She looked at Roman as she spoke, her expression tense. “Not long. Couple hours at the most. I’ll need someone to transfer everything to though.”
For the next couple minutes Taylor talked to the Russian mob enforcer, writing down benign enough information for who the boat’s title would be transferred to and she gathered what she’d need to make it happen. Roman figured she’d do that magic of hers, probably some of it illegal, and he was just counting down the seconds until this was all behind her. Behind them.
As soon as Taylor was done, Roman took the phone off speaker. “You still there?”
“Yes.” A terse answer.
Roman nodded at Escobar, silently asking him to keep Taylor in the room as he left. Thankfully she didn’t argue or try to follow as he strode from the room. He didn’t give a shit that this guy was part of the mob. Roman had better training than most people on the planet and he’d been trained to kill in too many methods to count.
He wanted to make it clear to this man that if he tried to cross Taylor or come after her in any way, that he would be a dead man walking. The mob couldn’t protect him from Roman if one hair on her head was touched. No force on earth could.
Chapter 15
Panic detonated inside Neal as he hurried down the dock toward his boat and saw Alexei standing next to the vessel, his hands shoved in his pants’ pockets. The sun had just set and the marina was quiet, with most people who lived here on their way to dinner at one of the nearby seafood restaurants. He’d been running errands all day, gathering all the money and IDs he’d stashed around the city in various places. It had been tedious and slow because he’d had to be extra careful about the places he retrieved his money from. He’d had to make sure he wasn’t being followed or that the places he’d been to weren’t under surveillance. All this was necessary in case he needed to go on the run. Which seemed to be a certain thing if he didn’t find Taylor by the end of tomorrow.
His deadline.
So why the hell was Alexei here now? That familiar fear at seeing the big Russian slid through Neal’s veins. As he neared the boat, he saw another man exiting the interior cabin, one of Neal’s gym bags in his hand.
“What’s going on?” he asked, trying to keep his voice civil. Alexei wasn’t the kind of man you lost your temper with.
Alexei barely glanced at him as he surveyed the area. As if Neal wasn’t worth his time. “My boss has decided to claim your boat as payment. You no longer owe him. My men are removing your belongings,” he said, as the other man dropped the gym bag onto the dock close to Neal’s feet.
“I have until tomorrow!” God, he needed a bump. Something to take the edge off. His fingers trembled and he went to grab at Alexei’s arm, to beg if need be, but stopped himself at the last minute. He wasn’t suicidal. His boat was supposed to have been his way out of here, a backup if he needed more money, a way to bribe officials if he crossed the border. Because this vessel was worth a lot.
Alexei acted as if Neal hadn’t spoken. He pulled out his cell phone and started texting—texting!—as if he wasn’t even there. A predator-like grin spread across Alexei’s face as he sent his message.
Another surge of dread filled him as two more bags were dropped onto the dock. No, no, no. He needed the money this boat could give him. It was clean and matched one of his IDs. Fleeing the authorities in it would be easy. Now he had nothing but cash. And the money wouldn’t last him long. “Alexei, please, I have until tomorrow. This boat is still mine. If your boss takes it he runs the risk of using stolen property.”
Now those eerie, green eyes focused on Neal. “You plan on calling the police?”
Neal didn’t miss the mocking note in his voice. He swallowed hard. “I’ll report it stolen.” He sounded braver than he felt and the words were bullshit. Something Alexei had to know.
The other man smiled then, once again reminding him of a shark. Involuntarily Neal took a small step back then inwardly cursed his weakness. When he reached into his jacket pocket Neal froze, certain the Russian was pulling out a gun. Instead he pulled out a sheaf of papers. He unfolded them and held them up. “Thank you for the very legal bill of sale.”
No! Ice filled his veins, threading through him, leaving him frozen where he stood.
Alexei laughed, the first time Neal had ever heard the sound from the man. The sound was even more frightening than his smile. Continuing, the Russian shook his head. “I wish you could see your expression. You are a man with no honor and deserve everything you will get. What kind of man kills his own partner? You think I’m a monster, I know this. But I am loyal to my people. You…you are worthless.”