Black Ark: A Balkan Beaus Novel by Darya Kunis

Author:Darya Kunis [Kunis, Darya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: The Sadakov Ladies

Her sore frame jostling slightly as they landed, she opened her eyes just as he tapped her shoulder.

“We are about to be greeted by some friends, they will get you cleaned up and dressed, and we’ll all have dinner.”

Before she could process this, both doors opened and she saw eight people, all sharply dressed in dark cloth, descend upon them silently. Four women, varying in age but all sporting similar tight hairstyles and deep shades of plum and berry silk blouses surrounded her, and she felt herself being gently but firmly pulled from the helicopter and wrapped in a thick felt coat that draped down to her calves, her feet pushed into soft ballet flats as she squinted in the harsh light of day. They had landed in what appeared to be a small airport, a modest tarmac with a few small buildings and hangars surrounded by high fencing with loops of barbed wire. In the distance, just over the hills, she could see the skyline of the city, clipped square white buildings in Greco-Roman style mixed with sharp cathedral spires and sleek modern glass-paned boxes. Moving quickly, the women ushered her toward two black SUVs, their windows darkly tinted.

She cast one last look at the helicopter, riddled with pock marks from the gunfire in Sevastopol. Yasen stood outside it, speaking to the men that flanked him, before she was guided into the rear passenger bench of the first SUV.

The interior of the SUV was dim, smelling faintly of leather polish and perfume, its scent much deeper and more mellow than the fruity and floral perfumes she was used to smelling. It reminded her of mulled wine and mahogany wood. The other women filed into the seats in front of her, nobody ushering a word as the doors closed.

Mira didn’t dare break the silence, watching through the dark window as Yasen, Hristo, and the other men settled into the first SUV. Within a few moments, the first vehicle rolled away from the airstrip, and their SUV followed. Slowing at a thin guard tower, they paused as the gates swung open for them.

The road to the city was narrow, the trees rising around them as the road cut into the hilly forest. Her fingers felt the texture of the leather seat underneath her, her fingertips sliding along the bumps in the seams. They felt just slightly uneven, as if they had been hand-sewn. In the empty seat beside her, she noticed an embroidered crest in the headrest. It was a red bird, she didn’t recognize it as part of any country’s insignia.

“Is Mira your legal first name?” One woman glanced back at her, her coiffed hairstyle moving perfectly as she turned, her dark eyes analyzing Mira suspiciously.

“Yes,” she answered hoarsely.

“What is your last name?”

“Zdravković.”

“Spell that for me.”

She did, watching the woman type the name into her phone. Mira realized it was the first time she’d seen a cellphone up close in weeks. The woman next to the first reached back and handed Mira a glass water bottle.

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