12
Nikolai
The next morning, Nikolai woke at 6:20 a.m. as usual. He went for a run around the quiet city streets with his lieutenant, Leonid, at his side. Their early morning jogs were much better in the summertime, when the sun had already risen by 4:00 a.m., versus in the winter when it wouldn’t be full light until 9:30. But even in the most brutal snow and sleet, they never missed a day, because that was the point of living in the north: to harden the body and toughen the mind.
Once they had run five miles, they went down to the basement gym of Nikolai’s mansion and spent an hour or two training in classicSystema—the Russian system of hand-to-hand combat, grappling, knife-fighting, and firearms training.
Nikolai had been tutored inSystema,Sambo, and traditional Russian fist-fighting since six years old. His mother used to cry over the black eyes and bloody noses his trainer would leave on his face, but his father would only say, “Every bruise is a lesson.”
Zavier was right. Pain was the best teacher.
Leonid rarely managed to hit him now, and Nikolai could not remember the last time he’d actually been bested in a fight.
It was good to train with his men. It was part of their bond, a way to release tension within the group, and to establish the hierarchy.
Like now, for instance. Leonid was trying to put him in an arm-bar, with Dima and Oleg watching from across the room. If Nikolai were to tap out, that would show weakness. Only a grain of weakness to be sure, but enough grains could make a meal.
An arm-bar was a highly effective submission move, but not inescapable. Nikolai used what his trainer used to call the “Lion Kill Defense.” As Leonid tried to bring his leg over Nikolai’s body, Nikolai grabbed behind Leonid’s knee and used his momentum to bring himself up. He put his knee down beside Leonid’s head and drove down into Leonid’s body with his free elbow, while he pulled his own arm out of the grip.
Nikolai’s trainer had always taught him to defend with his own offense. Never retreat, always attack.
And always press your advantage.
Nikolai had been highly successful in his opening skirmish against Maxim—sending the drunken idiot home in a cab, while Nikolai stole precious time alone with Nadia in his Zenvo. But now, instead of leaving her alone for a day or two, he needed to exploit the opportunity.
As Nikolai and Leonid took a water break, Nikolai said, “Did you find out where Maxim Oleksei is staying?”
“Yes.” Leonid nodded. “At Grigory Oleksei’s house in Taganskaya.”
“Good,” Nikolai said. “Tail him today. Have Dima do the same to Nadia Turgenev. Keep me updated.”
Leonid nodded.
Nikolai had his own business to attend to. While much of the Markov empire now centered around lucrative construction contracts, they still did plenty of trade in the black-market goods that had made them rich: Russian weapons smuggled all across Europe.
They were currently sending a particularly large shipment of handguns to Northern Ireland, where the Barrett and White families had been engaged in escalating acts of retribution since Benen White was gunned down at a boxing match.
The Markovs took no sides in the conflict, but they were happy to supply good-quality Russian steel to the Barrett family, while the Whites foolishly bought their guns from the Chinese.
It was a long and complicated route from Russia to Ireland. The Markovs usually sent their weapons through the western Balkans into the borderless Schengen area that provided access to France, Germany, and Italy.
Globalization was a boon to smugglers—the freer the access for travelers and migrant workers, the more porous the barriers that were supposed to keep out criminals and their goods.
Still, Nikolai and his father were never complacent. They ran a strict system, highly regulated and using only long-time, trusted connections. If they suffered a setback, it wouldn’t be because of laziness or stupidity.
Shortly after noon, Nikolai received a text from Leonid.
He’s at the Hippodrome.
Good,Nikolai texted back.Make friends with him.
It was unlikely that Maxim would recognize Leonid from the party, and he probably wasn’t savvy enough to know which men worked for Nikolai.
We’re already chatting very nicely,Leonid said.
Get him drunk,Nikolai said.
He’s already drunk,Leonid replied.
