Deadly Games Read Online Free PDF

right now.
    She hailed a black cab and climbed in.
    “Do you speak English?” she asked the cabby, then thought of the phrase in Czech. “Mluvíte anglicky?”
    He turned around. “Yes.”
    “Good,” she smiled. “How about the club Nero’s or Babylon’s Sins?”
    He narrowed his eyes, and ran a quick gaze over her.
    She arched a brow. She’d heard about the taxi drivers in Prague.
    “Nice lady like you, might not want to visit such a club, no? More like Sunsets?
    Or perhaps Roxy? Roxy is the best nightclub in Prague.”
    Keeping her smile, she only said, “Nero’s.”
    He shook his bald head, the lights from outside shining off it. “You pay lady.”
    “Dkuji.” Then she added, “But don’t try to overcharge or keep me in the cab. I know where the clubs are from here and you really don’t want to test me.” She met his eyes in the mirror. “Understood?”
    He nodded and pulled away from the curb.
    She watched the landmarks, noted the times they turned and where. Not that she didn’t already have a map in her head of where she wanted to go and how to get there.
    The narrow medieval streets gave way to the wider modern roads, old world charm to modern ramshackle warehouses and buildings lining the water front of the Vlatva River She wondered if she would meet Mr. Petrolov tonight. It was time to learn his habits if he was to be her mark, and if not…
    Up to this point, if she declined a job, she simply declined the job. Something told her this might be different.
    The cab pulled up in front of a club, the red and orange lights outside gave an eerie glow. A queue of people snaked down the side of the building, and bulging men in tight shirts walked the edge. How many. She ran her gaze. One at the door, two more on patrol, looking up, she searched for… There, just there, she saw the small black box of a security camera mounted on the light pole. Strange. Gadgets were getting smaller and smaller. No use in advertising you were watching people. Then again, most didn’t look for the cameras and the smaller more invisible cameras were more expensive. And probably used indoors.
    The driver pulled up to the front door and she got out.
    Now she wished she’d worn her slapper heels. They’d get her in faster. Bugger it.
    Climbing from the cab, she overpaid the driver and told him to keep the tip because as she figured it, he hadn’t overcharged her nor had he been stupid enough to try and lock her in the cab.
    The chilled, late October wind bit through her small coat. She pulled it tighter and looked up. A whistle drew her attention to the bouncer. He raised a brow and jerked his head to the front door. She looked down the queue, then behind her. Finally, feigning innocence, she studied the bouncer. “Me?” she asked.
    He grinned, a flash of crooked white teeth and dimples. He carried a firearm, the 21
    bulge under his jacket gave him away. She smiled back and walked up to him.
    He lifted the rope and let her in. “First time at Nero’s?”
    “First time in Prague. Is this bloody marvelous or what?”
    He laughed, his eyes appreciating her.
    Men. With a forced giggle, she muttered thanks and walked passed him, blocking out the mutters and curses of the people directly in front who she’d just cut. Life was rarely fair, chickies.

    22

     
     
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
    October 30;9:00 PM
    Dimtri sipped the wine and observed the nightlife of Prague. Headlights and taillights winked, like teasing young co-eds. He took another sip, the glass not much more empty than when he poured it over half an hour ago. He was to meet Viktor this evening and it looked like he just might be late.
    There was a time, he wouldn’t have dared to insult Viktor Hellinski, but those days were long past. He glanced around the expensively furnished loft with its sleek, modern and very empty lines. There was nothing of him here.
    Or perhaps that was all there was of him anymore…. Nothing.
    The only mirror in the entire apartment