From Russia With Claws Read online

  With a yip, she took off, pounding down the path that led deeper into the woods. Galina loved running. Wolves were built for it, able to cover many miles without needing to stop for rest. She heard Maksim scrambling to catch up to her. Slowing her pace to a lope, she turned her head to watch him run beside her.

  He pulled ahead as soon as she slowed to wait for him. Galina caught up quickly, earning a snap and snarl from Maksim. She growled, hackles rising. Did he really expect her to run behind him? That was ridiculous! Putting on a burst of speed, Galina passed Maksim, swishing her tail as she passed him. She heard him snarl again, but then she was sprinting, enjoying the feel of wind rippling through her fur. Maksim could be mad at her later.

  She left the trail proper, crashing through the underbrush to go deeper into the trees. The smell of wet earth and green growth filled her nose. Her paws thudded into the ground as she ran, knowing where she was even as she left the beaten path. She knew every inch of these woods. This was her second home.

  A chorus of howls made her stop in her tracks. She’d recognized Alexei’s wolf voice raised in a hunting call, along with those of his men. An answering howl rose from somewhere close by. Maksim.

  Fear gripped Galina with icy hands. There was only one thing they could be hunting out here since Papa didn’t have other animals roaming his property: her.

  She heard bodies crashing through the trees as the other wolves caught her scent. Galina ran, planning on heading directly back to the house, but she realized that one of the other wolves was running parallel to her, blocking her flight.

  Galina altered her course to go deeper into the woods where the trees were denser. It meant she couldn’t move as quickly, but the same held true for her brother and his enforcers. She hoped to double back once they’d followed her trail.

  Another howl, this one very close and to her left. From behind her came another. They were trying to box her in. Galina slammed a mental door shut on the fear that flooded her mind. Her brother might want to scare her, but he’d never do anything to cause her lasting harm. Papa would never allow that.

  But what if she was wrong? Could he make her death out in the woods look like some kind of accident? Would Maksim back him up in his story? Remembering the adoring look in Federov’s eyes, she was afraid the answer would be yes.

  The howling grew louder, closing in on her from all sides. The attack in her garage popped into her head, and she remembered Timur’s injuries from the next day. Could Alexei have already tried to get rid of her once?

  Galina ignored the fear twisting inside of her. She stopped, sitting on her haunches, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. If she didn’t act like prey, didn’t run like expected, maybe she could throw them off their game. Galina sat, waiting for them to appear.

  Timur shouldered his way through the low lying brush first. Vasily circled behind her, nipping at her tail. She tossed a snarl at him over her shoulder. Alexei stalked over to her, Maksim behind him, tongue lolling out of his mouth happily. He thought this was all a joke.

  Alexei growled, crowding into her space. Timur and Vasily began to circle. Galina watched them calmly, feeling the light wind ruffle her fur. The sharp musk of Alexei’s scent assaulted her nose, drowning out the more pleasant scents of pine and water heavy in the air.

  His teeth snapped close to her muzzle. Galina didn’t flinch. Staring into his yellow eyes, she thought she saw a glimmer of enjoyment there. He wanted her afraid. He wanted her submissive. He hoped to show her where she belonged.

  Timur went for her haunches, jaws open and slavering. Galina spun, an Alpha bark snarling up from her throat. He scrambled back, unable to resist the sound. She heard Alexei growl in warning, angry that she dared use her status in his presence. Maksim watched everything in confusion.

  Galina snapped at Alexei’s front legs, forcing him to back up a step. He bared his teeth, shoulders bunching beneath the heavy grey fur. He leapt at her, hoping to bowl her over, but Galina was ready for him. They rolled, jaws still snapping. Galina broke away from her brother, circling him, her teeth bared in warning. She didn’t want to fight him, not here. Not without the proper witnesses.

  She saw Timur and Vasily closing ranks behind her. Maksim stood to the side, pacing as if he wasn’t sure what to do. He was the weak link. He would be easy to get past.

  Galina didn’t think. Her wolf instincts took over and her muscles bunched into a spring. Smashing into Maksim, she shoved him out of her way, and raced through the woods toward the safety of Papa’s house.

  She heard Alexei and his small pack give chase. They fell into step behind her, Timur and Vasily fanning out to the side in an effort to flank her. Galina ran, pushing her body for more speed, to run as fast as she could. She sprang away, a flash of white against the brown bark of the trees. Her claws dug into the earth, propelling her forward.

  Galina didn’t bother looking back. She could hear them, smashing through the undergrowth, losing all grace as they tried to catch her. But she was too fast, streaking around trees, her loping stride carrying her farther from her brother. The light changed as she approached the edge of the woods. She caught glimpses of green lawn through the breaks in the trees. She pounded over the running trails, bypassing them for a more direct route to the house.

  She broke free of the tree line, skewing around to watch as Alexei, Maksim, and the rest emerged more slowly. Lungs heaving, Galina waited for them to pass before looking over to the windows of the house. She thought she saw her father staring down at her from the window, but then he pulled back, leaving nothing but a blank glass eye in the face of the house.

  Shivering, Galina went to retrieve her clothes.

  12

  It’s Like a Greek Tragedy but with More Fur

  THE WATERFRONT IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE glittered like jewels strung on a necklace as Galina walked in the morning sun. She ignored the white panel van that had become an almost constant companion in her daily outings, and enjoyed the sunshine. She’d jogged to the harbor, reveling in the pleasant weather.

  Exercise wasn’t the only reason for her visit to the harbor. Galina wanted to visit the boat slips, to check for the missing Bullet in the false panels and bottoms of the Organization boats docked there. She was running out of ideas. It was possible that Sergei—or Alexei—had already unloaded the drugs, getting them to the street or sending the Bullet out of the city. She doubted he’d have had the time to do so before his murder, but it was a possibility.

  She started with the two boats her family had docked there. The false wall panels slid back when she hit a pressure switch, but revealed empty space. The other smuggling holes were also empty. Galina opened every cabinet and drawer, even checking the anchor line in case Sergei had hidden the drugs below the waterline. She found nothing.

  It was the same with the Volkov boat, her search enabled by a bribe. Discouraged, Galina stepped onto the dock, shading her eyes from the light splintering off the water. She could see the top of the Great Wheel, the buildings of downtown behind it hugging the coast.

  “Galina?”

  She turned toward the sound Andrey’s voice. His black hair was all wind-whipped snarls, blue eyes bright and cheeks red as he looked down at her. He wore casual clothes suited for sailing. “Good morning,” she called. “Coming or going?”

  Andrey smiled, a flash of white teeth more dazzling than the light off the water. “Just got back in. You?”

  “Calling it a morning,” she answered, feeling her spirits lift just from seeing him.

  “Then I hope you will let me buy you breakfast.” He offered her his arm.

  Galina hooked her elbow into his. “I accept. I’m starving,” she admitted with an embarrassed laugh.

  “Do you usually run around here?” Andrey asked as he led her out of the harbor. He seemed to have a breakfast destination in mind, so Galina followed contentedly. “I haven’t seen you.”

  “Trying a new route.” She noticed the white van had pulled away from
the curb to follow their path. “Just so you know, we have company.” Galina jerked her head toward the street.

  Andrey turned, frowning at the van. “Are they after anything in particular or is this a courtesy call?”

  Shrugging, Galina pulled away from him to walk on her own. She would have loved to stroll the streets arm and arm with Andrey all day, but they were supposed to only know each other professionally. “They try every few years to dig up something on Papa.” Her warning delivered, she changed the subject. “I didn’t know you sailed.”

  He nodded, gesturing her inside Roxy’s Diner. The scent of cooking meats and bread assaulted her nostrils, making her mouth water. They sat at a table near the back, out of view from the windows.

  Once they were settled, Andrey said, “I like to go out on the water as much as I can. Unfortunately, I do not often get the opportunity.”

  “I’m surprised Konstantin isn’t with you. Or any bodyguards, for that matter.” Galina peered around, as if they were going to pop out of thin air.

  “I prefer to go out by myself,” he said, pausing to order for them when the waitress stopped by their table. “I like to wander, and it is easier to do without an escort.” He shared a private smile with her. “I am Rom after all. We have a need to move. Itchy feet.”

  Galina nodded, doctoring her coffee. “It must be nice, to be able to do that.”

  “I don’t see your guardians anywhere either,” he pointed out.

  She looked up from her mug, meeting his frank blue gaze. “I called them off. I don’t trust them.”

  Before she thought about it, Galina told him what had happened on the trails at Papa’s house. “I need to find a detail loyal to me, not Alexei. Right now, I’m not sure there are any.”

  Their food arrived: plates of bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs with chives and sour cream, roasted potatoes, pancakes, and piles of toasted brown bread. It looked like Andrey had ordered everything on the menu. Twice.

  He waited until she’d begun to eat before answering. His eyes were dark, anger swirling in their silvery depths. “I want you to stop looking for the shipment. If Alexei finds out what you are doing, he will not stop as he did at your father’s house.”

  Galina stopped with a forkful of pancakes halfway to her mouth. “I made a deal with you. I’m not going back on it.” She continued eating. If she stopped doing things for fear of Alexei’s reaction, she might as well buy herself a casket and plot.

  Andrey captured her free hand in his. “Let me put my men on you.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Galina said, “There’s a visual my father would love.”

  His throaty chuckle sent a thrill through her. The sound of it made her wish they weren’t in so public a place so she could engage in some less than professional behavior with him. She contented herself with devouring her breakfast.

  “You know what I meant.” He took a bite of sausage and egg. “You need to have some protection, Galya.”

  Eyeing him curiously, she asked, “Won’t your people be upset with you, putting security on a Russian?”

  He took a sip of coffee before answering. “My people have any number of reasons to be upset with me.” At her frown, he continued. “I am thirty years old and have no wife. That is a sin to the Rom. I should have a handful of children by now. I am not doing my duty.” He shoveled another forkful of eggs into his mouth. “What’s one more offense?”

  She bumped his leg under the table. “I’ll think about it.”

  Later that day, Galina let herself into Irina’s house, surprised when no one was there to greet her. Irina was still in seclusion, unable to go out on social calls for the length of her private morning period, so Galina stopped by whenever she could. Today, she came prepared with pastries from her favorite French bakery.

  As she dropped off the box of goodies on the kitchen counter, she heard Alexei’s angry yelling coming from upstairs. What was he doing here? Where was Viktor?

  She raced up the stairs, following the shouting to Irina’s bedroom. Viktor caught sight of her when she was almost to the top, gesturing for her to hurry. She heard Alexei say, “I would not do such a thing to you, Irina. I want you to paint the world with all of the colors of your soul.”

  Galina stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene before her. Her brother clutched Irina in a tight hug. Shredded clothes covered the floor. Irina’s closet stood empty, all of her red dresses and skirts and blouses lying in ruins at Alexei’s feet. Irina was trying to reach for a statuette sitting on a nearby table to presumably brain their brother with it, but it was just out of her reach.

  “What in fucking fuck are you talking about?” Galina asked from the doorway. She leaned against the doorframe, arms casually crossed over her chest, glaring at Alexei. Blood stained the arms of Irina’s shirt.

  Galina stepped over the ruins of Irina’s wardrobe, nudging the sleeve of a Calvin Klein dress with her toe. She kept her voice light, breezy. “What is going on in here? Irina, did you decided to do a makeover without me? I’m hurt. I make a much better fairy godmother than Alexei here.”

  Alexei’s eyes flashed at the word “fairy.”

  “This is none of your concern, Galina,” Alexei snapped. “Get out of here.”

  “Oh, matters of fashion are always my business, brother dear.” Galya smiled ever so sweetly as she wandered closer. She allowed her claws to extend, smaller and more oval-shaped than Alexei’s, but twice as sharp. Her brother was too caught up in…whatever he was doing to notice. He was an idiot.

  “You don’t know what your business is,” Alexei snarled.

  “Oh, I think what is and isn’t my business is about to be redefined, Alexei.” She felt her smile fade from her face, turning her expression feral. The chase at her father’s house came thundering back to her and she fought from growling at him.

  Alexei roared with rage at the insult. Snarling, he tossed Irina aside like a ragdoll, sending her sailing. Viktor was already moving, interposing himself before Irina could collide with the bedroom wall. Galina watched him cradle her sister’s body against his protectively as they fell.

  Galina scowled, unable to believe her brother was so out of control. Alexei swung his massive hand toward her face, and Galina easily side-stepped the swipe. She stuck out her Louboutin-shod foot to catch Alexei’s ankle, sending his over-extended frame toppling to the floor in a heap.

  “Are you ever not going to fall for that one?” she asked him as he howled and beat his paws on the floor. He reminded her of a toddler who’d been told he couldn’t have a sweet. She watched as Viktor hauled Irina out of the room, then turned her attention back to her brother.

  “What the hell are you even doing here, Alexei?” Galina demanded, staring down at him. Her voice was poisonous with scorn. “You haven’t bothered visiting Irina during her whole seclusion, but you swing by now to rough her up and play Edward Scissorhands with her work clothes? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “You have no right to question me!” Alexei exploded. He climbed to his feet, face red. “My relationship with Irina is none of your business!”

  What the hell? What relationship was he talking about? “There are not enough Greek tragedy jokes in the world to cover what’s going on with your brain, is there?” Galina said, shaking her head in mock dismay.

  “Watch your mouth when you talk to me!” Alexei barked.

  He began to unbuckle his belt, pulling it from the loops of his pants. Galina stared in shock. Alexei was going to try to whip her with a belt? The idea was utterly ridiculous. He had completely lost the plot.

  “Really, a belt, Alexei?” Galina scoffed. “You’re relying on an arsenal of accessories? What’s next, you’re going to come at me with your necktie?”

  She hadn’t thought it possible, but his face flushed even redder. “Mark my words, Galina, you will learn your place!”

  She laughed outright at that. Alexei thought he was going to be the one to teach her? Unlikely. He and Maksim had so
much in common, it was no wonder they were bonding.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Galina said, waving him away like he was an annoying mosquito. “Hey, instead of hitting you with my shoe, you don’t mind if I shift into a state in which I have claws and fangs and twice your body mass, do you, genius?”

  Galina smelled her father well before his booming voice shouted, “What do you think you are doing? Is this how my children behave when I am here?”

  She crossed the room and kissed her Papa’s cheek, as if this were no more than a simple friendly conversation about the weather. Galina brushed imaginary fuzz from her jacket.

  “Papa, so good to see you. Alexei was just having a little temper tantrum. I think he needs a nap.” Condescension practically dripped from her voice.

  “I was not having a temper tantrum,” Alexei snarled. “I was teaching your little princess how to speak with respect to her betters!”

  “Tell you what, you bring me my betters, I’ll be sure to speak to them respectfully,” Galina retorted.

  “You see?” Alexei snapped. “You see how she speaks to me, Papa?” His voice was almost a whine.

  “Everybody will calm down now,” Papa yelled. “Where is your sister? Have you forgotten that you are standing in her bedroom, screaming at each other like a couple of fishwives?”

  Irina walked out of the bathroom in a clean white button-up shirt. Viktor followed a few seconds later. “I’m right here, Papa.”

  “Irina, what is this madness? Why are your clothes in ruins on the floor? Why are your brother and sister fighting? Tell Papa—” he demanded before stopping mid-sentence and inhaling deeply. He snarled. “Why do I smell your blood?”

  “She fell,” Alexei said quickly. “It was an accident.”

  “If by fall, you mean Alexei getting rough…” Galina began, but her father shot her a warning look. She subsided, incredulous that Alexei was trotting out that old saw again. It was his excuse when they were all kids, every time he “played” too rough and one of them got hurt. Papa couldn’t actually believe that lie.