Riot by Tillie Cole

Author:Tillie Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

11

LUKA

Undisclosed Location

Georgia

Eastern Europe

My leg bounced as the plane began its descent. Viktor was at the front of the plane getting the documents in order. Abel, his contact, had come through for him. Zaal and Valentine sat opposite me. Zaal was the picture of calm as he sat stoically in his seat. Valentin was the complete opposite. His eyes were wild and his body twitched like he was still on the drugs they’d pumped into our bodies for so many years.

Over the past few weeks, Valentin had thrown himself into the practice of death-match fighting. His focus was solely on using his rage to his advantage. As he had promised, his skill with the unpowered picanas was astounding. His strength and ability to kill with efficiency were no less than Zaal’s and mine. But the best part of Valentin’s arsenal was his unwavering belief and drive to get his sister back. That desire would override any lack of training he might have in combat. As an Ubiytsa, his ability to kill was unrivaled. He would be fine.

Seeing the land of Georgia coming into view from Kirill’s private plane, I leaned forward, Valentin and Zaal meeting my eyes. Placing my hand on the table between us, I asked, “You’re sure you’re clear with the plan?”

Zaal nodded, and Valentin spat out, “Yes.”

Needing to make sure, I said, “Viktor is the manager of a New York gulag. Not the Volkovs. Abel has already approved us without question, so to Master we are simply another underground fight ring. Nothing of importance.” Zaal and Valentin listened hard. “I am the ultimate champion, retrieved from escape.” A rush of sadness spread in my chest. I was using what had happened to Anri in my story. It was plausible. Clearing my throat, I pointed at Zaal. “You were bought from the Volkov Russians. You were too feral and untamed. Viktor bought you to fight in his gulag.”

Zaal nodded.

I next pointed to Valentin. “After your collar malfunctioned, you killed Mistress and her Wraiths. You have no memory of this. One of the Wraiths survived and knew of Viktor’s gulag. He sold you and fled the U.S.”

Valentin’s lip curled in disgust, but he nodded. Keeping his attention, I said, “We’ve talked this through a thousand times, but if and when you see your sister, you mustn’t react. Hold yourself together until the opportunity to strike arrives. If she is still alive after all this time, she will survive for a further few days.”

“Then the Master is mine,” he growled, and I nodded in agreement.

“Then he is yours. But for that to happen, you must stick to the plan. If one of us fucks up and reveals who we truly are, they will kill us on the spot.”

A sudden flash of fear passed over Valentin’s face. “I can’t leave my Zoya,” he said, an almost gentle edge to his harsh-sounding voice. It was strange hearing such sentiment from such a brutal male.

Zaal lifted his hand and put it on Valentin’s shoulder. A peace had settled between them over the past few weeks.

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