?"
"Turkish Rose" he reminded me. "Guardian Belikov has requested information on your whereabouts, we are meeting in a few hours to discuss terms for the disclosure of the information." I moaned in discontent.
"No" I replied, in English again. "Stay away from Dimitri, I will contact him myself. No strings, don't corrupt him into this line of work."
"I don't corrupt" he mumbled as I hung up my phone. Sergio watched with amusement.
"Interesting" he replied glancing at Pavel. I could only imagine the discomfort there. "Oh! He is protecting you. Abe didn't release two guardians he sent one with you. Why? What is your relationship to him?"
"If I told you that, I would have to kill you" I replied with a smile. "Excuse me, I have to make a very important call. I will discuss your offer with my partner and we will get back to you." I turned and walked away, Pavel flanking my right.
Chapter 11
"Dimitri" I said as I heard the phone being picked up.
"Roza?" he replied. "I am on my way to Turkey..."
"No" I interrupted him, "come to Las Vegas. I am hunting someone here. I could really use an extra body."
"Who?" he asked. I could hear the bustle of people. He was in an airport.
"Victor Dashkov" I replied.
"Roza" he sighed,
"Don't make a deal with Abe" I replied. I realized at that moment that Pavel wasn't behind me. I turned around to see an empty hallway. I back tracked while talking to Dimitri. "Pavel and I are in Vegas looking for him. I have an offer from Sergio Delgado for help. I will tell you where I am, I will even wait for you before going after him. Just please… Please don't make a deal with Abe." I didn't want him to throw away his life and career like that.
He sighed after a moment, "will you wait for me before you act."
"Yes, yes I promise" I replied. I saw Pavel sitting under the stairs. "Pavel what the hell are you doing?..." Something hard and heavy hit me in the back of the head. I fell to the ground as my vision failed.
"Roza! Roza what happened?" Dimitri yelled into the phone. "ROZA…" was the last thing I heard as the phone snapped into pieces and my hearing failed.
***Several hours later***
"She's awake" a man's voice rang out. My head was screaming from the pain. I tried to sit up, but found my hands and legs tied to something. I was laying on something soft, very soft. I cracked open my eyes to see the most spectacular view. There were large windows on every side of the room. The bathroom, bedroom, and living room were one space separated only by half walls. Well the toilet was in its own closet near the door. A single guardian stood next to the door eyeing me suspiciously.
"What the hell is this?" I shouted. I was handcuffed to a four poster bed. The canopy was pulled back to ensure that I could see the view. I eyed the guardian, he was one of Sergio's men from earlier. "Sergio Delgado will pay for this," I promised.
"No need for that" Victor's voice replied as the door opened. "Sergio Delgado was disposed of.
Chapter 12
"Rosemarie Hathaway" my father's voice echoed through the phone. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"Baba" I whined.
"Don't take that voice with me" he scowled.
"Fine" I changed tactics, I put on my business face. My business face must be scarier than my guardian mask because both Dimitri and Pavel stepped away from me. "Here's how it went. We spotted the object of our desire yesterday. He travels with two moroi and six dhampirs. Need I remind you how he fights with his element? I didn't think so. The man plays dirty. Delgado offered me five men, dhampirs and I needed them."
"Are you suggesting that the three of you can't handle the situation?" his voice was teasing, almost challenging. "What happened to my overly confident and foolish daughter?"
"Foolish!" I shouted. People on the street were staring at me. "How dare you call me foolish? You know what I went through right after I left court." I turned away from Dimitri. "I am confident; I could handle him and his posse on my own. For once I chose to use my head and plan. I want that man dead, and by god I am going to get it done!"
"I hope you're in your own room and not screaming on the street" his voice remained at its normal pitch. God I hated his self control.
"Contact Pavel if you want information" I shouted into the phone before slamming it closed and shoving it back in my pocket.
I was still facing away from Dimitri and Pavel. I smoothed out my clothes, took a deep breath, smiled and turned around. "Riviera here we come."
The cab ride was silent except for the small talk of the cabbie. He commented on the weather and tourists then asked us where we were from. One Russian, one Turk and one American, we were quite the car load.
We arrived at the Riviera around eleven. I checked us in at the front desk. I requested the third floor. Unreachable from the ground but wouldn't kill me if I jumped down. Good for escape. Dimitri carried our bags and I pressed the elevator button. Pavel stormed off to his room. Dimitri opened the door and threw the bags into the room. Then he swept me off my feet and into his arms. He carried me into the room.
"I always wanted a pretend honeymoon," I laughed as the door shut.
"It's the same thing" he replied setting me down on the bed, "we are starting a new life. However if you want to get married, we are in Vegas."
"Tempting" I teased. "Although I'm not really sure I am ready for that kind of commitment."
"Roza" he whispered leaning down and gently kissing me. No more words were needed. The touching and kissing started off gentle and soft but soon grew passionate and rough. Before I knew it, we were naked and happy.
"What time is that meeting?" Dimitri asked as his hands caressed my back.
"Two" I replied, "What time is it now?"
"One"
"Crap" I said jumping out of bed. "I have to get ready. Okay shower, teeth, hair, makeup…no outfit….first I have to choose an outfit." I opened my bag, nothing. "Shit" I ran over to the phone and dialed the front desk.
"Hello, my name is Joy" a kind woman's voice answered on the first ring, "how may I help you?"
"Do you have dry cleaning?"
"Yes miss Hathaway" she replied, "In only an hour we can guarantee any one item."
"That's too much time" I thought of another solution, "do you have a dress shop nearby?"
"Tell me what you want, what size and how much" she replied thoughtfully, "I will have something sent up."
"Excellent" I replied, "I need a cocktail dress, dark red like a good wine. "The price is not a concern. Charge it to the card." She informed me that my dress would arrive in less than twenty minutes.
I showered, applied makeup, and removed several articles of jewelry. A knock at the door announced my dress. I flung the door open. The bell boy passed me a garment bag. I tipped him a twenty and headed back to the restroom. I opened the bag to see the dress. It was perfect. Dark red, knee length, strapless, tight on top and loose from the waist down. I complemented the dress with a single strand of pearls and matching earrings. Dimitri wore his typical guardian black outfit. His face lit up when he saw me.
"Wow" he said checking me up and down, "you look really good."
"It better look good" I said pulling out my two inch heels. "I think this dress just cost me a grand and I can't even pack my yatagan or a dagger." I pulled out my dagger and held it up to my thigh. No go, it would stick out at least three inches. "Let's go, I want to be right on time."
"Royals like a fashionably late entrance" he said as the door closed, Pavel followed soon after.
"Yes, they do" I replied. "In this world, you are never late. Well unless you are the top of the chain, like Abe right now." A smile crossed my lips. "I must be punctual and completely in control of myself. You two need to act like guardians. Silent and scary."
"Rose is usually loud and scary" Pavel laughed. We were in the elevator heading down to the bar. "Do I interfere when one of his men attacks?"
"No" I replied as the doors opened, "business. Silence." I led the way through the casino and into the bar. The group was easy to spot. There were more dhampirs then I was expecting. Something was up. I signaled Pavel with my left hand. Twisting my fingers behind my back he knew to stay back at the door. Dimitri got the hint and pulled back. I approached Delgado on my own. "Good evening, Mr. Delgado."
"Call me Sergio" he turned. Pure shock flooded his face. Then he looked extremely pleased. He stood and offered me his elbow. I took it and he led me to a private room. "All guards are to remain outside the meeting room" he informed me as we passed through a heavy door. "I am very excited to do business with the daughter of Abe Mazur." So he figured it out.
"Ah" I smiled at him, "someone let my secret slip."
"Care to guess who?"
"I don't need to guess" I replied, "I saw his personal guards. Lorenzo Bartolini should know better than to talk about me when I am not around to defend myself." We passed through another door.
"Here we are" he announced as we entered a board room. A long black table with eight white chairs sat in the middle of the room. Not only was Lorenzo Bartolini there but so was his son, Recco, sitting on his right. Across the table sat Louis Leveque from France. Next to him was Wu Rui from China. "Rosemarie Hathaway" he nodded to the room.
I stepped ahead of him. "Wú ruì xiānshēng nín hǎo" I greeted him. Last name first in Chinese, I think. Either way he smiled and returned the gesture. "Bonjour M. Leveque" I greeted Louis. "Ciao Mr. Bartolini" I turned my attention to Recco. Then I took my seat at the head of the table and Delgado took his opposite.
"I am greatly offended Rosemarie" Lorenzo spoke as I adjusted my chair.
"I am the one who should be offended" I replied seriously, "I have heard that you are telling secrets about my life to others." A flash of fear splashed across his face and disappeared.
"Put aside your differences" Louis spoke up, "we need to discuss business." Recco winked at me and slid a folder down the table.
"We all have a common goal here" Lorenzo spoke. "All of us have had unpleasant dealings with Victor Dashkov" he stood and gracefully made his way around the table. I opened the folder. Pictures of Victor in Las Vegas were on top. I shuffled through them. Someone had obviously been tailing him and Victor had been getting around. There were pictures of him gambling, drinking, at a show, and walking through the streets. The last picture caught my attention. It was Victor just outside the Luxor hotel. He was staring right at the camera, with a sick smile. The expression reminded me of that day back at the academy, when his daughter had turned. He had used that smile, the smile that said 'I am going to destroy you'. I hate that look.
"Did your man die?" I asked setting the picture aside. The rest were documents, reasons why they wanted him dead. I couldn't believe it. Victor owed a lot of money, at least six figures. I flipped through the pages.
"How did you know?" Wu asked.
"His expression" I replied, "he saw your man and probably played some sick and twisted game with him. That is his way. Victor likes to play games. Sometimes he likes to get caught, but this face" I held up the photo, "says 'you are going to die'."
"Yes he died" Recco sighed. I saw the sorrow in his face and knew immediately who had died.
"Martino" I had known him. Martino was Recco's best friend and business partner. They were distant cousins or something. "He was a good man" I added, a small smile rose on Recco's face. I went into my business mode, "so we all want Victor Dashkov dead."
Everyone nodded, it was Recco who spoke up slamming his fist down on the table "he needs to die. I don't care how, just as long as its painful."
"Recco" Lorenzo warned. Recco didn't back down.
"I am the one who suggested we ask you" Recco continued, "I know you can get the job done. Plus you have your own personal strife with him. So the question is…Do you accept this mission Rosemarie Hathaway?" I smiled, Recco loved movies. Last year, when our fathers attempted to arrange an agreement between us, he had told me that his favorite movie was Charlie's Angels. His fantasy was always to be Charlie with his own angel. That's why he wanted me, to be his personal deadly assassin. Too bad I don't play the submissive role too well. I told him what he could do with his fantasy and gave him a broken nose. What upset Lorenzo is that it happened in his house in Italy. Oops.
"I plan on killing Victor with or without your help" I stated just as Lorenzo took his seat. "I have three well trained dhampirs ready. What do you offer?"
"Five dhampirs" Delgado spoke first. "We already have an agreement."
"I give you my daughter and her guard" Wu spoke up. "Mai Lyn good with sword and experienced in offensive fire magic."
"That is quite the honor Mr. Wu" I smiled at him, "I would be honored to work with Mai Lyn and her guard." I couldn't remember the name of her personal guard, but I do know that they are a couple. That, however, is a secret that no one tells Mr. Wu.
"We offer three dhampirs" Lorenzo spoke up.
All eyes turned to Louis Leveque, who had remained silent through most of the meeting. He reclined back in his chair with his chin resting on his fist. I knew him the least out of all of them. Mr. Leveque was quiet and reserved. He kept his own territory in complete control. His reputation was fierce and he was third in the line of most feared men in the world. My father was first, of course. Next was Bartolini then Leveque then Wu then Delgado. Holy Shit! It just occurred to me that we had four of the most dangerous mobsters in one place.
"We need to hurry this up" I said, "we aren't safe in the same location. Not to mention we are out of our territories."
"She has a point" Leveque spoke up. "I offer my most experienced guard," I eyed him suspiciously hoping he would give the name. It worked, "Quint" he didn't have to say another word. Quint was one of the best guardians that ever lived. He was forty-five years old and had killed over a hundred strigoi. Leveque declared France officially strigoi free, the only country that actually kept its boarders clean. He was the only other one that I would need.
"Terms" I said packing the folder up, and sliding it back to Recco. "No contracts, no records of our meeting. We will meet tomorrow" I looked them all in the eye, "outside the city. We will plan act and separate. No blaming others for any deaths. Everyone enters equally willing."
Recco stood up and the others did the same, anger flashed through his eyes. Here we go again! "Who died and crowned you queen? I don't take orders from any impure blood whore." Lorenzo's hand pulled his son back. The others moved away from them. Smart. He of all people should know better than to challenge me.
"Watch your tongue" Lorenzo tried to make eye contact. "If you challenge her, there will be nothing I can do for you."
"I don't care!" he shouted. We had similar temperaments, except I had the muscle to back it up. "That bitch has no hold on me." Lorenzo backed up and joined the others. They knew better than to stand too close. "I am the legitimate son of Lorenzo Bartolini, the most dangerous mobster in the world and I am not going to be ordered around by…"
He didn't get to finish, my foot made contact with his neck.
Fight scene will be in the next chapter. Please review, let me know what you think of my story.
Chapter 13
"Watch your tongue" Lorenzo tried to make eye contact. "If you challenge her, there will be nothing I can do for you."
"I don't care!" he shouted. We had similar temperaments, except I had the muscle to back it up. "That bitch has no hold on me." Lorenzo backed up and joined the others. They knew better than to stand too close. "I am the legitimate son of Lorenzo Bartolini, the most dangerous mobster in the world and I am not going to be ordered around by…"
He didn't get to finish, my foot made contact with his neck. I slammed him against the wall with smack. The others leaned against the far wall. Lorenzo watched me carefully. My heel pressed into his throat, cutting off his air supply. He tried to scream and attempted to knock my leg away, but that wasn't going to happen. His lips started to turn blue. I pulled back and let him drop to the floor gasping for air. "Watch your mouth boy" I warned him.
I turned to the others. "Thank you for sparing him Miss Hathaway" Lorenzo spoke, "I know he can be foolish."
"He is still young" I replied, "didn't he just turn twenty-one?"
"Yes" his father shook his head.
"Hopefully he will grow out of it" I said heading for the door. "Let me know where to meet you tomorrow."
"My house" Lorenzo Bartolini returned to his business face, "an hour south of here." He handed me a slip of paper with the address and I tucked it into my bra. Always a good attention getter. I opened the door to leave when a gust of wind knocked me into it. That boy has some nerve.
I whipped around. He was standing smug. Lorenzo was shaking his head with a sigh. Recco readied himself. A chair flew towards me. I wish I had my sword. My foot made contact with the base of the chair, snapping it in half. The pieces hit the wall. Two more chairs came my way, I dodged them easily. Another chair came through the air, I ducked and rushed him. My fist found his chest. Recco hit the wall. I heard the door open and close, but didn't turn to see if someone entered or left. Recco kicked me in the shin hurting him more than me. I retaliated with a more powerful and effective kick. He fell to the ground. I kicked him in the stomach before picking him up by the hair. "I wouldn't have treated you this way if it wasn't for your arrogance and ignorance. In fact I am going to give you a present to remember me by." I slapped him across the face. I could see the imprint and swelling begin. I smiled and turned away.
The others had cleared out. I straightened my dress and smoothed down my hair. Then I headed out of the room proudly. The hallway was empty. As soon as I emerged at the bar, two guardians rushed past me. They were probably on their way to help the spoiled brat.
"Is my son still breathing?" Lorenzo asked. A hint of concern rose in his voice.
"I went easy on him" I replied with a coy smile, "he will live, but he will carry a mark of shame for a day or two." Dimitri was at my side and Pavel soon took his position. "Mr. Wu, Mr. Leveque, Mr. Delgado, Bartolini; I will meet you tomorrow. Noon." I walked away, headed back to my room.
"I can't believe you did that" Pavel sounded more approving then I would have thought. "You kicked Recco Bartolini's ass."
"Who told you what happened?" I asked without turning towards him.
"Wu" he replied. "You know the old man likes to gossip." Mr. Wu was a big gossiper. He was a single seventy year old man with a grown daughter.
"Figures" I sighed, "I will have to talk some since into him."
"Ha" Pavel laughed, "you know that Rui and Mai Lyn are very skilled with the sword. I think he is one of the few people that could actually beat you."
"I will challenge him one day" I replied jokingly, "I can take him." We were at our rooms now. "You guys can do whatever you want. Get some food, rest, watch a show, gamble or hang around. I need to work on strategy and information." Pavel bowed and headed back towards the elevators. "Don't get yourself kidnapped!" I shouted as the doors closed.
"Alone again" Dimitri wrapped his arms around me. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to do many things to you" I gave him my man-eater smile, "unfortunately business comes first. I have strategy to plan." I opened the door and headed for the desk. The view of the city was spectacular. I found paper and pencils in the desk and went to work. Dimitri sat on the bed to watch me. I wrote a list first.
Rose, Dimitri, Pavel
Mai Lyn, guard
5 guards – Delgado
3 guards – Bartolini
Quint
I read my list several times. "Fourteen!" Dimitri stated. "That is quite the force."
"Yes it…" I turned to face him and fell speechless. Dimitri stood next to me wearing nothing but his underwear. He looked really good. My eyes felt their way up and down those rock hard abs.
"Roza" he pulled me up off the chair. "Roza I need you." I smiled. This was once a dream of mine – to have Dimitri by my side always.
"I want to play too" I replied stepping away from him. "Unfortunately the dangerous mobster's daughter has to work out a plan to propose for tomorrow."
"Play now, work later" he suggested, throwing my pencil over his shoulder. "I have a fun game for us to play."
"I'm sure you do" I picked up another pencil. He plucked it from my hand and threw it over his shoulder. It hit the wall and then the ground. "What did you have in mind?" His lips smashed against mine in a passionate aggressive kiss. Before I knew it we were on the bed. ***
I sent Dimitri to check on Pavel, I stressed the importance of staying in our rooms at night. I didn't want any altercations with strigoi. Dimitri had found Pavel three hundred dollars poorer at the Blackjack tables. They purchased some ice cream at the store and returned to the room. I had my plan settled while Dimitri was gone.
"Are you going to share your plan?" Dimitri asked.
"Rose never shares her ideas" Pavel replied, his mood had improved. A girl must have caught his attention. "Only Abe can force her to…" my look shut him up immediately.
My phone rang at that very moment. Weird. I handed it to Pavel. "Your boss is calling."
"He is calling your phone not mine" Pavel replied tossing the phone my direction. I opened it and thrust it at him. "Hello sir" we could hear Abe's angry voice. Man was he on a rampage. "She is right here sir. No sir. Sorry sir. Yes I am aware. Yes she knows." He continued to answer all of Abe's questions before hanging up. "Word travels fast" he tossed the phone at me, "Abe is not pleased with your recent meeting. He will be here in thirty six hours."
"That's not good" Dimitri replied.
"Don't worry about it" I said placing my hand on his shoulder. "Tomorrow we meet the others outside the city and work on a plan.
"Rose!" Pavel looked pissed. "Do you not care about anyone but yourself? Abe Mazur is going to be here in a day and a half. He is angry at you and me. I know you don't have much to worry about. If I was a dangerous mobster's daughter I would walk around like my shit doesn't stink too. Unfortunately your little escapade could cost me and your lover our lives!" Man was he pissed.
"Poppycock" I replied. "He will blow out all his steam soon enough. Then you can go back to Turkey and back to work. No worries."
"I worry" he said storming out of the room and slamming the door behind him.
"I think he is upset" Dimitri sighed sitting down on the bed.
"Don't worry about Pavel" I said, "he is always in some kind of drama. Ever since I moved to Turkey and took my place by my father's side, he has been this way. I think he envies that. My place I mean."
"I still can't believe that Abe is your father" Dimitri looked serious. "We only have a few hours before he arrives."
I shrugged, "by then I hope Victor Dashkov to be dead."
"What will we do after that?" he asked still serious.
"I don't do well on long term goals" I admitted, "I sort of just go with the flow."
Night approached and we watched the city lights for quite some time before heading off to bed. My dream was more like a nightmare. I stood alone with Victor. My hands and feet bound to a tree. Victor's evil smile played across his face as he tortured Lissa. Then he turned to me, not me but something behind me. I twisted as best I could to see. Dimitr stood alone just behind me. Victor thrust his hands into the air, causing the earth to swallow Dimitri. I screamed. Victor approached me now, "don't you just love dream walking."
I snapped awake. Victor. Was it possible that he could visit my dreams? I slipped out of bed and began pacing. This wasn't right, Victor isn't a spirit user. No he isn't, but his brother, Robert Doru, is a spirit user.
Chapter 14
"Abe you're early!" I exclaimed as Dimitri jumped back two feet.
"I called you from New York" he sneered. "What the hell is going on?"
"How the hell did you find us?" I countered.
He held up his phone with a local map and a red blinking dot just to the left of us. "GPS tracker" he replied, "Pavel has the piece implanted. Comes in handy."
"You didn't have one of those put in me when I was sleeping did you?" I ran my hand over my arms and neck. He smiled, I hate that smile.
"Now tell me, what the hell is going on here?"
"We are going after Victor Dashkov tomorrow" Dimitri replied. "Rose has a plan and everyone here has been informed. Well except you and…" he froze when his eyes fell upon someone else.
I didn't look, "Baba we are going with a tactical approach. We will attack from every side." I had recovered from my shock and resumed my business persona, "I am going to get him this time."
Abe quickly closed the difference between the two of us. "Rosemarie you are my only daughter. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time."
Without thinking, my hand rubbed my face. There was no scar now, Oksana had taken care of it. "That won't happen again" my voice radiated with my determination, "I am prepared to handle him this time."
"What happened?" Dimitri sounded worried.
"How many times did I tell you not to underestimate your opponent? How many times did I tell you not to trust him? How many times did I tell you to work out a plan ahead of time?" Abe's eyes burned with furry.
"I learned my lesson the hard way" I replied still touching the place where my scar had been.
"You almost died" he replied before adding, "again!"
"What happened?" Dimitri's voice was stronger but we ignored him. Abe and I were locked in a basic understanding of who was more determined. It was one of the ways we decided if a mission was worth completing. He looked away first. I had won this round, he would help.
"Boss" Pavel hurried over to his side.
"I am disappointed in you Pavel" my father's anger turned to him. "I trusted you to keep an eye on my daughter and bring her home. Instead you went along with her crazy, half-thought out sceme and traveled halfway around the globe to sit in a desert discussing strategy for predestined failure. Of all the things I put up with, this is the worst. Maybe your loyalties do not lie with me any longer."
I couldn't let him continue. "Dimitri, please excuse us." I waited for him to travel out of earshot. I could never call him out in front of unwanted eyes. His rage would only intensify. "Baba please don't be so harsh on Pavel" I pleaded, "I told him that I was going to go with or without him. Then I told him that you would kill him if any harm came to me. He had no choice but to tag along and try to keep me alive." Abe grumbled. "Please don't punish him" I begged with my best puppy dog eyes. I usually wasn't one for begging, but I would make the exception for Pavel.
"Fine" Abe replied, "but I want us to get back to business."
"Agreed" I said, "Pavel can go back to attending you, I have Dimitri now."
"What?" Abe glanced in his direction. "You can't bring him home."
"Then I will have to find a new home" I pretended to think. "Oh Lorenzo!"
"Damn it Rose!" he exclaimed. "How can one child make a man so crazy?"
"Like this" I said playfully and kissed his cheek. "You're the best Baba in the whole world."
"Ahh, get out of here" he mumbled. "I don't like flattery."
"Oh yes you do" I challenged him. "You like it, especially when it's done by your daughter."
"Let's get out of here, I need to know everything that's going on" he motioned us to his car. "Pavel and Belikov will follow in the other." Then he closed the door behind us. He rode in a nice limo. He handed me a glass of wine and took a sip of his own. "Say hello to your mother Rosemarie" he whispered, "be polite."
I grunted as he rolled down the window between the driver's seat and the back. My mother was in the passenger's seat and Karl, one of Abe's other guards, was driving. "Hello mother" I tried to sound polite and excited, "hey Karl."
"Hey Rose" Karl replied happily. My mother nodded her response and resumed her duties of watching for danger.
Abe rolled the window back up and locked it into place. "I want to hear everything" he said reclining into his chair, "don't leave out any details."
"Me?" I asked harmlessly.
"I am not in the mood to play this game Rosemarie" ouch his tone bit my playfulness. I turned on my business persona and filled him in on details. Abe listened to my hour long story as he sipped a glass of wine or five. "This is important to you" he commented, I nodded "then I will provide some extra insurance in the matter." I held my breath, "I will have Janine and Karl accompany you."
"No" I shook my head, "that would leave you defenseless."
"Nonsense" he was seriously giving me his entire entourage, "I will be accompanying you." What? My face betrayed me. "Don't be so shocked Rose. A man with my reputation obviously didn't sit behind a desk to get it. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. Besides I have had twenty-eight years of practicing offensive magic." He smiled, "how do you think I impressed your mother?" he laughed to himself, "she thought that people were simply scared to death of me." I had long learned that my father specialized in air. He used his special talents only if needed. He had his reasons for living in the desert Turkey. No one suspected that he was a master of offensive and defensive control. I had even seen him strengthen his fire, water and earth skills. If he had a flame, watch out. We lost one guard with that practice.
"Baba, I cannot take you into a hostile situation of this kind" I regained my composure.
"Do you remember my line of work?" he asked seriously, "I do nothing but hostile." Then he looked at my face, really looked as if he was evaluating my thoughts. "Why does this guy scare you so much?" He was serious but worried, "In the five years we worked together, I never saw you look scared or even intimidated. You scare the most dangerous mobsters, especially Bartolini. I think he still has double the guards after our little wager."
Lorenzo Bartolini was extremely cautious of me after our little wager, which his son knew nothing about. After we met for the first time I found him and Abe comparing guards. Abe suggested a contest and I chose the exact terms. I had one week to break into Lorenzo's house and take something of his, his best guard was to do the same. We caught his the moment he stepped onto the property. My father thought it would be funny to brand the man before returning him. So one of his guards now carries my father's initials on his arm. We sent him back and I went to work. I hid under the car that took the man home, when we pulled into the drive I rolled under another and then another. Lorenzo was furious to find his man branded and returned so soon. While they were busy I found a lone guard on the southern end of the property. I approached and took him down with ease. I dragged him into the shadows and tied him to a tree. He was down for the count anyway. I did the same with the rest of the outside guards. Avoiding the cameras was hard, but I managed to stay out of sight. One of the guards woke up sooner than I expected and started screaming. The remaining two guards came running and I slipped through an upstairs window. It was Recco's room, but he was out that night. I snuck through the house and found one of Lorenzo's prized eggs. Yeah the guy collects those decorated eggs. It's really strange but hey I won't judge. So I took the biggest one I could carry, which was solid gold and decorated with pearls and diamonds. The damn thing was worth well over two million dollars. My get away was easy. I stayed under Recco's bed until half the guards were out searching for me. They were scaning the mountain side, forest, even the nearby beach. While they were out, I stole his Ferrari too. He is still upset about the damage to the front. Oops! Gates and cars don't mix well. Anyway, the point is we won and he lost. The agreement had been that the winner kept their prize. My father hated the egg, but always tells Lorenzo that he enjoys polishing it and rolling it across the floor.
"Victor is the most dangerous man in the world" I said seriously, "he isn't like you or Bartolini or Wu or even Delgado. He keeps his contacts secret. No one knows how many people are under his control. He wanted Lissa at one point and he still wants me." I sighed as I thought of something else to add, "I don't trust him at all. One day he may move against you just to get to me, I can't let that happen." Abe turned in thought. "Baba, no one near me is safe with him around."
"Then it's better we take care of the matter" he replied, "but we will stage an attack before the intended one. I have reason to believe that Lorenzo Bartolini is among his associates."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried" he replied calmly "you don't listen. What time is your attack?"
"We had agreed on eleven" I replied, "I am going to scout it earlier to ensure that Victor is there."
"If Bartolini is in contact with Victor he will be gone by then" I nodded in agreement as my father spoke. "We have four hours until sunset, let's get out there and do it now."
"You are the boss" I replied with a smile. I noticed then that we were not headed back to the city, but along a country road. Abe had a plan already in place. We parked a mile from Robert's cottage, according to the GPS. Several cars drove up behind us. Sergio's guards, Mai Lyn and her guard scrambled out of the cars along with Sergio and Wu.
"Did anyone suspect anything?" My father asked.
"No" one of Sergio's guards replied, "but you were right about Bartolini."
"He tell Victor we coming" Wu said pulling out his sword. "He going to leave early morning."
"Victor won't have a chance" I replied, "at least we know he is here." I unfolded a map of the area. While I was searching, Delgado came up and whispered provocative ideas into my ear. "No Sergio" I replied. I was deep in thought and not paying attention to him. Suddenly everything was quiet. I turned to see Dimitri standing over Sergio's still body. "What the hell?" I screamed. Five guards restrained him as our eyes met. I inspected Delgado's body. "He is only knocked out."