“Um,” Sip’s voice hummed, “So pleased I was able to step in and reinforce your Born Bratva plight. Family isn’t always blood, my love. Family is who has your back in any circumstance.”
Sip jumped out of his SUV and tossed the keys to one of Glazov’s armed bodyguards standing out front. He went around to Tee’s door and opened it for her and then strode to the front door with his arm hooked through Tee’s as a show of support. When Yafon met them at the door he smiled at him.
“Yafon, always good to see you, my man.”
Yafon nodded and proceeded to look at Tee. She could feel a cold chill go up her spine as she looked at the man who was Glazov’s personal driver and killer when need be. Yafon wasn’t as large as some of the other men but he possessed the face of an assassin. He was the type man you could tell was a professional killer if you saw him walking down the street. He radiated danger and Tee could imagine crossing the street to avoid him if she saw him out in public. Funny how some people just had the look, and Yafon not only had it—he owned it. Tee hoped the chill that ran up her spine didn’t manifest in an outward shudder. No fear. Saying it in her head and not exhibiting it were two very different things. Intensity crackled in the air like electricity around this place. Tee just wanted to get this monthly meeting over so she could breathe.
“The Pakhan is in his office waiting to meet with you.”
Yafon was talking to Sip but looking at Tee with contempt. He reminded her of a bird; like a hawk just looking for something to swoop down on and kill. Didn’t all predators love a live kill?
Yafon made a sharp turn on his toe and walked towards Glazov’s office. His back was so straight it looked like a rod was up his spine and his gait was full of purpose. This was a man with the confidence of a survivor.
As Tee watched Yafon’s gait she couldn’t help but feel profound respect for him. Some small part of her couldn’t help but care if these passionate people liked her. She’d never been a follower, but she was in the midst of natural-born leaders and she wanted to learn their secrets of success. They were winning her over without even trying. She was torn; part of her wanted to not care and the other part couldn’t help but. Just like so many other things in life: there was no manual.
Yafon knocked on the heavy wood door to Glazov’s office. Tee noticed he had the long fingers of a piano player, but his hands had only played with instruments used to kill; things such as a piano wire. Ironic something that could make beautiful music could also strangle a man to death in the right hands.
The heavy door opened with no creaking sounds; no thud of hitting the pristine wall behind it, but Tee still felt like she was in a horror movie where the door opening meant monsters and bumps in the night. She followed behind Sip; every step an effort. It was a mental effort to not trip over her feet. Glazov was a man who could take a person’s confidence and shred it like wet toilet paper with just one look.
Glazov’s voice felt like a rumble that resonated in her bones when he spoke, “Sip, Tee, please have a seat.”
Tee was glad to sit down, anything to make the floor stop moving beneath her feet. She cast a side-eyed glance towards Novak and smiled. He nodded in return, but the look on his face was stoic. She noticed he was playing with the Russian coin he had, and it made her feel safer. Funny how consistency in a friend’s behavior is like a warm embrace at times.
Glazov sat behind his desk and rubbed his finger over his bottom lip as if deep in thought. The silence in the room was suffocating. He was a man who had learned how to use awkward situations to his advantage. After what seemed like an eternity he leaned back in his chair, smoothed his hand over his silk tie and spoke.
“I believe it’s time for your girlfriend to have an opportunity to prove herself; make an outward show she’s an asset to the organization. Those who work with us not only ingratiate themselves they also form bonds of loyalty.”
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what Glazov was saying; when you committed crimes with your man you weren’t as likely to run your mouth if you got locked up. Tee wanted to say something along the lines of “Yes, Sir,” but she didn’t trust her voice to not come out cracked. Right now, she just wanted out of the Pakhan’s office. She could have kissed Sip when he spoke up, but she’d save that for later when she wasn’t scared shitless.
“Yes, my Pakhan. I’ll make certain she continues to remain engrossed in the jobs I’m given.” Sip cut his eyes at Tee, and a familiar cold chill ran through her, but this time it came from the man she loved. He may be a gentle giant, but he was a killer when need be, and the look in his eyes was a reminder she was in love with a gangster.
Glazov placed both hands on his desk—palms down and Tee wondered if he was going to stand and shake Sip’s hand and send them on their way. She was shocked when he waved them away as if waving away some pesky fly. She resisted the urge to jump from the chair and run out of the room.
Just one foot in front of the other, she told herself. She was grateful for Sip’s huge hand in hers and managed a “Thank you for your time, Sir.”
No comment from the Pakhan; just that death glare he seemed to have mastered.
Sip’s arm around her waist was the guide that got her out of the room and past the assassin hawk that went by the name of Yafon; still stationed at the door as if he hoped he’d be called in to choke her. She didn’t breathe easy until she was seated in the SUV and they’d driven away.
Sip waited until they were out of the driveway to speak.
“Tee, this is a good thing.”
“What is?”
“It’s the first time he’s ever mentioned us doing a job together.”
“He didn’t give us a job, though.”
Sip chuckled as if he was privy to some hidden info she wasn’t aware of; perhaps he had learned to read his boss over the years more than she’d initially believed. She had assumed no one could read him, but after years of being around Glazov, he’d have to have picked up on certain ticks and behavioral patterns.
“He has a job already lined out for us. He’ll call when we least expect it to purposely catch us off guard—it’s just the way the man operates. Glazov is a man who enjoys psychologically fucking with people; even if they are his employees. It’s all about control, baby girl.”
The sinister words didn’t make her feel any better.
Chapter Four
Well, that was no fun,” Novak spit out in disgust.
Glazov didn’t need to be told what his instigating cousin was thinking. He raised his eyes in a hooded glare and answered. “I thought she was your best bud,” his words dripped with sarcasm.
“She is, but I usually get some entertainment out of watching you make her squirm.”
“You’re a sick fuck, Novak; you really are. Why would you enjoy tormenting someone you care about?”
“Says the pot to the kettle. I’ll oblige you, though; it makes her a better soldier. We’re not raising a bunch of fucking wimps; we’re raising an army. Now, what’s really on your mind, Glazov? You’re a sadist; just like me, you would never resist the opportunity to torment. You usually put the girl through at least an hour of torment before you release her. I bet she’s stressed out for days before our meetings. Sooner or later you’re going to have to accept her. If you were going to kick her out, you would have done it already.”