Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Tell me.”
“Isaak took out four shooters—one from Colombia, two from Cancun, and one from Sacramento, I think. I wasn’t really listening. What I do know is that it was quick, they’re gone, giving back to the earth as we speak, and then, because Issak is a completist, he got permission from whatever oligarch over there to end Vladek.”
“He did all that for us?”
“Well, no. I’m sure Isaak told you. He did that for Darius, who did that for me.”
“God. I owe––”
“Please don’t start with that shit. You’ll make me all queasy before church.”
He was right. I knew better. Chris did not enjoy sentiment from anyone but his family.
“This is where it gets funny,” Chris continued with a snicker. “Apparently, as soon as Vladek heard that Isaak Skriabin was after him, that fucker got on the first plane back to Moscow. The word is that Isaak’s deciding if it matters to him enough to take a plane all the way over there. Either way, your family is safe, and you can all go home before the New Year.”
“You’re sure?”
“Am I sure that Vladek is hiding out at his father’s fortress near the Rublyovka Highway? Yeah, I’m fuckin’ sure. He ain’t coming back. If he leaves Russia, ever, he’s basically goading Isaak and saying to him that he’s not scared of him anymore. I can promise you that even if Isaak dies, he’ll leave an open contract with Rahm or me or whoever to waste Vladek if he sets a foot out of that country.”
“That’s kind of vengeful.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Isaak in a nutshell. Kinda vengeful.”
“Jing seemed to like him.”
“Sure. But don’t we all have weird friends?”
There was nothing to say to that because yes, without question, we did. Mine were an eclectic group to say the least.
“And when were you gonna call me? When was anyone gonna call me?”
“Christmas is a holiday, asshole. None of us work on holidays. I would’ve called you on Tuesday, no worries.”
I sighed heavily.
“Listen, Vladek did make a big mess, though. Whatever his business was, I mean, he was a pig. It was all prostitution and drugs and guns. The Feds or the police in Portland could have made a case, but Isaak doesn’t leave traces. Everyone who had anything to do with the business is dead, and it’s all literally burned to the ground.”
“That was fast.”
“Two days is fast?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I guess Jing was there with him, making sure he stayed on schedule.”
“I don’t get them,” I told Chris.
“I think the takeaway should be: don’t piss off Jing.”
I would remember not to do that.
“What about the money Brad owes Vladek?”
“It’s, like, a hundred grand or some shit. I donate more than that a year to the dog shelters here in Barcelona.”
“A hundred grand?”
“Yeah. I know. The fuck was Vladek sweating him for that small-ass amount?”
“You know, to a lot of people, like me for instance, that’s a lot of money.”
He grunted like whatever I thought was meaningless.
“Do you think there was something else Vladek wanted?”
“Oh, I know it. According to Jared, from the records Jing saw, Vladek needed your brother-in-law to help him launder money. He could have appeared to go legitimate through Brad’s businesses.”
“Then I don’t get sweating the money or putting a contract on his family or any of this. What was the point if he needed Brad all along?”
“It happens. I’ve seen it a million times. Guys get worked up about some insignificant amount of whatever it is—a shipment of guns, a delivery of drugs, or like this, money. If they don’t get paid when they’re supposed to, precisely on time, they lose their fuckin’ minds instead of being smart about it. When Brad didn’t have the money, Vladek should have told him that now the two of them were in business. He could have blackmailed Brad with the loan. But no, he loses his shit because he didn’t get it back. And maybe he had the money earmarked for something else and needed it, but still. Vladek was really fuckin’ stupid.”
“That was a bad business decision.”
“Yeah, it was,” Chris agreed. “You can’t ever make things personal. You have to keep your eye on the prize.”
I was quiet for a moment.
“What?”
“It’s Christmas, and we’re talking about killing people.”
He sighed deeply. “Listen, Christmas is about family, kid. However you choose to take care of the people you love is a personal decision. I made my bed years ago, and I have zero regrets. My hope for you is that you will feel the same someday.”
I was suddenly choked up, sharing this moment with my friend.
“You there?”
“Yeah. I’m here.”
“Okay.” His voice was husky and a bit gravelly. “Listen, they’re safe. You can all go home tomorrow, all right?”
“Thank you. And thank Isaak and Jing for me, will you?”
“I’ll tell Jared to thank Jing, but let’s not involve ourselves any further with Isaak, yeah? I’d hate to be killed because we annoyed him.”