Episode 40

Gavril

I twirled the ice in my glass, debating whether or not to have another drink. We were still hours away from LAX. Naomi was sleeping in the chair across from me, but I couldn’t shut my body down.

Hell, I hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since we had returned from the Mariinsky, and my body was starting to feel it. It was funny. Every time I returned to St. Petersburg, I wanted nothing but to leave. But each time I decided to leave, I wanted nothing more than to stay.

This time would be no different. And there was no way I could ignore the growing tension that awaited me back in the States.

The shipment was due at the docks soon, and I wanted to be there to hand it off to the brigadiers, to show them that I was serious about bringing them to my side and the lengths that I was willing to go to ensure their loyalty.

I couldn’t trust anyone else with that shipment. Too many things had happened over the last few months for me to hand it off to anyone.

So, I was taking Naomi home. I