The Alex King Series, A BATEMAN [good books for high schoolers .TXT] 📗

do. I survived back in those days with the Bratva, and I continued to survive by marrying one of them. I knew they would be looking for me, and I knew they would leave me alone if I helped them. And I rated their chances more than yours.”

“Let me know how that’s worked out for you?”

“Bastard!” she shouted again. The girl flinched, and Anna held her arm, squeezing tightly. “This is the man who killed your father, my dear.”

The girl looked puzzled for a moment, then sad. She said nothing, but tears were welling in her eyes.

King ignored Anna, looked at the girl and crouched down. “I’m sorry for you, Dina. Truly I am,” he paused. “I understand your pain. But I gave your father a chance to live. More of a chance than he gave me.”

“Bastard!” Anna shouted.

King raised the machine pistol at Anna. “Shut up!” he snapped at her, his eyes as cold and blue as glacier water. He turned back to the girl. “You look like a smart girl,” he said. “You can choose to hate me for what happened, perhaps even wish me dead. Or you can let it go and get on with the rest of your life. The first option will bring you nothing but misery. The second option will define you, bring you happiness. The ability to love the people you get close to and enjoy life to the fullest.” He stood back up and walked to the door, pausing briefly to turn back and look at her. “My name is Alex King,” he said. “Remember it. If you want to get even one day, well I’ll most likely deserve it. But believe me, I’ll be ready, and I don’t die easily. And I won’t think twice about killing you.”

54

 

“About time. You’re playing fast and loose with the woman you love.”

“I was injured after taking down Nikolai. I needed a few days to get sorted,” King lied seamlessly, then paused. “And the area got pretty hot with the police. I had to lie low for a while.”

“But you’re ready for your next task now?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I will text it to you now. And no contact with me until it’s done.”

“Whatever.”

“No, Mister King. You will receive the target and the address. You will do the job and you will keep all communication switched off until it is done. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.”

“And no collateral damage.”

“Sometimes it’s inevitable.”

“Not in this case!” Helena snapped.

“I’ll see how it goes.”

“The guards are one thing, but no civilians. No non-combatants. Understand?”

“Like I said, I’ll see how it goes.”

“There will be no collateral damage, or you will never see your woman again…”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Plenty. But make sure you understand. No collateral.”

“Send me the details.”

“Nearly there,” she paused. “And then you will see your beautiful, feisty Caroline again. Unless of course, you fail…”

King heard the line go dead. He smiled, feeling that she had been suitably rattled. He held the phone in front of him, willing the text to come through. He took out the piece of paper that Anna Sergeyev had written Romanovitch’s details on. She could have been lying, but he doubted it. She seemed to want Helena Milankovitch derailed as much as he did. She ran with the fox and hunted with the hounds. He suspected he couldn’t trust a word she said.

The text came through, a silent vibrate that King had set the phone to. He unlocked it and read the text. Goran Romanovitch was the target. King held up the paper alongside the phone. Helena had included GPS coordinates with her text, but the two addresses were identical.

King had his next target.

He was another step closer.

But there was no mention of Catherine Milankovitch. Only Helena’s insistence upon zero collateral damage.

Not only was King a step closer, he was now decidedly out in front.

55

 

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS),

Georgia

 

“I’ll get the car,” Ramsay said. “You two stay here and keep an eye on the bags.”

“Yes, Dad,” Rashid quipped as Ramsay walked away from them.

“You like winding him up, don’t you,” Marnie stated flatly. “He’s not so bad.”

“No, he’s okay,” Rashid agreed. “But he’s done a lot of desk work, pressed the flesh and signed a lot of documents off. Not to mention had a few lunches on expenses.”

“He was pretty handy at Botha’s place,” she countered. “Got you inside quickly when everyone was being shot at.”

“True,” he conceded. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he looked at the screen as he took it out. He turned away from Marnie and spoke quietly. Marnie watched him, as he nodded, concentrating on the voice on the other end. She caught his eye and smiled, but he turned away without returning her gesture. Rashid slipped the phone back into his pocket and walked back over to her.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Rashid watched Ramsay signing documents at the Hertz desk, showing his licence and talking animatedly with the hire company agent. He turned back to Marnie and bent down, kissed her firmly on the lips. She went to pull away, but he tucked his hand behind her head, felt her submit and kiss him passionately back. When he pulled away, he smiled. “Sorry, luv,” he said. “Got to go. Don’t try and find me, I have something to do.”

“What?” she asked, shocked and confused. She looked over at Ramsay, who caught her eye, but looked back to the hire car rep. “What do you mean; go?”

“Got to see a man about a dog,” he said. He slung his travel bag over his shoulder and headed for the exit without another glance.

56

 

London

Another day of drizzle, the humidity of summer