Page 14

YURI

It’s been a long-ass week. Between meetings at the club planning our attack on the Italians and protecting Charlie, I’m exhausted. Luckily, Charlie’s job is just as monotonous as I thought it would be, so she’s not really in any danger while at work. I always make sure Andrey, Maxim, or I follow her as she goes to and from work just in case, but it’s been pretty uneventful. She’s still communicating with Dominic which boils my blood, but at least he’s still out of the country.

We have one more day until we put our plan against the Italians in motion. Pap, Maxim, and I along with Konstantin and a few others have been working non-stop to ensure this thing goes off without a hitch. Sometimes I wonder how the Italians are successful. It’s honestly a miracle they’re up and running as efficiently as they are. Nico must have lost his mind when his son died. I was surprised he had Dominic out of the country rather than helping him run things here. Dominic may be a bastard, but he’s a smart bastard.

Although, their ability, or lack thereof, to run a smooth operation is only good for us, so maybe I don’t mind how unorganized they’ve become. They’re just complacent, arrogant assholes who think no one can touch them. Before Francisco died, that might have been the case, but not anymore.

On Saturday, between midnight and one in the morning, Maxim and I and a few of Pap’s trusted men, Viktor and Jeremie, are going to ambush Nico’s men while they cut through Washington Park, like they do every damn Saturday, to drop off payment from one of their dance clubs to Nico’s restaurant. They think they're so clever doing a drop when most of the city is sleeping or partying. Sure they can try and blend in with the bar hopping crowd, but not once they get to the park. Last night we discussed the finer details.

I’ll be surveilling the park with Max. I can’t risk being seen otherwise I’d be taking Viktor’s place. My father knows Max and I are the ones who spend the most time on the streets so we know them better than anyone. Andrey has been watching over Charlie while we located a few good places to monitor the other men without being seen. I’d rather be watching over Charlie, but this has to be done. The Italians won’t get away with hurting us. I won’t let them and neither will my father.

Konstantin has been trying to get a pin on who Max and I will be tailing. He finally hacked into the security footage from both Nico’s restaurant and the dance club on Monday night and recognized two of the men who always drop off the payment: Dante and Lorenzo. They’re runners just like Daniil. It took about twenty-four more hours of searching other security cameras, but Konstantin found out that Dante and Lorenzo were also the ones who jumped Daniil so the payback will be sweet!

It didn’t take long to decide that Viktor and Jeremie would be the ones to take on Dante and Lorenzo, plus Max and I will be there just in case things go south. A small part of me hopes they fight back so I can watch the blood seep from their bodies. I want to watch the light leave their eyes for what they did to Daniil.

We’ve planned all that we can, so tonight I’m going to focus on Charlie and give Andrey a night off. With Konstantine still working out the finishing touches on the app that will allow us better access to Charlie’s phone, Andrey, Maxim and I are taking shifts.

Maxim is at Charlie’s apartment now waiting to follow her to work while I have some breakfast with my mom and brothers. We don’t get to do this often enough. Mikhail is nineteen and is following nicely in my footsteps. He’s almost as tall as me but he has mom’s light brown hair and hazel eyes. Aleksandr is seventeen and can’t wait to be done with homeschooling. He’s about 6’1’’ and has dark hair and eyes like Pap and me.

We’re not as close as we used to be because I’m always busy with Pap and the guys plus I’ve been so busy looking out for Charlie that I haven’t been able to pay attention to them as much as I’d like. Mom does a great job making life feel as normal as possible for us all though. We may not be peas in a pod, but we have always known that regardless of how often we spend time together, we will protect each other.

After finishing breakfast, I head out to check in with my father at the club. I also need to see if Konstantin has any updates on his app. I use the service elevator to leave the building and walk a block to get to my car.

It usually takes me thirty minutes to get to the club because people in Chicago don’t know how to fucking drive. Once I park in the lot and walk into the club, I feel my shoulders loosen.

Konstantine has an office at the back of the club just to the left of the training rings. As I walk through his office door, I see his cluttered desk. No one ever tries cleaning his desk off for him because he swears he knows where everything is. I don’t know how he works in this mess, but whatever he does works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it as they say. I lean on the door frame and see Konstantine hunched over his laptop and typing like a madman.

“Writing code again are we?” I ask as I walk through the doorway and take a seat in one of the two armchairs across from his desk.

“The code won’t write itself you know,” he says looking up at me from the corner of his eyes. “I’ve been working on the app. All you’ll have to do is get close to Charlie’s phone to download the app. I’ll take it from there,” he starts to explain.

I don’t know how to ask him for an update about being followed, so I rub my hands along my thighs and say, “Okay. That sounds great. I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get close enough to her. How close do we need to be exactly?”

While still typing on his computer, he looks up at the ceiling, tilts his head ever so slightly as if calculating it in his mind, then says, “Within a foot of her phone.” Then looks back at his computer and continues typing.

“Damn, okay!” I say, impressed, “We’ll have to make a plan. How soon can you have it done?”

“I’ll be done in a few hours.” The click, click, click of his fingers as they hit the keyboard are the only sounds for a few more seconds while I contemplate asking about my theory of being followed by someone.

“Good! I’ll check in with Maxim in a bit and see what he thinks,” I say, sitting further back in my chair and shifting uncomfortably.

It’s then that Konstantine stops typing and looks up at me, “What’s up?” he asks.

“It’s nothing,” I say, considering, “I just can’t shake the idea that someone has been following me as I follow Charlie…” I draw my eyebrows together as the thought forms in my mind causing a headache.

Konstantine crosses his arms, leans his elbows on his desk, his head tilting downward slightly, and looks at me through hooded eyes, “Does this have to do with the cell towers you had me look into a few weeks ago?”

I’ve always looked up to Konstantine, and I feel a bit like a child sitting across from his desk right now. He’s only a handful of years younger than my father, so ever since we moved back into the city, he’s been more of an uncle figure to me and my brothers.

I sigh, sit up straighter in my chair not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by fear, “Yes,” I finally reply, “It does.”

“I told you there was no activity around you at the time, so why are you still worried?” He asks with genuine concern.

I bring my right foot up and lean my heel on my left knee, leaning back a bit, “It’s just a gut feeling,” I say.

“Well, it’s never a bad idea to listen to your gut. But don’t let it be the sole deciding factor of your choices,” he says giving me some wise advice, “Always be vigilant, that’s what the boss says, so don’t get complacent, if you let yourself get too laser focused on this, you’ll lose your mind.”

“Yeah,” I say with a sigh. Planting both feet firmly on the floor, I use my arms to push myself up out of the chair, “Thanks Konstantine, for the app and for your advice. I’ve gotta go talk with the boss. Is he in the bar?”

“Yea. He’s back there with Viktor and Jeremie.”

“Ok. I’ll talk to you later. Thanks again, you’re the best!” I’ll feel miles better about Charlie’s safety once we have that app installed, but I still can’t seem to shake the feeling that I’m walking into a trap.

After my meeting with Konstantine and then my father, Maxim and I hopped in my car and followed Charlie on her way home from work. Andrey has the night off and I’m glad. I wasn’t looking forward to hearing his whining all night, although hopefully after our last talk, Andrey has decided to get his head out of his ass and stop acting like an idiot.

We parked about forty feet away from the entrance to her apartment and kept tabs on who entered and exited the building. I didn’t want to be that guy who pulls out binoculars and spies on a girl. It’s a clear night so when I look out the windshield I can actually see a few stars in the sky.

Charlie seems to be settling in for the night. I can see the lights are on in her living room, and it looks like she might be watching something on TV. If I could, I’d be up there with her right now. I’d wrap her in my arms and never let her go. I look up at the her apartment and allow myself a few minutes to daydream about what life would have been like if my Pap hadn’t moved us back here.

Just then, like she can feel my stare, she opens the living room curtains and I can see directly into her living room. She looks irresistible in her jeans. They hug her curves just right and she’s always looked great in green.

Maxim hits me on the arm and I glare over at him, “What the fuck man?” I say furrowing my brows and ready to punch him back.

“It looks like Charlie called an Uber…” he says.

“What?” I say a bit shocked, “How can she trust a complete stranger to drive her around the city? She has her own car.” I am frustrated, but at least we’ll be able to follow wherever she has decided to go.

In the time it takes the Uber to arrive, I call Konstantine so he can do some social media stalking to find out where she might be headed. Turns out she was invited to dinner by a few of her co- workers, so we make sure to plot out several routes in case we get split up by traffic.

When her Uber arrives we follow it to this cheesy Al-Capone inspired restaurant.

As Charlie gets out of the car and heads inside, Maxim says, “This is a great time to get close to Charlie and get that app installed on her phone.”

I take a few seconds to think, then call Konstantine again just to make sure it’s ready to go. After getting the go ahead from him, and a quick email with the file we need, it looks like this could work.

I turn to Maxim with anxious excitement, “Konstantine said we’re good to go, I downloaded the file onto my phone. I’ll call Andrey. We should be able to get this done quick and easy,” I say, “As long as we don’t overthink it.”

We sit in the car in contemplative silence until Andrey arrives. As soon as he does, we formulate a plan that Andrey is not too keen on, but who the fuck cares? The plan is pretty simple, so I hope it works. I walk in wearing dark jeans, a black tshirt, and an old-school fedora, black with white pin-stripes. I walk to the hostess and ask for a table for one. When she walks me to my table, I see Charlie talking with her co-workers. I try not to make eye-contact, or look at her too long. The goal is to have her recognize me, or at least think she does, so she follows me outside when I abruptly leave.

I wait a few minutes before deciding to head inside. Charlie is there all by herself, and I don’t like that. I keep to the shadows of the entryway for a few heartbeats completely hidden and take in her beauty. Before she has a chance to see me, I flag over a hostess and am seated at my own table.

Her boss and co-workers come in and by the time they’re ordering food. I hold my own menu over my face just enough to hide any identifying features. I watch her in awe as she talks casually with the people at her table. When she laughs I feel my chest tighten. Her laugh has always been soothing and it’s been too long since I've been close enough to hear her.

My heart skips a beat.

She must feel my eyes on her because in the blink of an eye, she’s scanning the room. Her eyes land on me and for a moment I don’t think she recognizes me. Then I see the confusion in the crease of her brow and the alarm as her eyes go wide as saucers. I don’t move right away, I want her to see me, to be enticed enough to leave the restaurant.

She takes a few subtle glances my way and then, when she can’t seem to look away I know it’s time to go! I get up, not too quickly to raise an alarm for the wait staff, but enough to raise Charlie’s curiosity.

I see Maxim, dressed as a busboy, make his way toward her table. We’re banking on her leaving her phone at her table. I rush outside and hop in the car we positioned to be waiting for me. Andrey’s in the driver’s seat, and as soon as I close the door, he drives off. Once we’re about fifty feet from the entrance, Andrey pulls over into a parking spot so we can wait for Maxim.

“This was too risky, Yuri. I don’t know why you had to go in there,” Andrey says frustrated.

I look in the rearview mirror and see Charlie just as she walks out the front door. As I slump down in my seat, just in case she can see me from this distance. I look to Andrey, “If you ever speak to me like that again Andrey, you will regret it!” I seethe. “Charlie is mine and I will do whatever I see fit to ensure she is safe! Do you understand?”

Andrey nods his head. I can tell he’s furious at me because his eyes go a shade darker for a split second and his eyebrows furrow. I know he’s pissed that I talked to him like a child, but if he’s going to act like one, then I have no choice.

I can see Charlie as she walks around the building, searching for me. Then Maxim leaves the pub calmly and makes his way to the car.

He gets into the back seat and says, “That worked like a charm. I was able to walk up to their table and put their glasses in my bin. One guy was talking incessantly about Al-Capone for so long I didn’t even have to make up an excuse to stay by their table for the app to connect.”

“Good. Let’s open the app and make sure everything is working on our end before we leave.” I say sitting up straighter in my seat.

We spend ten minutes looking at the features of the app Konstantine designed before I feel confident enough to leave. Even though I know Andrey was right, I did put too much at risk by going inside and allowing Charlie a chance to see me, I won’t tell him that. The plan worked, and that’s all that matters.

Andrey puts the car in drive, “Let’s go. I want to get a good nap before we have to meet Viktor and Jeremie in the park.”

When we enter my condo, I walk to the kitchen. I need some coffee if I’m going to make it through tonight without fucking up the whole plan. Andrey and Maxim follow me and sit at two bar stools across from me.

“I’m really sorry for what I said back there, Yuri. I’m just pissed that you put yourself in that position,” Andrey says and leans his elbows on the counter and fists his hands lacing his fingers together. I know he’s still unhappy with my priorities, but I can’t let him get away with talking to me that way. He’s sorry and he’s my friend, but I’ll be his boss one day.

“You know Andrey, I’m really getting sick of having to explain myself to you. I don’t want you questioning my decisions. I’m looking out for the business, and all of you, as well as Charlie. If you start undermining me, everything is going to go to shit!” I say as I wait for my coffee to brew.

“I know Yuri. I’m sorry. I really am. I just wanted to be helpful. It’s always good to get another opinion right?” He’s talking like a soft child and his tender apology is only making me more upset.

“Andrey, enough okay. Yes, I want other’s opinions, but at the end of the day, I’m the one in charge and I’ve got a lot more at stake here than either of you. If I don’t do my job, not only do I look like an idiot, I make my father look like a fool! If I want your opinion Andrey, I’ll ask for it.” The coffee pot beeps letting me know my brew is ready, so I pour myself a full mug and make my way to the living room.

Maxim and Andrey don’t follow me, they just turn on their stools to face the living room couch. “I understand Yuri. It won’t happen again,” Andrey says as he meets my gaze.

“I’m gonna need you to keep an eye on Charlie for me tonight and tomorrow morning. Maxim and I are going to be hung up with this plan tonight. Then we’ll be talking with the boss in the morning,” I say, daring Andrey to fight me on this.

“You got it!” Andrey responds, his voice steady. Finally, no push back.

“Alright. Let’s talk about something else. I don’t want to go into tonight pissed,” I say as I take gulps from my mug. Then I settle onto my couch for a short nap. It’s going to be a long night and I want to be alert for this. I won’t allow myself to be the reason we don’t get back at the Italians.