me.”
“Okay.” I said with hubris that I was not feeling.
My mind churned, plotting, conspiring, inquiring. Not only did I have to beat the Russians for the diamonds, but I would have to finagle Mark and the Gotti clan. There was no way I could share the bounty of diamonds with him for the sake of my family’s legacy. I would have to avenge that for our family honor.
I quickly got dressed in my blouse, skirt with no panties or bra, and my six inch stilettos as I eerily looked at myself in the mirror. The entire time, Mark watched me intensely, then he reached down to check Andrei’s pulse again. As I hurried, the clock in my head ticked tempestuously like a sonic boom in my head.
“How long is he going to be knocked out?” I asked, referring to the unconscious Andrei sprawled out on the floor. His penis was still standing at full attention. His skin had begun to pale ghostly white.
Mark responded tartly, with obsidian eyes that were the deepest of blue. He was suddenly an enigma in my mind. “He may not wake up. You were only supposed to put a drop of the knock out potion in his drink. You poured the entire vial. It is not looking too good for our Russian friend.”
My legs suddenly grew weak, turning into jelly as I looked down at the young dying Russian, Andrei. “Oh God!” I groaned and placed a hand over my mouth.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice screeched as I bent down and placed my hand on Andrei’s forehead. He was cold and damp.
“You didn’t ask. Besides, you have no time for sympathy. This is part of the business. There will be casualties, even death. Possibly even your death.” Mark said morbidly, and tossed me another vial of the clear knock out liquor. He looked at his Rolex watch, took it off, and gave it to me. He announced ominously, “You now have about thirty minutes. Be sure to keep track of time. You must be out of Makar’s room before nine o’clock, or risk getting caught. Do you have any idea how you’re going to steal the diamonds?”
I pulled my eyes away from the dying man and gave Mark a blank stare as I placed his watch on my wrist. The large diamond baguettes shimmered as if I had captured a constellation of empyreal stars on my wrist. I didn’t have a clue as to how I was going to steal the jewels, and if I did, I wouldn’t have told him.
Mark continued, “I will have my team on standby, but there is really nothing we can do if a problem were to arise. As you already know, they have us out gunned and out manned.”
I rose like a feminine Sphinx, more determined than ever. I was operating off a pure adrenaline rush, and a primal visceral yearning. My palm with the vial of knock out drops was sweaty in my hand as I turned the doorknob. I exhaled a deep breath of confidence, and expelled a sigh of uncertainty and walked out the door into the unknown.
At the time, I should have known I was on a suicide mission. I was what generations had spawned, the offspring of grandchildren and their children, forbearers of gypsy thieves. Predetermined, predestined, pre-eminent in my own ilk. I had to possess those diamonds!
I couldn’t have turned around if I wanted to. It was in my blood.
Chapter Seven
Vixen Virtuosities
I sashayed next door to Makar’s suite. My high heels glided across the Moquette carpeting as my mind raced nervously. I peeked down both sides of the corridor, prepared to knock. I had the half gallon of vodka in my hand. I already had the spiel I was going to tell Makar when he asked about his cousin, Andrei.
I demurred at Makar’s door, prepared to knock as I got my thoughts together. Then I heard the elevator open down the corridor. I flinched nervously. The cacophony of strident voices was loud. The Russians were returning earlier than expected. I panicked and did an about face. Just as I was about to reach for the doorknob to my suite, I looked up to see the men walking
Diane Duane & Peter Morwood