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S ergei walked quickly toward his house. Every time he reached a corner, he couldn’t stop himself from glancing over his shoulder. Finally he huffed out a breath. Why would anyone be following him? They knew where he and Elena lived. It would be child’s play to sneak into his house after he and Elena were asleep and shoot both of them in the head.

And the New York police? They’d chalk it up to Bratva violence. Wouldn’t put much effort into investigating, because they knew no Bratva member would rat out his buddies.

A cold finger ran down Sergei’s spine, and he walked a little faster. He needed to get home. Needed to talk to Elena.

Sergei recited the woman’s phone number again, making sure it was committed to memory. Elena would still be home when he got there. They could talk about what had happened at the meeting, then discuss the woman’s offer. Would his wife want to uproot herself from her community? Leave her parents? Her sisters? Move someplace new and unfamiliar?

No. He knew his wife well enough to understand that she was woven into the Russian community here. Her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews all lived near them.

Sergei swallowed. Elena was pregnant, but no one knew yet. The safety of the baby now had to be considered. If Alexei killed him and Elena, the baby would die, as well. Unacceptable.

Sergei walked faster. That space between his shoulder blades was twitching. As if someone was watching him. It was not a surprise. It would be more shocking if no one was watching him. He didn’t look over his shoulder. Couldn’t show any awareness of surveillance. Right now, the only thing that was important was getting home to Elena. Telling her what had happened and relaying the offer from the woman and man. They would be safe. Protected. Shielded from Alexei’s vengeance.

When he reached his house, he didn’t hurry. He walked with the same deliberate speed he’d used since he left the office building. Walking up the front steps, he unlocked the door and stepped into the enclosed porch. Unlocked the door to the house, and stepped inside, making sure both doors were locked behind him.

Elena hurried out of the kitchen. “Sergei! What are you doing home before noon? Is something wrong? Did something happen?”

Sergei took his wife’s hand. Twined their fingers together and drew her into the kitchen. He pulled out a chair from the table and eased her into it. “We need to talk, Elena.”

She sucked in a breath and shoved her blond hair behind her ears. Grabbed both his hands. “Sergei, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Elena could always read him, just as he could always read her. They’d grown up together, the children of close friends. So he slid his fingers between hers, and held her tightly. “We have a problem, Elena.”

Her fingers tightened on his. “What happened?”

“I told you about this FBI agent who is supposed to meet with us tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

“Apparently, his boss is sending him to us so that we can kill him and dispose of his body.”

Elena sucked in a breath. “What?” she whispered, her eyes wide with horror.

He nodded slowly. “Yes. That’s the purpose of this meeting. To kill him and dispose of his body.”

Elena frowned. “Why? What has he done?”

“Nothing, as far as I know,” Sergei said. He swallowed the lump of fear in his throat, but it didn’t go away. “There was a woman a couple of months ago. She met with some of our members in Brighton Beach. Apparently, they were supposed to kill her, but they failed. She outwitted the young man who was supposed to kill her and escaped. They are all horrified at being bested by a woman.”

“And now it’s your group’s turn to meet with someone and kill them,” Elena said, clearly grasping the problem.

“Yes. I made the mistake of asking why we were doing this. This man had never done anything to any of us. We were basically acting as assassins for a man buried deep in the FBI in Washington D.C.” He leaned closer to Elena. “Alexei let that slip a couple of weeks ago. He knew he’d made a mistake and he tried to hide it. But I saw him sweating. Nervous. No one besides me seemed to notice, but I think he wasn’t supposed to reveal that information.”

“Why?” Elena asked. “Why are you supposed to kill this man?”

“No one knows. The man Alexei deals with simply told us we had to kill him and dispose of his body.”

Elena frowned. “That’s not right, Sergei. If this man did something to bring dishonor on the FBI, that is one thing. But to kill him simply as a favor to the man Alexei deals with? That’s wrong.”

Sergei reached for his wife and wrapped her in his arms. “Yes, Elena. You are right. This is wrong. But the meeting is set for tomorrow.” He eased his wife away from his body. “The problem is, I spoke out in the meeting. Told them it was wrong to kill this man only because someone we’ve never met in person tells us to do it.” He sighed. “My father always tells me I’m too impulsive. That I speak without thinking. And this time, I got us both in trouble.”

“Because you don’t want to kill a man on someone’s orders?” She frowned. “Someone you’ve never met?”

“Yes.” He grabbed her hands. “Alexei wasn’t happy with me. I saw my death in his expression,” he whispered. “It might not be this week, or even next week. But he is going to kill me.”

“No!” Elena grabbed his shoulders. Pulled him against her. “I won’t let them kill you.”

Sergei wrapped his arms around his wife and held her tight, appreciating her loyalty. “There is a way out,” he said. “But I don’t think you’ll like it.”

“Tell me,” she demanded.

“After I left the meeting, a man and woman followed me away from the building. They must have been watching for me from the fast-food place across the street, because they were behind me by the end of the block.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “They said they could help me. Help us. They offered to move us away from here and into a safer neighborhood.”

“Where would that be?” Elena asked.

“I didn’t ask them that. I was overwhelmed at what they said. But the man and the woman told me I’d be dead if I didn’t get away. They seemed to know exactly what had happened in the meeting today.”

“I don’t understand,” Elena said. “How could they know that?”

Sergei blew out a breath. “My guess? They were taping the meeting. It’s the only explanation.”

Elena put her hand on her belly. “What are you thinking, Sergei?”

“I’m thinking we should discuss this. I’m afraid they were right. If we stay here, I will be killed. Then you’d be left alone with our baby and no one to support you.”

“My parents would take us in,” she said.

“Is that what you want?” Sergei asked. “To let them kill me, then move in with your parents?”

“Of course not,” Elena said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. But we need to talk about this. Decide if we stay here and risk you being killed, or move away. Unless we can think of another alternative.”

Sergei shook his head slowly. “There is no other alternative,” he said. “Let’s sit down and talk this through. See what our options are.”

“We can do that,” Elena said. “But I think we only have two options. Stay, and hope that they don’t kill you. Or leave and protect ourselves.”

* * *

Livvy paced the hotel room, glancing at her phone every few minutes to check the time. The minutes crept by much too slowly.

“You’re making me dizzy,” Jake finally said. He stood up and grabbed Livvy’s hand. “Sit down and relax. Pacing isn’t going to make Sergei call any more quickly, or make him any more eager to accept our offer.”

“You’re right,” Livvy said, dropping onto the couch. “But the waiting is making me crazy.”

“Me, too,” Jake said. “Now we have two things to focus on -- my Bratva meeting tomorrow, and how to protect Sergei.” He leaned closer to Livvy. “I have some thoughts about tomorrow.”

“Yeah? You’re not going to walk into that office. Those men are just itching to kill you. If they don’t do it in the office, they’ll take you for a walk. Shoot you and dump you in the canal.”

“You’re right. Not gonna go that route. Because I’d be completely vulnerable, and I wouldn’t have any backup.” He leaned closer to Livvy. “I think I’ll change the meeting place. We’ll set it up for that fast-food place across the street from the building. That way, you’ll be able to be there, too. At a different table, but close enough to have my back. And if you see a threat, you can text me. Or if someone pulls a gun and aims it at me, you can take him out.” He smiled. “You brought a suppressor, right?”

“I did.” Livvy smiled. “I like this plan. It keeps you out of that office and lets me be present at the meeting to back you up. This way, you have a better than average chance of walking away from the meeting.”

“That’s the goal,” Jake said.

Livvy leaned closer to him. “It’s got to be a last-minute change of plans,” she said. “You call them the morning of the meeting. Tell them you’re not going to their office. You want to meet in public. And you choose the restaurant across the street from their building.”

“They won’t like it,” Jake said.

“Of course they won’t. You’ll be screwing up their plans. But I don’t see any way to keep you safe if you go to that office. There was a strong sentiment for shooting you as soon as you walk in the door. No way to defend against that. You step into the room, and boom, you’re dead.”

“Yeah. Not going to let them have the upper hand like that.” Jake swallowed the hard ball of anxiety in his throat. “Meeting in a public place is less risky, but still dangerous. We both have to be prepared to use our weapons.”

“I won’t hesitate. And I know you won’t, either,” Livvy said. “This is an us-or-them situation. I hope we can avoid firing our weapons, but we need to be prepared to use them.”

“You’re right.” Jake clenched a fist. “Shootouts in fast-food restaurants are way too dangerous. Too many civilians in the mix, too many chances for civilian casualties. But I’m not sure we have any other choice.”

“I don’t think we do,” Livvy said. “They’re going to be just as concerned about civilian casualties as we are. After all, this is their community. Dead Russian civilians would be a really bad look for them.” She clenched her teeth. “I’m guessing they’ll try to get you to go with them to the Gowanus Canal. That’s their way of taking care of you out of the public eye.”

“Yeah, but I’m not going anywhere with those guys,” Jake said. “I’m here to listen to their proposals. Take them back to Nelson.”

Livvy smiled. “You’re going to get some pushback,” she said.

“That’s fine. That’s why they’re called negotiations.”

“So we have a plan for tomorrow.” Livvy drew a deep breath. “I like this one a lot better than me skulking in that closet around the corner from the office. I’m no good to you there. At least this way, I’ll be able to actually do something if things go south.”

“Good.” Jake slapped his palms on the table. “When do you think we should call them?”

“As late as possible,” Livvy said immediately. “We don’t want to give them any time to set something up. You’re supposed to be there at ten, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then call them at 9:45. We can even be in the restaurant by then. Pick out our seats. Set it all up, so that when they walk in, there’s only one place they can sit.”

Jake nodded slowly. “Yeah. I like that idea.”

“You can ask them how many men will be there. So you know how many seats to save.” Livvy smiled. “Knowing how many men you’ll be facing gives you more power.”

“You’re right,” Jake said. He leaned toward Livvy. “You’re a genius, Liv,” he said. “I like this set up a hell of a lot better than walking into their turf. Especially walking into that tiny, cramped office.”

Livvy gripped his wrist, and Jake felt the pressure of her fingers zing through his body. “We’re FBI agents, Jake. We make the rules when meeting with hostiles. And we do it in public. In a place where they probably know a lot of the customers. Which means they’ll be reluctant to use weapons.”

“Yeah,” Jake said. He slumped against the back of the couch. “Now we sit here and wait for Sergei to call.”

“You think he will?” Livvy asked.

“He doesn’t have a lot of choices,” Jake said.