Gabriel's Regret: Book 1 (The Medlov Men Series 2) (14 page)

“No,” Olek said, looking around. 

“Good, good.”  Faddei seemed more nervous than usual.  “So you were not able to talk her down, which is why I wanted to see you.  I would have discussed it last night, but when you came down to dinner you looked perturbed and what I have to say will take a clear mind.”

Olek pulled out a seat and sat down. “She won’t hear anything I have to say and I’m supposed to be her lieutenant.  It’s like talking to a brick wall.”

“When women get power, it goes straight to the head,” Faddei quipped. “But that is not for long.”  He sat down across from Olek and scratched his brow.  Cradling his cup, he licked his lips and smirked.  “How would you like to be the new captain?”

“How is that possible?” Olek asked.

“You know how,” Faddei said, staring Olek in the eyes.  “That woman is going to undo all that we have worked for.  And the people will blindly follow to failure because she was able to get the Medlov men here with those guns and all this fucking food.” He pushed over a biscuit to Olek.  “People eventually stop listening with their ears and watching with their eyes when they are starving.  The stomach takes over all of the senses.  This is how she is winning them over.”

“So what is going to change?” Olek looked nervously around again, afraid that someone might hear them plotting. 

“A deal has been struck with the Russian separatists.” 

Olek’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You are talking to those devils?”

Faddei raised his hand in protest.  It wasn’t what it sounded like, but he was expecting to draw some anger from Olek. “They got word to us. They know that Alexei is dead.  They also know that Valeriya is in charge.”

“Do they know that we are here in this place?  If so, we need to evacuate immediately and find some other place for our headquarters.” 

“They have no idea where we are.   One of my men was approached by them yesterday morning when he was coming out of the hospital.  It was scary business for him, but he came back in one piece with news that we can use to our advantage.”

Olek was silent, waiting for Faddei to go on.  This conversation of usurping Valeriya’s power was starting to sound like something far worse than sabotage. 

Faddei needed to plead his case wisely, and he knew that.  “Valeriya is a dangerous symbol for these times and that’s a problem for them.  It’s a problem for all of us.   If she is taking up her brother’s banner and moving on, it says to the Ukrainian forces that the women and men should do the same. 
Women should do the same.
  In that we should move on, I agree, but her leading us it also says that we are being pushed around in our country by a minority group…Black women.  In the history books, do we really want her face plastered across our cause?”

Olek swallowed hard.  “Does it matter whose face is on what as long as we win?” He had never been one for petty politics and was not moved by a few people’s idea of what victory should look like. 

“Yes, it matters.”  Faddei threw his head back.  “We are not the Ukrainian army.  We are a small group of militia whose only purpose is to protect our people while others truly fight this war.  We aid the sick, feed the hungry, give our people guns to protect their homes and businesses, find safety for those who otherwise would not have any.  It is because of our stance, a more neutral necessary place, that we have survived this long.  It’s why the people give us money and fund our operations.”

“I’m aware of how we have survived, brother.  But your explanation still gets me no closer to understanding what the Russian separatists want with her?”

Faddei shook his head. “I thought I was being clear.  They want her out of the picture.”

“Dead?” Olek asked, incensed.

“No, not necessarily. Just not leading us, not creating troubles, not encouraging more attacks.  She has always wanted the people to revolt.  She has encouraged Ukrainian young people to fight.  The reason that Alexei did so well was because he focused on keeping the people safe.  Valeriya is something else.  She is a rabble rouser.  She encourages violence and has not only spoken out against the Russians publicly, but also the Nazis and our own Ukrainian guards.  With her, the lines are more blurred.  There is no safe space.”

“You know how I feel for her. Why would you approach me with this?  What? Do you expect me to sneak into her bed at night and kill her? Slit her throat? Because she speaks out against poor leadership, racism, sexism…”  Suddenly, he was disgusted. 

Faddei tilted his head and lowered his voice.  “I saw the way that the Medlov man looked at her.  You have no chance of ever returning to her bed as long as she has a working relationship with him.  And based on how he looked at her, he has no intention of ever offering you another opportunity to get close to her.” 

Olek pushed back from the table.  He would not take one more second of this asinine conversation. “You have no idea what you are talking about.”

“I have every idea.  That woman is an opportunist, and we cannot afford to place our future in her hands.  I’m not asking you to kill her?  I’m asking for you to put her in a place where she can be strategically wounded and forced to give up her position. Think about this for a second.  You can nurse her back to health, we can move forward with our cause and our people and she will be safer.”

Olek looked down at the floor, trying to process what Faddei was asking.  “How do you strategically wound someone?”

“A shot in the arm, the leg, something less than a death shot.” Faddei knew that he was breaking him.  All it would take was a little more encouragement and he would have him in his clutches.  “If we do this, we save so many.”

To play the devil’s advocate, Olek made a point he thought Faddei might be missing.  “And you think Gabriel Medlov is going to allow that?  You saw what he delivered to the Nazis.  It wasn’t exactly some low-level hit. He blew up their fucking building while we were all sorting water bottles.”

It was all figured out except one part.  Olek.  They needed his buy-in to get her in position and keep others from being harmed.  “No, I agree.  Doing anything to her while he is here is a bad idea,” Faddei said.  “He leaves in three days, according to the word in the hotel.  It happens after.
Right after to be exact. 
The Russians don’t know that Gabriel Medlov or any Medlov is here or has facilitated the delivery of guns and other munitions. We don’t want that information to get out, and we don’t want to lose our only connection with the Roman family in the states.  So this has to come off flawless with none of us implicated.  It has to be done when he leaves, but the Russians want a showing the day, so it must happen right after he departs. This keeps us safe, da.” 

“We are
safe
nowhere, and this game that you are considering is dangerous for everyone, not just those who want power and political attention,” Olek said, clenching his jaw. 

“Do you think I’m the only one who is going to follow through with this?” Faddei snapped in a graver tone.  “Other captains – they will remain anonymous for now- think this is the best course of action.  It’s going to happen with or without you.  The difference is that you could become captain of her men, lead them well, take care of her and keep her in her place.  It’s not a lot to ask.”

“And if I don’t agree to do this horrible thing?” Olek asked.

“I think you know that this is information you can’t unhear,” Faddei said, putting his gun on the table as a warning.  “Personally, I like you.  I think of you as a better leader.  I will take on the charge of being the head of this revolution, but you will be in a better capacity to oversee all of the people who are already depending on you.  However, if you don’t do this…horrible thing, then you and I both know that you have no place left in this revolution and no place left in this country.”

Olek looked down at the gun and smirked.  They weren’t offering him a choice.  They were giving him orders disguised as a choice.  “So you’re offering me life and leadership or death.”  He shook his head.  “You fucking
sucka
.”  In silence, he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. What choice did he have?  “And you won’t kill her?” he asked sincerely. 

“Absolutely not,” Faddei promised. “The Medlov man will be gone.  We’ll have our guns and a united, strong cause.  She’ll be injured but in your care and safe. And lives will be saved.  We will continue to praise but at the same time control how much damage she is doing in the community by creating an up rise without a full strategic plan.”

Olek got that part, but one part, he didn’t.  “So why do you need me?”

“Well,” Faddei scrubbed a hand over his chin, pleased that they were headed in the right direction with the conversation finally.  “We need you to deliver her, away from the hotel and our munitions and families, to a place she is not very secure in, or has very few contacts around.  And in that place, a designated sniper will be there to make an unlucky shot.  When you save her, it will look like an attack that you foiled, and you will be her savior instead of this new man?  I will be appointed as head of the revolution and you can take up your spot as captain.”

“How are you sure that the Russians won’t just kill her and me, once it’s set up?”

“The Russians won’t be there.  One of our men will.”  Faddei huffed.

“One of our own has agreed to this?”

“Yes, more than one. I picked the most qualified.  But like I said, she will not be killed.  Look, I’ve known her and her brother since they were little people.  I’ve known her longer than you. I followed her brother, so it’s not a matter of race, but you have to believe me as your elder and a leader, I know what is best for this country and these people.” Frustration started to get the best of him again. “I will not kill her.  She still will be a part of the revolution.  She is very smart.  Her consultation will still be highly regarded, but maybe…” Faddei shrugged, “as your wife or something like that, she will make a bigger impact.  Plus, it’s a more feminine roll, eh?  Something the people can respect and admire.”

The words and possibilities drew Olek in further.  “I told her it would be wise to let someone else lead.”  He hated her at that moment for putting them all in this position.

“And you were right,” Faddei agreed.  “Do this thing.  Save her life while you still can.”  He offered his hand to Olek.  “Can I count on you, brat?”

Olek looked at the man’s hand for a moment and then shook it reluctantly. “Keep her safe.  Nothing that will handicap her or leave her in permanently injured.”

With a smile, Faddei put his other hand on his and leaned in.  “I promise.  My man is very reliable.”

Chapter Ten

Strong is a Relative Word…

It was a balmy 91 degrees outside with not a cloud in the sky.  The sun beamed down relentlessly on everyone and everything alike, making the hot afternoon almost unbearable.  Traveling through the bumpy narrow roads of Western Donetsk, Gabriel sat in the passenger seat of the box style, early model Land Rover drenched in sweat as it traveled across town to yet another stop.  He was exhausted from all the lifting and pulling, hungry from only the egg and scotch that was his breakfast and dying to get some lunch in him. 

Valeriya wasn’t lying when she said they would work today.  They had already made four stops, including one to an elderly lady who lived alone with a busted hip.  Unfortunately for everyone involved, her cat had died three days ago, and she lived on the fifth floor of a depilated high rise that seemed to never have a working elevator.  So no one had come to tend to her or the dead, rotting carcass of the animal. 

The odorous stench was enough to gag a maggot, but Gabriel had helped Valeriya and her men diligently clean up the mess, feed the woman and stock her pantry.  The other three stops were to local clinics and businesses, giving out a ton of bandages, can goods and antiseptics along with guns to keep thieves from looting.

It had been an eye opening experience for Gabriel.  He was not the Red Cross type, no bleeding heart to speak of, and no history of philanthropic spirit.  So, watching her toil over boxes and create solutions to other people’s problems was taxing. 
Why did she care so much?
  In all, it had left him feeling quite hollow inside to know that someone had a heart as big as hers with so little means did so much to help others while he had such great means and only tended to his own selfish aspirations.

“One more stop and then we go back to load up for the evening shift,” Valeriya said from the middle of the back seat, sandwiched in between her brother and Nadei, as she wrote in her notebook. “We need to bring back more batteries for the next group.  Don’t let me forget.” 

“No problem,” Andriy said, looking out of the tinted window as he sat beside her.  He looked comfortable with the work, used to it. 

“Where are we headed to now?” Gabriel asked the driver, Sam, as he slid his baseball camp down on his head. 

“An orphanage that Valeriya watches over,” Sam answered, slamming down on his horn and his brakes as a car pulled in front of him. “It’s just on the outskirts of town, if this fucker ever gets out of my way!” 

Valeriya smiled, feeling proud of herself for working the hell out of Gabriel and Nadei. “What’s wrong, rich boy, are you tired?  Want to go home?”

Gabriel shifted in his seat and looked back at her.  The sweat and headband had only made her sexier.  Her face was covered in a mist of perspirations, lips bare, eyes wide.  And her thin shirt did little to hide the faint imprint of eager nipples.  “It takes a lot more than this to get me tired, darling,” he shot back.  “I was thinking of something a little more physical.”

Valeriya cut her eyes at him.  “You might get what you asked for sooner than you know.”

“Really?” Gabriel asked with a wicked grin. 

“Da, the home we are going to requires a great deal of work.”

“That’s not what I was talking about,” Gabriel jested.  “But okay.”  Turning back around, he slipped on his shades. “Have it your way.”

“Is he always like this?” Valeriya asked Nadei as she scooted closer to her brother to give him more room.

“Like what?” Nadei asked flatly.  He was tired of being stuffed in the tight space doing plebe work.  It wasn’t exactly one of his strong points, and it showed over the hours as his grimace became more pronounced with each and every box lifted. 

Valeriya tapped her pen on her notepad.  “Is he always this cheeky?” 

Nadei shrugged but kept his eyes straight forward. “I do not know this term.  Maybe he will tell you a story later, eh, about a pea and mattress, and you will like him more.”

Valeriya frowned at Nadei. “What the hell does that mean?”

Nadei stretched his long arm out around her to give himself more space and adjusted his large body in his seat. “I don’t know, but evidently, women like it.”

***

It was four o’clock in the morning when Anatoly finally arrived back in Memphis.  Refusing to stay away from his wife any longer, he had instructed the pilot to get back to the States straight away with as few stops as possible. 

Plus, he had a bad feeling about leaving Gabriel in Ukraine alone.  For what he had offered the client and what they had provided per his father’s wishes, there was little need to woo them anymore than they had, but he needed to talk to Dmitry to see if he agreed. 

When he arrived at the Medlov compound, he was greeted at the door by the butler and told that his father was already up for the day and had gone downstairs in the gym to work out.  On a mission, he headed there with a cup of coffee in one hand and his father’s daily newspapers in the other.

Lying on a bench lifting weights with his earbuds in and his eyes to the ceiling, Dmitry had tuned the entire world out for his daily meditation.  This was the only time that he could get any peace.  Before the wife roused from her slumber or the children began to play, he always started his day in the same way, focused and ready. 

A modest grunt escaped him as he pushed the 350 pounds up in the air above him, locking his arms at its peak.  A thick vein pulsed out of his forehead, his lips pursed together and pearls of sweat dripped down from his hair and face onto the floor.  His wide chest ripped with waves of muscles contracting.  Drawing the bar back down to him with even precision, he repeated the same thing 20 reps to make one full set. 

Anatoly sat on a bar stool in front of the bar where the smoothie machine was and sipped his coffee.  He would miss his workout today unless having sex with his wife counted, and he planned to wear her ass out as soon as he could get upstairs. 

At the end of the third set, Dmitry racked the bar.  A loud sound of metal clashing with metal echoed through the room. He sat up, legs played wide, and bent to pick up his towel, heaving for breath.  It was then that he caught a glimpse of Anatoly watching him in the panoramic mirror on the opposite wall.

“Good. You’re back,” Dmitry said, wiping his face.  He pulled the earbuds out and motioned for his son to bring him his water bottle. “How was the drop?”

“Successful in a way,” Anatoly said, bringing Dmitry his tall VOSS
®
water.

“In what way was it not
successful
then?” Dmitry asked, knowing that he was going to hear something that he didn’t like by the tone of Anatoly’s voice. 

“Gabriel stayed.  Despite the fact that we gave them what they needed and more at no cost, he wanted to ensure that they felt comfortable with us before he returned home.  It’s a waste really.  We have other clients who need to be dealt with.”

Dmitry’s calm never cracked.  “For how long does he want to stay?”

“Long enough to make you happy.” Anatoly rolled his eyes in disapproval. “And there is a woman involved.”

“A woman?” Dmitry’s brow rose.

“A freedom fighter.  She’s in charge of the
Donetsk Relief and Revolution
,” he said mockingly.  “They are basically a bunch of armed Red Cross workers.  I even arranged a drone bombing of the Nazi compound that was giving them trouble.  They were eating out of the palm of my hands before I left, but Gabriel was not satisfied.”

“So this is now about a woman?” Dmitry smirked.  He had heard that story before and was not at all surprised.  “How is that going to make me happy?”

Anatoly was too tired to explain all the nuisances of what brought him to that conclusion.  “Papa, you need to bring him home. He’s used to dealing with men like us – no fuss, no frills, no…vagina.  With a woman like that, I fear that he’ll get too invested. He already can’t see the forest for the trees. This will only make things worse.”

Dmitry stood up and went over to the free weights.  He picked up a 75-pound dumbbell in each hand and lifted them slowly.  He didn’t want to get ahead of himself.  This could simply be a little attraction. 
There was nothing wrong with a little attraction.
  “What kind of woman is she?”

“Beautiful,” Anatoly started off with.  “Pig headed.  Stubborn.  Devoted to her cause.” 

“Sounds like his mother,” Dmitry said absently.  It brought of memories of a time when Emma Hutton was alive and trying to save the world one revolution at a time.  It didn’t work out in her favor.  “So if they were happy, then why did he stay?”

“He says that he wants to make sure that Allan will still do business with us, so he’s going to stay and win the woman over. Evidently, she is the leader now and has Allan Roman’s ear.”

“But what do you think?” Dmitry asked Anatoly. “What does your gut say?”

There were no two ways about it for Anatoly.  “I think he wants to screw her.”

Dmitry stood silently in front of the mirror thinking.  Without saying a word, he watched his form while Anatoly watched the news on the television.  When Dmitry was finished, he set the weights down and walked over to the bar.  “Do you think this business with Briggy is causing him to lose focus?”

“Of course, I do.  This woman is wreaking havoc.  In my opinion, it’s better to just send her away.  That way, Gabriel can get back to being himself, not that he’s all that great to begin with, but with her here, he will do whatever he can to stay away, that includes putting his life at risk.”

“Hmm, I was hoping that this could be handled without my input.”  Dmitry sat down on the bar stool and picked up the New York Times. 

Anatoly watched his father for several minutes as he read. “Is that all?”

Dmitry slowly took his eyes off the paper. “Yes, that’s all.  Tell him to be ready on the third day on time, no tarrying.”

“So you’re going to let him stay?” Anatoly asked.  “Despite what I have told you.”

“The problem is here, not there.  Tell him to come home at the time that you all have already arranged, and I will deal with Briggy then.”

Anatoly nodded. “Da, da, Papa.”  He looked at his watch. “I’m headed up to bed, but before I do,” he stopped in his tracks. “Just how do you plan to handle Briggy? She can’t stay here.  It’s driving Renee insane.”

Dmitry’s testosterone began to elevate and anxiety began to fill the room.  “This needs to stop.  All of it.  I’m done with the bullshit.  She’ll stay here until the child is born.  No longer.”

Anatoly’s eye twitched.  “That’s five months from now.”

Dmitry put down his paper and turned to Anatoly.  His eyes were ice cold.  “Then keep your wife busy and happy for five months. Am I the boss or some dime envelope drop boy?” 

He knew that his son was tired, and he also knew that most of this was not his fault.  Still, Anatoly did carry some blame, just like he carried blame for the ex-police officer’s exposé on her sordid sex exploit with a Russian mobster in Miami and screwing the nanny that he was later forced to kill in Italy and encouraging Gabriel to bring Briggy to the states when he was lovesick over Renee leaving and going to Atlanta.  It was the snowball effect. 

“I meant no disrespect, Papa.”

“We’re beyond that.  I told you both not to fuck the girl. 
Leave her alone.  Let her be.
That’s what I said. It was obvious from the start that she would never make either of you happy
for very long
.  I told Gabriel that allowing her to stay here permanently instead of finding other housing options for her would be a problem
eventually
. I told you that too many women in one house would be a cause for disaster
eventually
, especially if they don’t like each other.  I told you both all of these things to save you headache and heartache, and yet no one listened to me, because you and your young minds had it all figured out.  Now, you come to me for help and ask me, Papa, to fix all of it.  So, I will, but I will not ask any of you for your input or what is most
convenient
for you.   You will do as you’re told and then it will be done because you don’t get to ask for my help and then question the manner in that help was given.”

“Okay, Papa.” Anatoly couldn’t argue the man’s logic.  “But one question.”

“One more, then off with you. I need to finish my workout in peace. I’ve got meetings at eight.”

Anatoly grinned. “Can Royal handle five more months?”  Winking at his father, he headed out of the door.  “
Dobroy nochi
.”

Dmitry chuckled.  “Little asshole.” 

***

On a patch of land that looked more fitting for a countryside than the inner city, a large three-story wooden home with a tattered white fence surrounding it was the final destination for the early afternoon.  Pulling up in the driveway, everyone quickly exited out and headed up the old concrete steps to the front door, carrying several heavy boxes with them. 

Valeriya and Andriy seemed to be beaming with excitement on this trip, so much so that Gabriel found Valeriya’s giddiness somewhat insightful.

After a few knocks and a few looks out of the window by whoever was inside, a white woman in her late 60s opened the door with an AK-47 in her hand.  Smiling as she looked past the towering men to Valeriya, she gave a wide smile. “I hoped that was you, but I couldn’t be sure. Welcome.  Welcome.”  Opening the door for the men, she quickly set down the gun and gave a huge warm hug to Valeriya.