Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

Dimitri

This upscale section of Bogotá was just north of downtown and was full of apartment buildings and restaurants. This was good and bad for me since the cafes were bustling at this late hour as I hurried over to where I was supposed to meet Tomas.

Luka had tracked Makarovich here to San Felipe. He'd been very displeased that he'd had to leave and come take over watching Hollis. He'd already told me on more than one occasion that she was a burden we didn't need. I trusted him to watch her and keep her safe, even if I thought he was being a dick .

Easing my way up the fire escape, I winced at the noise, but the amount of chatter and music on the street would more than cover it. Usually, I was very stealthy. I prided myself on it.

Makarovich sprawled on a king-sized bed, black silk sheet rumpled around him stained with sweat. Amazingly, he was alone, his head tipped back and mouth open, and his flyaway hair moved away from his bald spot. Right now, I could kill him quickly. Torture him for hours to my heart's content.

No, the plan would work. I needed him to deliver Gregor and the doctor. If I killed him now, I'd have to give up on that, and I wasn't willing to do that. Leaving the way I came, I gave another look. He'd still die. I was sure of it.

My little troublemaker had no idea how I had been looking forward to this next part of the plan. Even if it made me a terrible person, the idea of her hands on me made me crazy. We did need to go to this party. I didn't lie about that. I'm not that much of a dick.

Dialing Maddox, I leaned against the balcony railing and looked over Bogotá. I wouldn't say I liked the weather here. It was so fucking hot. Not to mention, I was practically desperate to ride my bike. I'd never gone this long without being riding.

It was time to run through the scenario with the president of the Brotherhood. While I'd been running around playing Bratva, Maddox cared for Helena at home while she recuperated. I wouldn't begrudge him that, though. He had fought hard for it, and I'd volunteered for this assignment.

"Hey fucker," Maddox said sleepily into the phone. The Iron Brotherhood operated most of its activities at night, so it made sense that I woke him, not that I gave a shit. "How are you?"

"Tired and hot. This weather sucks," I griped. "But I found him. "

"You did? I knew you could do it. Maxim was obviously looking in the wrong place. Your brother may have a whole goddamn Bratva at his beck and call, but you're better than all of them. I could have told him that. If you're bitching about the weather, then I'll bet you made it hurt. Is he dead, then? You can come home now, right?" Maddox's voice was offhand.

"Not yet," I replied, my tone dropping to a more serious note. Although it did make me laugh that Maddox bad-mouthed my brother, it was true that Maxim and I had only very recently reached a tentative understanding. "But soon, he'll be very dead. I need to ensure we get all the information we need first. Makarovich is attending a party tonight at Rodriguez's place, and I'll get what I need there. Then he'll be dead."

"You haven't killed him yet? I thought that was the plan. That's the only person we were interested in. What do you need more information for?" Maddox's voice was harsh and worried. There was a pause on the line. "Rodriguez is a sick fucking bastard. Those cartels are notorious for their ‘entertainment. You are far from our help, Dimitri. Why are you in so deep? "

He wasn't wrong. I was in way deeper than I ever intended to go. Initially, the plan had been to ghost along the edges of the businesses here in Colombia to find Makarovich. That was the hope. Plan B had been to use the Bratva persona to approach Rodriguez. To lie and say that my brother was swayed by me and the promise of money and pussy to invest in sex trafficking. Now, I was past that. I had the information I needed. Makarovich was in the bag.

Now, well, now. There was a deep-rooted need that burned in my gut to get the individuals who had taken Hollis away from her life with her daughter. They had traumatized her in some way. I wanted to ask her about it, but I didn't want to press for more information than I already had. When she asked me to put Gregor on the list and then if she could watch while I killed them with those wide hazel eyes of hers. Well, I was a goner. That was it for me.

"I've heard about the parties," I confessed. Maddox wasn't wrong. The parties were notorious. "I'm bringing someone with me as part of my cover," I added .

Maddox's voice grew sharp. "Bringing someone? What the fuck? Who? Someone from the Bratva? That Luka fucker?" Maddox didn't have a high opinion of any of my brother's people, even if they helped us out a few months ago. He especially didn't think highly of Luka, who he knew had been sending reports to my brother.

"A woman named Hollis. She was trafficked by Makarovich down here to Colombia. When Rodriguez took me for the tour, she was there with some others." Thinking of Hollis in that place sent a frisson of unbridled rage through me. That someone had put her in that cage infuriated me.

"Jesus."

"She's been through hell, Maddox. She has a little girl she's trying to get back to." Objectively, I knew that there had been other women there. They had lives, too. I would try my best to help them, but like I'd told Hollis, my primary mission here wasn't to rescue everyone or put an end to trafficking. But I could save her, I would .

"Jesus, Dimitri. Why the fuck don't you just bring her back here? Why would you keep fucking around? You know where Makarovich is. Don't keep traumatizing the poor girl. Why would you put her through that?" Maddox asked. I could hear a door slamming in the background as he moved out of the room. "What are you thinking?" he demanded.

"Look. You're right; I know where Makarovich is. I found him yesterday." I scrubbed my hand over my head, a habit I picked up when I was younger. "But they have this system. I'm not sure how it works, but there are bounty hunters who drop off women at this clinic. Hollis said the man who took her brought her there to this doctor. Something happened to her there." Looking over the streets of Bogotá, I saw that it almost looked beautiful from here. The hotel where we stayed was in a nice area of the city that was considered suitable for tourists, with boutiques and little flower markets. "They're on my list."

"I see," Maddox said simply. He didn't say anything else because he had known me for a long time. We had worked together too long for him not to know what was going through my mind right now .

"She's strong," I said, thinking of the determination in Hollis's eyes. "She asked me to put that man and the doctor on the list," I paused. "She wants to watch them die. She needs this closure. Plus, her being with me adds to the cover story. Rodriguez expects me to bring a woman, and she fits the role perfectly."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Alright. Just make sure she knows what she's getting into. This is dangerous, Dimitri. This line you're walking. If she's been traumatized, and you're expecting her to … I don't even know. Fuck. Go with you while you whack these people? Then, she needs to know what she will see at these parties. I'm not so sure it's a good idea for her to be watching you kill these men, Dimitri," Maddox went quiet.

I'd gone circles on all those things but hadn't changed my mind. She'd asked to be there, and there wasn't any way I'd deny her.

"I'd rather not take her. There's no way I can take my time if she's with me. That doesn't make it very satisfying. It'll have to be clean and quick," I grumbled. I had already thought about that dilemma. I would very much like them to suffer. These were some of my skills, torture, and death. However, Hollis' well-being was more important than my satisfaction.

"I'm glad you have at least thought that part through. I am not super happy that Makarovich will get a quick death, but given the circumstances, that's best. At least he'll be dead. That's what we wanted," Maddox conceded. "That's enough."

"I might sneak him in early so I can give him some special treatment if I can leave Hollis with Luka. We'll see." If I got the information I needed from the party, I might go ahead and kill Makarovich tonight and dump his body in another area of a competing cartel. It was risky, though. "I'm watching the other stuff, making sure she's okay," I added. But I heard him, and I had been thinking about how she would handle it and how I could mitigate the disaster.

"Not everyone is like us, Dimitri. You know … okay, with the killing. "

"I know that."

"Okay. Just be gentle with her. Fuck. Helena still has nightmares about what that bastard Sergei did to her. Just make Makarovich dead and come home. Bring the girl with you if you want."

Helena had been kidnapped by Makarovich's henchman, Sergei, after Makarovich had run off to Colombia. Makarovich had taken the easy way out and left a frustrated man behind who was desperate, grasping at straws and blaming one person who was innocent of everything — Helena. Sergei knew Helena had information about their dealings and wanted to head her off. Unfortunately for Sergei, Helena had been too clever for him, leveraging her knowledge of what Maddox had told her. She'd been able to escape with her life, but images of her bruised face still flashed through my mind. Maddox and I agreed that the root of Helena's problems started and stopped with Makarovich. He was the only one who knew she was ever involved. There was no way we could let him live. We certainly hadn't let Sergei live. At least he'd died slowly — very slowly. The thought brought me immense satisfaction.

"Understood," I said, "I'll call you after it's done."

"Do that. And Dimitri?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful, man. We miss you here. You're going to be an uncle, too," Maddox said slyly.

"You work fast, Jesus. Must still have some juice even though you are older than the dinosaurs." I teased. "Good for you."

"Fuck off, you dick," he chuckled. "Hey, Helena would remind you that she had something to do with that too. But, I got to lock her down," he laughed. "Got a ring on that finger too. Hurry back, and you can be the best man. "

"Guaranteed," I assured him. My chest swelled with pride at the thought of being able to stand up with Maddox and being asked to be an uncle to their child. The Brotherhood was my chosen family, and the fact that they wanted me there made it even more special.

"Keep Hollis safe. We can't wait to meet her and her daughter. Introduce them to their new family." I'd like that too. It sounded like Hollis hadn't ever had anyone else besides Olive. That she and her daughter were alone in the world.

"Talk to you soon."

Hanging up, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. Maddox was right — this had to be done carefully. But I wasn't just doing this for Helena and Maddox. Hollis had become important to me in a way I hadn't expected. Her strength and determination made me want to protect her, to make sure she came out of this unscathed, but I couldn't wait to convince her to go to Arizona with me. I wanted to meet her clever little daughter Olive. I could see a future for myself for once, and I wasn't alone. Maxim was my brother, but we'd never been a family .

I was also excited about possibly introducing Hollis and Olive to the MC. We were a rowdy bunch but a loving one. I could show Hollis my little craftsman bungalow just a block from the MC compound. I'd been renovating it for years, polishing the hardwood floors and laying tile. It had a yard, and Olive could have her own bedroom. Maybe we could get a dog.

As we stepped out into the bustling streets of Bogotá, I glanced over at Hollis, who looked a bit more relaxed now that we were away from the hotel. The sun was relentless, but there was a lively energy in the city that I hoped would distract her from the dark realities we were about to face. Today was about mental and physical preparation, and a bit of light-heartedness wouldn't hurt.

"Ready to do some shopping?" I asked, flashing her a grin. "I promise it'll be more fun than staying at the hotel."

Hollis looked up at me, her eyes searching mine for any hint of deception. "As long it will help with the plan. This city still freaks me out." She looked around the streets with the smiling people, the flowers, and the vendors. "It seems happy, but to me it's not."

"That makes sense, but I'll keep you safe. I promise. If you would rather stay here, I could send Luka for your things." Dimitri looked serious, earnest.

"No, let's go. I trust you. I'm okay." She breathed deeply as she looked around again, reassessing. Tucking her hand into mine, I wove my fingers around hers, carefully checking that she hadn't panicked. I wanted to ensure that nothing I did scared her if I could help it.

"Stay close, malysh ," I said, guiding her through the crowded streets toward an upscale shopping district. "We need to get you travel clothes for the trip back home and a cocktail dress for tonight. You'll need to look stunning. Not that you don't already. "

"Stunning, huh?" she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Planning to show me off?"

I chuckled. "Something like that. Rodriguez and Makarovich are dangerous men, which you know, but I also don't want you to look like any other woman there — someone they can have. We need to play our parts perfectly. You're not just any woman; you're with me, meaning you must look the part."

Hollis sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Well, if it keeps me alive and gets me home to Olive, I guess I can manage."

"Atta girl," I said, reassuringly squeezing her hand. "Now, let's find you something that screams ‘don't mess with me.'"

I wanted her to feel confident because that would help carry off the storyline that we were selling, but more than that, I wanted her to feel comfortable by my side. She didn't need to dress fancy to do that, but I might be able to inject a little confidence in her by bringing her shopping. We entered a chic boutique. The air inside was cool and filled with the subtle scent of expensive perfume. A salesperson approached us with a bright smile, clearly eager to assist.

"How can I help you today?" she asked, her eyes flicking between us.

"We need a variety of outfits," I explained. "Travel clothes, something comfortable but stylish, and a cocktail dress for tonight. Something elegant but also... commanding." She needed armor for tonight to make her stand apart from the others. Hollis wasn't some cheap trick. To them, she must scream ‘untouchable.'

The salesperson nodded, her professional demeanor never wavering. "Of course, right this way."

As they led Hollis towards a rack of dresses, I stayed a few steps behind, watching as Hollis began browsing the selections. She looked back at me, holding up a sleek black dress with that quirk of her eyebrow that I loved. Then, a gold number. The salesperson pulled dress after dress from the rack .

"Too much?"

"No, try them on," I replied, a hint of flirtation in my tone. "Sophisticated and a bit dangerous. Just like you'll need to be tonight."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. This was a new side to her, and I liked it. "You're laying it on thick today, aren't you?"

"Only because I mean it," I said, stepping closer so the salesperson couldn't hear us as they walked towards the dressing room. "You need to understand how serious tonight will be. These men are playing a high-stakes game. We can't afford any mistakes."

Hollis's expression sobered. "I get it. I do. Can you tell me something? How do you stay so calm — with all this life and death stuff?" Her face turned down, staring so hard at a spot on the floor that I wondered if she saw something there on the marble.

Tipping her face back to mine, I pulled some of her hair forward over her shoulders, enjoying the feel of it running through my fingers. She watched me with hooded eyes. I shrugged and dropped her hair. "Years of practice, malysh . And I have a lot riding on this, too. But we're in this together. Remember that."

She nodded, heading towards the fitting rooms. "You'll be right here? You won't go anywhere?"

"I will be right here, baby. I wouldn't dream of going anywhere," I said, watching her disappear behind the curtain. I leaned against a nearby display, keeping an eye on the entrance. My mind wandered to the upcoming party, running through all the possible scenarios and contingencies.

When Hollis emerged, my breath caught. The dress was perfection. It was the opposite of a cocktail dress, flowing in waves of chiffon floral. It was a two-piece with a full-length skirt and a midriff top with tiny sleeves that looked like the curves of flower petals. She did a small twirl, the fabric flowing elegantly around her, her eyes alight.

"It was in the dressing room already, but it was so beautiful. I just had to try it on. Do you like it?" she asked, uncertainty in her voice. "I'll try on one of the others in a minute. I just wanted to try this one on for me."

I stepped closer, my gaze serious. "You look incredible. It's beautiful." I made a note to call the store later and have it shipped to the States. This dress was made for her.

She nodded, turning to eye herself in the mirror. Closing her eyes, she stood quietly until I moved up behind her.

"You're okay. You're safe," I whispered.

" I'm okay . You're here," she echoed. Leaning forward, I kissed the skin exposed on her shoulder. I let my chin rub against her neck, nuzzling her as she leaned against me. There was no way she couldn't feel me hard against her. I wished I could anchor her hips against mine, but I wouldn't do that yet. I wanted her to be comfortable. She needed to feel safe.

"Go on, trouble. You'll unman me right here," I said lightly. "Try on a few more."

She sent me a look, and I struggled to interpret it. She moved back towards the dressing room. Women were complicated creatures sometimes, and I prayed that I was doing the right things. I didn't want to hurt her.

A few moments later, she poked her head around the curtain. "This might be what you're talking about." There was a shy smile on her face. Pulling the curtain back, she stepped forward. The dress was shimmering gold satin, held together by criss-crossing straps across the back. It covered everything but was erotic. She was correct; it was powerful. It screamed off hands off. Nothing about it was easy to access.

"You'll turn heads for all the right reasons. They won't know what hit them. "

She blushed slightly, smoothing down the fabric. "Alright, if you say so. What about the travel clothes?"

"Let's find something comfortable for you to wear for the flight back. You can't really wear my clothes back or a cocktail dress. You'll want to be able to move easily, just in case." Today, she'd come out with me wearing a horrible outfit that Luka must have picked up in a bodega somewhere. Hollis hadn't complained, but that didn't surprise me much. She didn't strike me as someone who fussed over such things.

She nodded, and we spent the next hour picking out clothes, drawing out the experience. She wasn't used to shopping for herself with such freedom. I often caught her checking the price tags with worrying glances, biting her lip, and putting things back that she liked. Instead, I just piled them into my arms without comment.

"These are expensive, Dima." She bit her nails, staring at me with those eyes under cashmere lashes .

"They're just clothes, Hollis. Find the ones you like. Don't worry about the cost." I leaned forward and whispered. "The Bratva pays well." She looked over, shocked, but became much less concerned with the prices when pulling items from the shelves. Before we knew it, she'd acquired casual jeans, tops, a light sweater, and comfortable shoes.

As we made our way to the counter, Hollis turned to me, a playful glint in her eyes. "You know, for a dangerous man, I think you are just a little bit of a teddy bear inside. You have a squishy center."

"What?" I pretended to be appalled at her laughing eyes, but secretly, I loved this open and happy look. We hadn't had an occasion before where I'd seen her like this. "Squishy?" Pulling up my shirt, I showed her my tattooed stomach, ignoring the salesperson who looked in our direction. "I'll let you know I worked very hard for this."

She shook her head, but I could see the appreciation in her smile. "I'm sure." She reached out a playful finger and poked my belly. " Inside, there is a squishy center." I gave a soft laugh.

"Careful, malysh . You are very tempting, and I only have so much willpower." This was true. My reserves were getting low, looking at her so happy and welcoming, laughing in the warm light.

She stepped closer to me. "I'm not afraid, Dimitri. Not of you."

"Baby," I whispered as I leaned in to kiss her forehead, savoring how she nestled closer to me without hesitation. Rubbing a spot on the back of her neck with my thumbs, I closed my eyes and inhaled her smell, the lotion she put on, and the fresh scent of her hair. "Alright, let's get a move on. Too tempting by half." I gave her a wink, not wanting her to be self-conscious or anxious about how close we were.

Paying for the clothes, I stepped back out into the hot, bustling streets, leading her toward a nearby cafe. "Now, let's get some food and talk strategy. We've got a long night ahead." Keeping my hand on her back, I allowed myself to touch her. I wasn't sure these small touches would be enough for much longer. Waiting for her smile and touching the soft skin of her arm made me almost giddy.

I sat her at the table in the small cafe and observed her as she looked over the offerings. I liked how she savored each bite, tasting the edges of her food and sipping her coffee.

"The coffee certainly is good here. I suppose Colombia," she smiled. "So we have food. Let's hear about tonight. Stop stalling."

We were in a secluded area of the café, and I was sure we would be unheard. I still wished we had Luka for some extra security, but I had him tailing Makarovich, hoping he might visit this mysterious clinic doctor and save us the trouble. Still, I moved a little closer so our voices didn't carry.

"Tonight, the plan is to get Makarovich to give me Gregor in payment to be square with the Volkov Bratva." I shrugged. There wasn't any doubt in my mind that he was cowardly enough to do it. He'd hand deliver him right to me. Her eyes widened so far I chuckled. "Close your mouth, malysh . You'll catch flies."

"What does that mean anyway? Malysh ?" she asked.

"It means little one or baby. It's a Russian endearment."

She hummed a little, looking at me thoughtfully. "You can't mean you're just going to ask him." She reached over the table and put her hand over mine. A thrill went through me.

"But I do," I assured her savagely. "That mudak will cave and bring him to me to save his skin. When we go to this party," I said the word with disgust. I had no desire to expose Hollis to the kind of party these people threw. I would prefer to take her home and introduce her to my MC, where at least there was a code of behavior towards women. There, she would be safe. She could see the bar we had, the Open Road. We knew how to throw a real party .

Most importantly — I could have her sleeping in my bed if we were home. Instead, I said, "When we go to this party, all sorts of things will happen. Probably things we don't want to see. Nothing that we can do anything about." I tried to inject as much warning in my voice as I could.

She nodded. "I understand." Hollis studied her coffee cup for a minute longer than was necessary. "I was lucky. We can't help everyone there."

"If I could, I would, but trying to unravel that ball of snakes here isn't feasible. The cartel is very active here in Colombia." I didn't want to leave any doubts in her mind. There wasn't any room for some dramatic rescue in that club. Her eyes were sad, but she bobbed her head. "We'll talk to Makarovich. He's in a bit of a pickle here. I think he got hooked in because of his prior dealings, but he's an outsider, not a cartel member. He's Russian, not cartel. Ultimately, he would prefer to be stateside with the Bratva, where he is sure of his allegiances with us—the cartel, to us, is an ugly business. So I'll be able to manipulate him to get what we want. Or," I added. "A piece of it," I said, alluding to the doctor .

"I see," she said quietly. "You know about these things—this world. I don't." She hesitated for a minute. "And once he hands over Gregor? What is the next step after that? Just so I'm prepared." Her face had paled; her hand had tried to withdraw from mine, but I'd clasped it, running my thumb over her palm.

"Then, as I've said," I kept my voice even. "I'm going to kill him, and you can watch if you'd like." Her chin lifted.

"I still want to."

Good girl. If I thought it'd traumatize her further, then I wouldn't go through it, but perhaps it would provide her some closure, knowing for sure that Gregor was dead and gone.

"Before I do, though, he'll tell us where to find the clinic so we can pay a little visit." Finishing my coffee, I pushed a pastry towards her. "Eat that."

"I'm not hungry anymore," she said, pushing the plate away. I frowned at her, concerned that she hadn't eaten enough for the past few days. It seemed like she had been having financial difficulties at home for a while, too. "Do you think he will?"

"He will, malysh . They always do," I assured her. Her eyes were soft as she looked at me, that hazel green almost bright today.

"Then we'll go home?"

"Yes, then we'll go home." I didn't want to over-promise, but I was pretty confident we could fly out of Colombia tonight if things went as planned. Three men to kill, and we could get out of this cesspit.

She squeezed my hand, a silent understanding passing between us. "The weather does suck." She winked, understanding me perfectly. Killing someone, no problem. But the humidity, no — that was killing me slowly. The worst torture ever.