Ruthless Creatures (Queens & Monsters, #1)(88)

Hopefully that unhealthy rattle in his lungs is cancer.

My voice high and desperate, I demand, “Where is Kage? What have you done with him?”

“Nothing yet. But if my timing is right, he’ll arrive soon, to find you dead. On your birthday, no less. How tragic. I wish I could be there to see his reaction, but Viktor will tell me.”

On the verge of hysteria, I shout, “Who’s Viktor?”

“I am.”

I spin around to see a man standing in the middle of my kitchen, smiling at me.

He’s tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a black suit with a black wool overcoat and black leather gloves. His hair is gunmetal gray, shaved close to his head. His eyes are the clearest blue I’ve ever seen.

The gun he’s pointing at me is enormous.

Over the line, Maxim says, “He’s very good at what he does. Almost as good as Kazimir. If you cooperate with him, it will be much better for you. It will go quicker.”

His voice lowers. “And believe me when I tell you that you don’t want him to go slow.”

I drop the receiver.

Smiling pleasantly, Viktor gestures to one of the kitchen chairs. “Sit down. Let’s have a chat.”

I’ve never been so terrified in my life. It’s not only the gun pointed at me, or the phone call I just received, or the obvious fact that the head of the Russian mafia has put out hits on me and Kage both.

It’s also the smile on Viktor’s face.

That warm, eager smile, like he’s about to engage in one of his favorite hobbies.

When I remain frozen in place, clutching the kitchen counter and hyperventilating, Viktor says, “Sit down, Natalie, or I’ll fuck your corpse after I’m done with you and send the video to your parents.”

Hot and acidic, bile stings the back of my throat. I drag in several breaths, but feel like my lungs are full of water. I think I’m drowning.

When Viktor’s smile sours, I find the will to move and throw myself into the nearest chair.

“Good. Now. Tell me where the money is.”

Sweating and trembling, I whisper, “The money?”

He exhales a short, disappointed breath through his nostrils. “I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for games. So I’ll ask you again, you’ll tell me the truth, and we’ll get on with it.” His voice hardens. “Where’s the money?”

My stomach churns. A trickle of cold sweat drips down between my shoulder blades. “Do you mean the trust account?”

Looking interested, he cocks his head. “He set up a trust?”

Licking my lips, I nod. In my peripheral vision, I see Mojo standing stock-still in the living room, ears flattened, staring at Viktor with all the fur on his back bristling.

“I suppose that makes sense. Fucking accountants. Which bank?”

Accountants? “M-moraBanc. In Andorra.”

“Andorra? Interesting choice. He always used Armenian banks when he worked for Max. They give ten percent interest on their accounts. Good way to grow your money. Give me the account number.”

When he worked for Max? Did Kage go freelance?

My panic level is so high, I almost can’t hear the words coming out of my mouth over my internal screaming. “I don’t know it. I-I haven’t taken any of the money out.”

He stares at me for a beat, smile fading, blue eyes glittering like icicles in the sun. “Don’t take me for an idiot. You couldn’t afford that necklace on a teacher’s salary.”

I reach up and touch the stones around my throat. I whisper, “It was a Valentine’s Day gift.”

Eyes narrowing, Viktor studies my face. “This year?”

“Yes.”

He takes a step closer to me, voice rising. “You’re still in contact with him? Where is he? Where has he been living?”

Something’s going on that I don’t understand. A piece of the puzzle is missing. It’s almost like he’s talking about someone other than Kage.

But I can’t concentrate on that right now, because I’m trying to figure out a way to avoid getting shot in the face.

“Yes, we’re in contact. He told me he lives in Manhattan.”

Viktor chuffs out a small, astonished laugh, shaking his head. He murmurs, “All this time, right under our noses.”

Then he looks me up and down, studying me with new interest. “You’ve been a very busy girl. Where do you find the time, little schoolteacher?”

When I only shake my head in confusion, he makes a dismissive gesture with his free hand.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I suppose. I wouldn’t have pegged you for a slut, but you never can tell. Sometimes the ones who look the most innocent are the biggest whores of all.”

“Did you just call me a slut and a whore?”

Viktor looks mildly surprised by my tone. I’m surprised by my tone. It was loud, angry, and even a little bit dangerous.

In a soft voice, his smile returning, he says, “What would you call a woman who fucks two men at the same time?”

Behind Viktor, Mojo creeps silently closer, his head lowered, his teeth bared.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Do they know about each other?” He laughs. “I hope not. I’ll tell him before I kill him. I can’t wait to see the expression on his face.”