Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34
Chapter 34 – Ransom

We reached the country club and my phone vibrated, it was Odessa.
Haze was feeling uneasy, and dread filled me. “What’s wrong?” I answered.
She quickly explained what happened in the hotel room this morning. How they were followed and narrowly escaped a gunman by slipping into a banya. Jealousy burned through me at the thought of her in a Russian bathhouse. I tensed when she told me about their encounter with Kazimir’s father.
“Does he know who you are?” I knew I should have put them on the first flight back this morning.
“Yes. He scented you on me,” she answered and explained what Alpha Volkov said about Kazimir coming home for dinner.
“Did you grab the journal?”
“Yes. It’s tucked into Alec’s back.”
“Good. Don’t lose that thing. Where are you?” I asked.
“Alec, where are we?” She pulled the phone away from her mouth to ask him.
“We’re near Red Square, and we’re about to get on the metro to get out of this area,” she repeated what he said.
“Go west to a museum away from the city center and lay low. We’ve just arrived at the country club. I’ll call you back when we’re done.” I told her.

“We need to return to mate,” Haze snarled while I filled Kazimir in on what my mate had just shared. His jaw tensed when I told him about the dinner invitation.
Kazimir had been sent away to school, never trained to take over any position in the pack. His father had practically disowned him when he had refused the arranged marriage to help strengthen the Bratva’s influence over politicians. I’d met the Volkov family twice before. The first time, I had returned with Kazimir to attend his grandfather’s funeral and the last time was to attend Aleksei’s mating ceremony two years ago.
I couldn’t help wondering if Ivan Volkov was working with Belsky. Until this morning, I hadn’t realized the Minister of Finance was so dirty. After Alec had explained how Belsky dismembered a man in one of the videos, I knew we would be dealing with a twisted fuck.
We stepped into the country club and a manager immediately greeted us. He asked a question in Russian and Kazimir gave the man his last name.
“Volkov?” The man paled and his mouth gaped open.
Kazimir nodded his head, releasing his full aura. While humans couldn’t sense auras, something in their brains registered fear in the company of ranked wolves. I imagine it was because of this or possibly just the name Volkov alone that struck fear into Russians when they heard it. Kazimir spoke again and the man squeaked out a reply before he nervously bowed and stepped away.
“I think he pissed his pants.”
“I told him I was considering membership and wanted to look around the place. He offered to give us a guided tour, and I offered to feed him his balls for lunch.”
“It’s a little early for lunch isn’t it?”
“This is Russia, you eat what you want, when you want,” Kazimir said.

“Even balls,” Haze snickered at the idea of feeding someone their balls.
Heads turned in our direction when we entered the opulent dining hall. Nearly three dozen tables with posh chairs were spread out in the hall. The windows were big with extravagant window dressings and gold trim. I locked in on the steely gray eyes of the man who was at my last fight seated closest to the fireplace. Belsky didn’t look surprised to see us.
“Hades and Kazimir, how nice to see you again. Please, have a seat.” Belsky motioned to the chairs at his small round table.
Kazimir tensed from the man’s audacity to speak so casually to us, and I could feel Kuzma’s fury wanting to rip his throat out. The waiter set a plate of fruit-filled blini in front of the minister. Kazimir reached his hand to Belsky’s plate, folded the crepe-like pancake in half, and took a big bite of it.
“Blinchiki?” Belsky offered me. “As you can see, it’s a Russian favorite,” he turned his head to a murderous-looking Kazimir.
“You have something that belongs to me, Belsky. If one hair has been harmed, I’m going to show you how to properly butcher someone, bone by bone,” Kazimir threatened.
“The sneaky little thief has many secrets, she goes nowhere until I have what I need,” Belsky said.
“You will not leave this club alive!” Kazimir growled.
“How do we know you haven’t harmed them yet?” I asked.
“Ah yes,” He smiled and held up his phone. A live video stream showed Alina sitting on a bed with Thea. She was feeding Thea something that looked like porridge. The room seemed cold, like a cell made of dark gray cinder blocks, but they had blankets on the bed.
Kazimir’s gray eyes turned black, and his fists tightened with rage. His aura emanated danger, and fear swept over the faces of club members

seated close to us.
“If something happens to me, my men know what to do with both of them,” Belsky smiled coldly, trying to look normal.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“Ivan Volkov. Bring me the Bratva Pahkan by midnight and you can have the little thief back.
“And the girl?” Kazimir gritted.
“The little bitch bit me.” He held up his hand that was scabbed over from where Thea had broken skin. “She seems to have a taste for violence so she will join me for the fights tonight. Hades will be the main event, fighting for a full hour. You make it to midnight, you get the girl.”
“What’s in it for you?” I asked and he laughed.
“You forget where you are, Hades. It’s a matter of Russki pride to bet against a foreigner. I expect to turn over a good profit tonight betting in your favor.”
“Just like the Minister of Finance, always worrying about his own pocket,” Kazimir sneered.
“I will see you both tonight,” he turned his attention to his food, and we stood to leave.
“Oh, and Kazimir, I’d prefer him alive, but if you must kill him… bring me his head.”
Kazimir and I remained silent until we reached the parking lot of the country club. I called Odessa back and they had taken a metro in the wrong direction. They were at a café in the southern region of Moscow. I gave Anatoly the location and Kazimir raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a rough neighborhood,” Anatoly told us as he drove.

An hour later, we arrived at the café and parked across the street behind another white taxi. Anatoly had called his friend, Sasha, to help drive us because we couldn’t squeeze everyone in just one taxi, and I doubt Alec would agree to ride in the trunk again. Kazimir stepped out of the taxi first and moved to speak with Sasha in the other taxi.
Three ladies wearing similar coats and headscarves stepped out of the café. One was holding a tote similar to the one we used for Kronos, and I smiled. They crossed the street and walked toward us.
“Well, aren’t you three the cutest babushka’s I’ve ever seen,” Kazimir laughed, taking in the sight of Alec.
Alec was in a black down-filled coat that reached mid-thigh. Giota wore the same coat in beige, and Odessa in a deep red. All three had gloves and headscarves. Alec also wore sunglasses and held a brown purse. I swallowed my laughter, thankful he had kept my mate safe.
I quickly wrapped my arms around Odessa, happy to see her warm smile, and kissed her. I tugged the hood of her coat and leaned into her ear. “Little red riding hood, have you been good?”
“My what big teeth you have grandma!” She smiled back.
“I can’t wait to devour you tonight,” I whispered back and she blushed. “Is that a purse?” Kazimir grinned.
“You’d better watch yourself,” Giota laughed. “Someone tried to snatch the purse from him when we left the metro, and he got a nasty beatdown with it.”
Kazimir roared with laughter. “Do you even have anything in the purse worth fighting for?”
“It was a matter of principle, not the purse,” Alec broke into laughter. “Good thing you weren’t holding the cat,” Kazimir reached for the tote
and looked inside to check on Kronos.

“I like the babushka on you, it makes you look more mature,” I teased Odessa.
“I thought a babushka was a nickname for a granny?” She giggled.
“It means the headscarf but is commonly used to refer to an old lady,” Kazimir told her.
We got in the taxis, I sat in the back with Odessa pressed into me and Alec took the front seat with Anatoly. Kazimir rode with my sister and Kronos in the taxi with Sasha. Haze was craving meat, so I asked Anatoly to take us to a steakhouse for lunch.
Kazimir gave Anatoly and Sasha extra money to get some lunch and return in one hour. He held the tote with Kronos close to him and I could hear the cat sleeping. I pulled the door open to the restaurant and everyone stepped inside. Thankfully, Alec left his scarf and purse in the car.
Kazimir placed our orders while I called Ninos. Trying to keep my voice low, I spoke in Greek to avoid anyone eavesdropping. I could sense his anger and hurt at being manipulated by the girls. I explained what had transpired and what was supposed to happen tonight. He asked if I wanted him to come and bring some warriors for backup. I declined. Having more foreign people in Moscow would draw more attention to us.
Ninos informed me the construction crew had arrived this morning and started demolition of the Alpha quarters. Maria had packed anything of value in my father's old room and discarded everything else. I hoped for her sake she didn’t discover anything too shocking in his belongings. Darius had implemented a new patrol schedule and Orion was running pack training. It sounded like everything was under control and Ninos asked if he could speak with my sister.
I handed Giota the phone and she gave my mate a nervous glance. I reminded myself she was Ninos’ mate, and I would not get involved. The conversation was brief, Ninos did most of the talking and Giota looked somber. Her intentions had been genuine and I’m sure this wasn’t easy for her. In hushed voices, we told the others what we learned at the country

club. The only thing we knew with certainty was where Thea would be this evening.
“Your father let us go too easy,” Odessa told Kazimir.
“My father won’t exchange himself for my mate. He’ll probably find satisfaction knowing he has a chance at costing me my mate. I’m going to have to kill him,” Kazimir told us.
Our food arrived and we ate in silence thinking about our next step. I wondered what Belsky’s connection to the Russian Pahkan was. I ordered a side of the grilled shrimp without any seasonings on it in a take-away carton for Kronos.
“We need a plan,” I told Kazimir. If we were going to kill his father, we needed to be prepared.
“We need to see Aleksei first. He’s at the city mansion.”
I was considering stopping at the airport and sending Odessa and Giota home, but I wasn’t sure if they’d be safe. If Belsky was involved that means he also had some control over Russian police and airport security. If Alpha Volkov was involved he’d probably have assassins at the airport. I couldn’t send them back in the LaRue jet because we might need to make a quick escape, and neither Alina nor Thea had proper documents. My phone vibrated and I reached for it. Odessa must have felt me tense because she had a worried look in her eyes.
“Dimitri,” I answered.
“Is there a reason why Alpha Volkov called a little while ago to tell me he had the pleasure of meeting my business representatives?”
“You know him?” I asked.
“We’ve met once before,” he replied. “Did he tell you anything else?”

“He said if my business representatives find themselves in any trouble, they should seek his help. He seems to be having problems with a few politicians and doesn’t feel Moscow is safe at the moment.” He paused for a few seconds.
“Any leads on the girls?” He asked. “We expect to have them tonight.”
“Do you need reinforcements?” He asked. I wasn’t sure if he was offering to come or send others. I would be able to get Thea back at the fights tonight, but I wasn’t sure what we would do about Alina and delivering Volkov’s head to Belsky. Haze didn’t trust that Belsky would return Alina alive and neither did I.
“No, we’re on our way to see Kazimir’s older brother.” “Is my sister with you?”
“Yes,” I replied. He knew her a little too well. “I expect you to keep her safe,” he said.
“With my life,” I replied, and he disconnected.
Anatoly continued to follow the taxi Kazimir was in, and Odessa turned her attention to the window as we entered the golden mile neighborhood in Moscow. We drove by an orthodox church topped with golden domes and a historical mansion. This was the place that attracted celebrities, government officials, and old money. The little shops, boutiques, and restaurants were all luxurious. The condos and flats sold for millions. It was vastly different from the decaying neighborhood Alina lived in.
The cars stopped in front of a building I remember visiting once before. From the outside, it looked like a luxury apartment building with a dozen balconies and a dozen different residences. Once on the inside, it was a single mansion.

This was the home of the Russian Bratva Pahkan when he was away from his pack. Aleksei spent most of his time here because he was next in line. While the majority of the Bratva was comprised of humans, the higher ranks were made up of wolves.
“What a place!” Anatoly whistled.
“I’m not sure how long we’ll be. Please wait for us around the corner, Kazimir will call you shortly,” I instructed. I was unsure of what to expect and Haze was on high alert. I considered leaving the others in the car with Anatoly for a quick escape, but I couldn’t stand the idea of having my mate out of sight.
Kazimir stepped out of the taxi with Giota, and we approached the ten- foot tall metal door where the guard stood. Without saying a word, he held the door open, and we entered a hallway leading to another door. This time a pack warrior stood at the door.
“Alpha Kazimir,” he greeted Kazimir and turned his attention to me. “Alpha Hades,” he nodded.
We seemed to pass right through with ease. The first level was covered in marble floors and felt more like a hotel lobby. It was primarily used for hosting events. The entire building had been gutted and fortified before the residence was rebuilt.
“Wow, this is pretty swanky!” Alec said.
“Thank you, Gamma. I suppose it is nicer than a janitorial closet, no?” Alpha Volkov stood at the top of the stairs leading into the family living quarters with Aleksei at his side.