Free Vengeance (SSU Trilogy Book 1) by Vanessa Kier

tonight. She couldn’t even see the wooden bar through the throng. She worked her way around the edges until she spotted an empty two-person table in the corner. Sitting away from the main flow of traffic, the table was protected from attack by walls on two sides, and provided a view of all the entrances. She dodged her way through the crowd, but no one else seemed intent on claiming the table. When she sat down, she realized why. Thanks to a broken leg, the table listed at a dangerously steep angle. So what. She wasn’t here to eat, and she could easily hold her drink in her hand.
    The waitress sauntered up, gave Jenna a quick once-over, and lost her friendly attitude. She barked something in Russian. Jenna pulled some money out of her pocket and set it on the table. Then, mentally crossing her fingers, she gave the hand gesture she’d seen the old men at the bar use when they signaled the bartender for vodka.
    The waitress shrugged, grabbed the money, and walked away.
    Jenna let out her breath and felt some of her tension ease. Two hurdles down. First, even though she didn’t understand the Russian alphabet or street layout, she’d managed to find the bar again. All she’d had to do was hand the taxi driver the matchbook she’d tucked into her purse before the attack. He’d nodded in acknowledgement and she hadn’t needed to speak a word.
    Second, she hadn’t been recognized.
    Through a break in the crowd she saw that this afternoon’s bartender was still on duty. She wished she could question him further about Kai, but not only would her voice give her away as female, if she spoke English she’d give away the fact she wasn’t one of the locals. She’d only drummed up the courage to come to the bar alone by convincing herself no one would notice her. So she’d have to be content with watching the entrances to see if her brother showed up.
    She scanned the people milling around. No one looked her way and a little more tension left her body. She scooted back into her chair, slumped her shoulders, and prepared to wait.
    She wondered if she’d make it back to the room before Niko returned. He’d left again shortly after bringing her the soup, saying something about meeting with a local contact. She’d tucked a note into the picture frame by the door where he’d be sure to see it, explaining where she’d gone, and why.
    A woman at a nearby table screamed with laughter.
    Jenna stifled the urge to cover her ears with her hands until the shrill laughter faded. Instead, she carefully scanned the patrons. She hoped Kai showed up soon. She…
    Uh-oh.
    Mark Tonelli pushed his way through the people near the door. He glanced at the crowded bar, then sat down at a table that had just freed up near Jenna.
    Damn it, what was he doing here?
    She waited until his head was turned away from her, then pulled her cap down lower on her head. A few scoots shifted her chair until she could watch Mark without being obvious.
    After about fifteen minutes, the bartender left his post. Mark got up and followed him into the back.
    No fair. She wanted to hear what the bartender had to say, but even if she managed to get close enough to eavesdrop, she didn’t understand Russian.
    Cursing her ignorance, Jenna twirled her glass around on the table until a bit of vodka splashed out. She was mopping up the spill when Mark returned. The bartender must have said something encouraging, because Mark sat back down at his table, a smugly satisfied look on his face.
    Full of cautious optimism, Jenna settled in to wait.
    #
    By one o’clock in the morning, Jenna was about ready to give up. The cigarette smoke made her head ache. Fighting to stay alert had her nerves stretched taut as a bowstring. Every time someone passed her table, she flinched.
    Many of the patrons had moved on. With the thinned-out crowd, she was more conspicuous. Mark had been sending her increasingly suspicious glances for the past half an hour, but to her relief, he hadn’t