Tatyana and Nikky's mom wandered down the hallway, keeping up appearances, babbling nonsense and twittering like two drunken fools. They waited for the elevator, every second of inactivity fraying Tatyana's nerves until finally it came. Tatyana pressed two buttons.
Mrs. Kaerta would exit on the ground floor, in case the fools radioed down. Tatyana got off on the next floor, opting to take the stairs. Only one of Nikky's men guarded the base of the stairwell, nodding to her as she passed. She received another nod when exiting the casino.
She breathed a sigh of relief climbing into the waiting taxi, no Chan waiting for her this time.
"Any problems, Boss?" Boris asked. He hadn't approved of her doing this on her own, saying that Nikky would kill him if anything happened to her.
Nothing had happened. It was almost insulting how simple it all was. "No problems, Boris."
She took off the irritating hat. "You hear from Nikky?"
"No, Boss." Boris handed her the gun and holster. She strapped it on, hoping she wouldn't need it.
"If you don't marry her, Boss, I will." Pavel tapped the steering wheel.
"If Boris hasn't already done the deed," Fyodor contributed from the backseat. "Did you see his face when she jumped into his arms? I just about swallowed my tongue trying not to laugh."
"She's a good actress. Her grandfather's people ate it up." Pavel nodded. "I'm surprised it fooled Sergei, though. You'd think he'd know better."
"He does know better." Before they parted, Grandfather had gripped Nik's shoulder hard. It felt like good-bye. "We didn't fool him."
"Boss?" Pavel's eyes narrowed in speculation.
Nik knew the question his number one man asked. Why would Grandfather let him go? He had no answer. "We have to concentrate on tonight." Nik checked his guns again, his clips, his secondary guns. "The great-uncle is still out there." Stepan was not, his body had been discovered less than an hour ago, his backstabbing cousin finally double-crossing the wrong person. "And when Igroek finds her missing, he'll move quickly. I want the team positioned before she arrives."
"It's a bad location, Boss." Pavel frowned. "Many doors in and out. No security."
Nik suspected that was why the brat had chosen that hotel. She wanted to pass through without notice. "Cover all main entrances." The great-uncle, not being from Vegas, wouldn't know the building. He'd also be in a rush. "You sure she got out okay?"
"I'm sure, Boss."
"Good." Nik would feel better once the brat was by his side. Boris had better not fuck up.
"You have the passports?" They'd leave the country immediately; disappear into the jungles of South America.
"Yes, Boss."
"How long do you think...?" Fyodor asked.
How long did he think they'd be on the run? "We should plan on indefinitely." They may never come home. "If you or your men are having second thoughts, this is your last chance."
"No second thoughts, Boss." Fyodor shook his head.
"We follow you, Boss," Pavel confirmed.
That they'd follow him, a man with nothing, no wealth, no family, was humbling. "We'll rebuild," he vowed.
"As Sergei did, Boss."
A reminder that it had been done before. Except he was not his grandfather.
Fourteen
"Even well trained dogs will bite when cornered."ȄSergei Kaerta Someone watched them. Tatyana peered over her shoulder as they entered the hotel. There was a movement in the alleyway. She paused. A big man hid in the darkness.
She relaxed, recognizing him. Pavel. She gave Boris a relieved smile. They weren't alone.
Nikky's men must have been tracking their movements since they'd left the casino.
Nikky, himself, sat sprawled in the reception chair, waiting for her, his body languid yet no less lethal. "About time, Brat." He leapt to his feet.
"Sorry. I got distracted by a shiny object." She batted her eyes, leaning up against him. He was hard and warm and reassuring.
"You're a terror." Nikky chuckled, covering her mouth. They kissed as though they'd been apart for months, not hours, his embrace tight and desperate. "We should get going."
Before Igroek discovered her missing. Before he sent men to kill them, to kill Nikky. They were on the run. As her parents had been. It was the only life Tatyana had ever known but Nikky, he was giving up everything. Almost everything. "I need to do a pick up." What little she had, she'd give him. They would rebuild.
"No time and no need." Nikky fanned out passports. "All taken care of."
Passports. Of course, they had to leave the country. They had too many people looking for them. "Give me two minutes," she whispered against his neck. He smelled delicious. "Two minutes for three million dollars." She smiled as his eyes widened. "Told you I have my own money, ass." She danced away from him.
"Language, Brat." He followed her to reception.
"We charge by the hour and by the day. Which do you want?" The bleary-eyed employee asked. He reeked of whiskey, stale cigarettes, and vomit.
"A package was left here for Cleopatra." She slid a folded 100 dollar bill across the counter.
"I'm Cleopatra."
"Sure you are, honey." He tucked the money into his pocket. "I'll get it. It's in the back."
She knew exactly where it was. She'd placed it there herself. Tatyana propped her elbows up on the counter to wait.
"Cleopatra?" Nikky's amused voice tickled her ear.
He was leaving everything and everyone for her yet he sounded happy. She loved him so much. "I like drama."
"I'm not sur..." Fabric brushed against fabric behind him. Nik spun around, drawing his gun.
Shit. Too late. He stared into the muzzle of a gun.
"You're fast, Kaerta." Tatyana's great-uncle grinned grimly.
"Not fast enough." Nik shifted so his body completely covered Tatyana. In his peripheral view, he saw Boris. The great-uncle would only get one shot off before the bodyguard downed him. Tatyana would be safe.
They squared off, both guns raised. "Life is circular, did you know that?"
"No." If the great-uncle compared him to his grandfather, Nik vowed he'd
