In For the Kill (McClouds & Friends #11)(109)

“Our mistake was not killing Josef and the driver,” Sasha went on. “We used drug darts, and when they woke, they remembered a masked woman with a sexy body who spoke Ukrainian. My father knew Sonia was in Italy, that she had tried to find the mass grave in Nadvirna. He did not suspect me, but he took her. And killed her.”

Sveti hugged herself, rocking. Her face hidden against her knees.

“She never told them about me.” Sasha’s voice broke. “She didn’t tell them where we hid the g-g-generators. They did not break her.”

Sam cut him off before he could start to cry. “Where did you hide the generators, Sasha?”

Sasha wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Here.”

Sam’s body went rigid. “What the f*ck? You mean . . .” He looked around the tiny room, nerves jangling.

“Not in this building,” Sasha clarified. “Behind the old foundry. A Camorra boss owns it, but it has been abandoned for years. It was just a temporary hiding place. I never meant for it to stay there for six . . . six years. But they were watching, always, and I was paralyzed. No one else knew, after Sonia died.” He paused. “Until now.”

Sam wanted to clutch his brow. “Oh, lucky us.”

“I am glad I had a chance to tell you,” Sasha said to Sveti. “She was so brave. She saved me. I wanted you to know that, before . . .”

“Before what?” The insight was like ice water in Sam’s face. “That baggie. It’s your ticket out, right? You’re going to load that needle with a lethal dose and drift off with the unicorns and rainbows. And leave your friend to clean up your mess? Is that your plan?”

Sasha’s eyes fell.

“Sasha?” Sveti’s eyes darted between them. “That’s not true, is it?”

Sasha would not meet her eyes. “It’s a better death than the one they would give me.”

“That’s how you repay her?” Sam demanded. “By offing yourself? She’s been let down by a lot of people. You’re not joining the club.”

“I couldn’t think of what else to do!” Sasha’s voice got stronger.

“Then think harder!” Sam yelled. “That night, ambushing the truck, that was it for you? Your finest moment? Life is asking more of you. Pull another shining moment out of your ass, Sasha. Now.”

Sasha flinched. “No,” he said. “You d-d-don’t understand—I—”

“You are using her, and I will not allow it. Get up off that bed. Get outside. Both of you, out of this place. I need some air.”

“But I . . . but I can’t stand the light—”

“Too f*cking bad. You want a mausoleum, die first. We’ll talk about the details while we go to the police. I’ll call around, make sure that whoever we talk to isn’t dirty. I’ll call people at home, too. We’ll spread the word. Everyone will know about it.”

He was going to pay for his tough-love attitude, but the guy needed a boot sunk in his ass, and they had to blow this mess open and turn it into someone else’s problem before the hammer came down.

Sveti helped Sasha to his feet. He tottered out the door like an old man, wincing away from the half-light of dusk. “I c-c-can’t be out here.”

“Let’s go,” Sveti said gently. “Come to the car. We’ll fix this. We’ll find a way to protect you. I’ll stick with you, Sasha. It’ll be okay.”

Great. Sam wanted to bash his head against the concrete wall.

“I can’t come,” Sasha said. “Being with me is dangerous for you.”

“I don’t care about the danger!” Sveti said. “I want you anyway!”

“Go, tell the c-c-cops,” Sasha said, stroking her hair. “I’ll stay here. When they come, I’ll show them. And I’ll tell them about the lab, too. I do not know where it is, but at least they will know that it exists.”

“I will not let you stay here to kill yourself! We’ll find you a place to hide! Someplace beautiful where no one can find you. Please, Sasha!”

Sasha looked tempted. Then his gaze darted toward the building.

Sam read that look and the impulse behind it. “No,” he rapped out. “Come if you want, but you can’t bring your stash. If you’re coming, then keep walking. Right foot, left foot.”

Sasha turned to Sveti. His eyes were sad. “I can’t,” he whispered. He turned to Sam and opened his mouth. “I—”

Whannnggg, a bullet ricocheted off the concrete by his head. A shower of grit stung them. “Get down!” Sam bawled.

A huge, dark shape cannonballed down from the roof and took Sveti down. Sam leaped up with a shout, the Glock drawn.

Bam, bam, bam. Bullets thudded the ground at his feet, driving him back. Three more men stepped out of the trees, guns drawn.

They were pinned.





CHAPTER 22

It was the one who’d tortured her in Portland. Josef. His breath stank like rotting meat. An odd thing to fixate on, with a gun barrel shoved under her chin. Josef’s grip was grinding agony. He didn’t care if he broke bones, ripped cartilage, snapped tendons. He specialized in damage. Her wrists were crushed in his enormous paw. No way to grab the gun strapped to her thigh. She wiggled her fingers, to try for Liv’s ring. His hand tightened until she gasped, her vision going black.