THE SOLDIER

I point my gun right at his crotch. “You wanna keep those balls? Take me to the fucking room where you asked my girl to suck your dick.”

I see a flash of fear now. He understands why we’re here. What we want. Or maybe he just sees that I’m a ruthless bastard. He hides it quickly. I’ll give him that-the guy’s not a total coward. I actually thought he’d be softer. The kind who begged the moment he saw a gun.

“Just shoot it off,” Nikolai suggests when he doesn’t answer immediately.

“Upstairs.” His attitude adjusts quickly. He points toward a spiral staircase. “In my office.”

I kick him again. “Take us there.”

He groans as he climbs to his feet. I press the tip of my revolver to the back of his head as he hobbles forward up the stairs.

“Who are you?” he asks when we get into his office. “Which girl?”

“Which girl,” Nikolai repeats the damning phrase. “How many have there been?”

He doesn’t answer.

“How many yesterday?” I ask, just before Oleg delivers a blow to his jaw that sends him careening into the heavy maple desk.

Dima takes a seat and cracks open the laptop. “Looks like you saw forty-five women yesterday, is that right?”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Ensign shoots him a frightened glance, like that kind of information wasn’t public knowledge.

“Yes, I am in your email, in case you were wondering. I’m also in your bank account. The one at Wells Fargo, the one at Fidelity, the one at Vanguard, and also the off-shore account in Barbados. Looks like your current balance is two million, eight hundred fifty thousand and some change. Does that sound right?”

Ensign pales, shooting scared glances between me and Dima. “Wh-what the fuck is going on here?”

Oleg punches him in the gut.

I fold my arms across my chest. Honestly, I’m afraid if I do get my hands on him, I’ll finish the job. “I thought I made it pretty clear. You asked my girl to suck your dick. I’m going to kick your ass. I’m also thinking about cutting your dick off to prevent future incidents. We’ll see how long it takes you to say sorry.”

“I’m sorry!” He holds his hands up and shoots another glance at Dima. “Wh-what is he doing with my money?”

“Looks like he’s more worried about his money than his dick,” I observe. “You set up to drain him?”

“With the click of a button,” Dima confirms. “Which one do I start with?”

“How much is in the Vanguard account?” I ask.

“That’s his smallest. Two hundred eighty thousand.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I’m sorry about your girlfriend. Who is she? I’ll give her the part. I’ll make her a star.

I hesitate then send my knuckles into his nose, breaking it. “You think I’d let her anywhere near you?”

He groans, holding his gushing nose. “I’ll get her a part with the studio-on another show. I can do that.”

“You can do that.” I make my voice sound withering, but I glance at Nikolai to see his take on it.

He shrugs like the solution is worth considering.

“I can do it.” Ensign’s talking fast. “Lots of parts are being cast right now for next season. I could get her a part on Bank Bandits or Bad Boys. An on-going role. If she’s any good, it would open doors for her.”

“If they’re not your shows, how can you get her the part?”

“I’ll talk to the casting director.” Ensign holds his gushing nose. “I can say she’s a friend-or, or my niece-and I need this as a favor. I guarantee I can get her something.”

Gospodi. I want to help Kayla this way. But what if he’s just trying to get her name to nail me?

I look at Dima. “Take the money from his Vanguard accounts.” Dima hesitates a moment because it was a bluff. I was supposed to know it was a bluff. And now I’m asking my cell brother to commit another felony for me.

“You have forty-eight hours to make it happen. If you do, I’ll put the money back.”

Dima clicks the button. “Account drained.”

“I’ll do it!” Ensign agrees. “What’s her name?”

“Kayla Winstead. And if that girl does not get treated like fucking gold, I’m coming back for another visit.” I bring the butt of the gun to his forehead again. “She doesn’t know you got her the job. Understand?”

“Understood,” he croaks.

“You come looking for me, you’re a dead man. Forty-eight hours.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He reaches for tissues on the desk and uses a wad of them to hold up to his nose. “And you’ll put my money back.”

“That’s the arrangement. If you don’t come through, we’ll empty the rest of them.”

“No.” He slices his hand through the air. “It’s done.”

“Good.” I glance at Oleg who nods and punches Ensign hard enough to knock him out.

The four of us walk out the door and climb in the van. “Honestly, I was hoping he’d be harder to break,” Nikolai says as he backs the van quickly down the drive. Dima makes the gate open with his laptop, and we’re out.

“Same,” I agree. “You think he’s good for it?” I ask.

“Yeah, I do. Here’s my guess,” Nikolai says. “I’d bet this isn’t the first time he’s had to offer that solution. There’s probably been threatened lawsuits before.”

“Fucker,” I mutter. “Kayla can’t know about this. Make sure you don’t say anything in front of Sasha, those two don’t keep many secrets.”

“When do we ever talk business in front of Sasha?” Dima scoffs.

“I know. Of course you wouldn’t. I’m just making sure.”

“You did the right thing.” Nikolai guesses at my misgivings.

I sure as fuck hope so. If anything I did ever hurt Kayla, I’d never forgive myself.