Read Online Polar (Prequel): The Turnagain Arm by Julie Flanders - Free Book Online Page A

you let me talk to Mr. Dzubenko first? Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding.”
    “Hell, Aleksei, you talk to him, he might up and kill you too!”
    “I can take care of myself, trust me.”
    “Well me and some of the other guys can be on alert ’til we get this straightened out.” James patted the gun and the hunting knife he always kept at his hip. “I can take care of myself too.”
    “I’ve no doubt of that. But I think it’s best if you keep this to yourself for now. Meet me here again tomorrow evening after I’ve had a chance to talk with Mr. Dzubenko and I’ll tell you then if we need to get your friends involved. We don’t want to start a panic.”
    James stood up from the barstool. “Sounds good, Aleksei. I’ll meet you here tomorrow and I’ll have your back, you can count on that.”
    Aleksei smiled as he watched James leave the bar. He was reminded again of the livestock on his grandparents’ farm. One more lamb led to the slaughter.
    ***

Chapter 14
    Lara scrubbed the bar for the tenth time that evening as she waited for Aleksei to arrive for his shift. She had to keep moving or she was sure her whole body would give way to trembling. She had never been more frightened. She was frightened for herself and for the camp, but mostly she was terrified for her husband.
    Vasyl had assured her he knew what he was doing and could handle Aleksei Nechayev. It wasn’t that Lara didn’t trust her husband; she did with all of her heart. But this whole situation was so far out of the realm of her comprehension that she couldn’t stop herself from doubting that it could be handled. The simple fact that her husband was an accomplished witch had sent her reeling. And that was nothing compared to the fact that he had convinced her that the man she was now waiting for was not a man at all, but a vampire.
    How could Lara trust that this would be okay? How could she be anything but terrified?
    “Are you okay, Mrs. Dzubenko?”
    The question from Aleksei interrupted her ruminating. She jumped and dropped the cloth she had been using to scrub the bar. Staring at the handsome young man in front of her, his face a mask of concern, she found herself doubting that he could possibly be the monster her husband claimed him to be. She forced herself to remember Vasyl’s insistence that Aleksei had the ability to put others into a near trance-like state. She looked away and broke his gaze.
    “I’m fine, Aleksei. Why do you ask?”
    “You looked upset, that’s all. And I’m surprised to find you here instead of your husband. You’ve usually retired for the night before I get here.”
    Lara cleared her throat. “Right. Well, I’m covering for Vasyl, actually. He’d like to meet with you privately.”
    “Meet with me? What about?”
    “He didn’t tell me that. But he said you’d know what it was about.”
    “I can’t say that I do but I’ll meet with him and find out. Is he in the kitchen, then?”
    “No, no…he said he thought it would be best if the two of you met outside. Away from the camp so you wouldn’t be interrupted. He asked me to tell you to meet him out back in the woods by your tent.”
    “Interesting,” Aleksei said. “Your husband can be full of surprises, can’t he?”
    Lara picked up her cloth and returned her attention to the bar. “I suppose he can.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Aleksei. “He’s waiting for you though. I’ll cover here if you want to go to him.”
    Aleksei nodded. “Of course. Not a good idea to keep my employer waiting, is it?”
    Lara didn’t answer and continued her scrubbing.
    Aleksei noticed James and three of his closest allies huddled at a table in the corner of the room. Hawkins stopped talking and stared at him as if waiting for instructions. Just as he’d hoped.
    Without saying a word, Aleksei gestured to James to follow him outside. He could barely keep the smile from his face as the man immediately jumped up to follow him like an