The Golden Chalice Read online

  Písek, Czechoslovakia

  Michelle eased up her sleeve to check the time. Her gaze returned to the café window and the beautiful market beyond. The village of Písek was quaint with its old stone buildings, all cathedral windows and masonry rooftops. She’d chosen a village just outside of Prague with many veins of the Moldau River running through. However, time was short, and they would need to leave soon.

  “Are you going to finish that?” Michelle sipped her coffee. The eggs on her sister’s plate had congealed to a pale yellow glob, next to her croissant. Some of the yolk bled over to her sliced cucumber, also uneaten. The smells of the café had Michelle’s stomach muscles tight and her throat dry. She felt another bout of nausea and pushed it aside. It would have to be her nerves. Just nerves.

  Sasha blinked out of her thoughts. She glared down at the cold dish. Michelle watched her intensely, until her focus shifted from the plate and locked on her. The emptiness reflected there forced Michelle to look away.

  “He killed him.” Sasha’s voice trembled. “He killed my Kumar, and you don’t even care.”

  “Not this again.” Michelle sighed. She set her cup down on the saucer.

  “I don’t know how or when, but I will get my revenge, Michelle. On you both.”

  The door to the café opened and a young couple entered, laughing. Michelle watched them being led to a seat. Sasha eventually turned her attention to the couple, who smiled and kissed one another.

  “I loved him,” Sasha said softly. “I loved him like that girl over there loves her man.”

  “Yeah, well, love hurts. Didn’t you know?” Michelle answered.

  Sasha closed her eyes. Michelle swore her sister clutched the silverware in her hand like a weapon. She dismissed the threat. A first heartache could make a girl stupid, but even her dear sweet sister knew the score. There would be no escaping the fate she’d chosen.

  The tables across from them and behind them held eight of Lee’s men. Since the plane landed and they been driven to Písek, they’d been under constant guard.

  “You going to marry him? A murderer?” Sasha asked.

  “You were going to marry a junkie.” Michelle shrugged. “What’s the difference?”

  Sasha frowned. “How did this happen to you? Ruthless I get, but cold and heartless? That was never you. I hooked up with Lee before he ever thought you two could be together. I shouldn’t have kept it from you, I know, but that doesn’t mean I deserve this. You could have stopped him from killing my Kumar. You could have helped us. Instead, you destroyed my life.”

  Michelle picked up her cup again then set it down. “How did this happen to me? Hmm, let’s see. Oh! Yes, I remember. The day I found out about your kidnapping was the same day I got my acceptance letter into medical school.” She laughed. “That day was the best and worst day of my life. It was all downhill, baby, after that. Destroy you? No, sister. I only made things even between us. All I had to do was wait and stop trying to protect you. Let you be who you are. So don’t lay Kumar’s death at my feet. I never put the needle in his arm, or you in his bed.”

  “I hate you,” Sasha shot back.

  “Hate, love—in our lives, what has either of them gotten us? Pops didn’t teach us much on the subject, did he? Feel what you must. I’m not trying to punish you, Sasha. In fact, I saved your life after you so foolishly risked it with that half-ass plan of yours.”

  Sasha slammed her hand down on the table. Heads looked up. Lee’s men focused on them. Her sister was foolish enough not to care. “Cut the bullshit, Michelle. You get just as much a rush out of being a thief as Daddy did. I don’t know why you keep lying to yourself about wanting to go straight. It’s bullshit. And look at you now. Look at that diamond on your finger. You’ve done nothing but be his whore from day one. You can blame me, but the truth is you wanted Lee, and I just gave you the opportunity to get him. I see the way you look at him when you think he isn’t watching. You’re in love with that evil bastard.”

  “You think I wanted this? Why? Because I’m a survivor? I’m Pops’ girl, and things, dear sister, are never what they seem.” Michelle smiled.

  “I won’t see you again, will I? This is it. Our final goodbye.”

  Michelle looked over to Abahti. He gave her a single nod. “It’s time to go.”

  “Go where?”

  “Sightseeing. Get up. Let’s go.”

  “I’m not done.”

  Michelle rose. She forced Sasha to her feet. “You’re coming with me. Now. Time I teach you your final lesson. And, yes, baby-girl, this is our final goodbye.”

  The door flung open with the push of her hand and the cool morning air swept around them. She could still smell the nauseating scents from inside the café. Michelle tried to ignore the bout of dizziness, and focus. A car waited alongside the curb and discreetly drove away once they were inside it. Michelle glanced around to confirm Abahti followed. The drive along the cobblestone streets was stop-and-go as pedestrians and bikers crossed in front of them.

  “Where are we going?”

  “They say these are some of the oldest bridges in Central Europe. They almost look medieval.” Michelle nodded when they turned off to another road that gave a full view of the brick-layered bridge with canals underneath. “Pops loved it here. Do you remember this village?”

  She glanced over. Sasha remained expressionless.

  “You might not. In the past, you lived in the hostel while we did jobs. It’s so peaceful and serene here.”

  “So what? I don’t want to live here,” Sasha said.

  “Don’t.”

  The driver made another turn toward a market street. They’d traveled a few miles outside of the square toward the central bridge that crossed over the river. “We will get out over there,” Michelle ordered the driver. The vehicle came to a stop. Abahti and the others parked behind them.

  Sasha’s head turned and her eyes stretched wide. “Why did we stop?”

  “Stay here.” Michelle threw open the door. She hurried toward Abahti.

  He held a black leather duffle bag he had in his hand. He tossed it to her feet. “You’ll take the scenic route first. An hour or two through the square and villages. At some point, the driver will lose my men. That’s when he will return you to the bridge. Inside the bag is the identification and the cash you requested.”

  Michelle picked up her reward. “Thank you.”

  “Good luck.” Abahti smirked. “You’ll need it.”

  She winked. “Yeah, you too.”

  ***

  The door opened and Lee lifted his head. He listened. Abahti tossed his keys on the room’s desk. He spoke into the phone of his plans and informed that bastard Cumminskey where he could find his Michelle. Lee’s gloved hand tightened on his gun. Abahti stepped to the center of the room, where he could be seen clearly. He stared ahead, as if absorbing the scenery from his hotel window. That was all Lee could stomach. When he walked out into the suite, Abahti’s head turned and their eyes locked.

  “Lee?”

  “Surprised to see me?” he asked.

  “You were, um, you didn’t say you were coming.” Abahti’s gaze immediately dropped to the gun in Lee’s hand. His tall frame appeared to bulk with tension at the sight of it.

  “When did you decide, Abahti?” Lee strolled closer.

  “Decide? I—”

  “When did you decide to betray me?” Lee tossed the photos to Abahti’s feet. Several copies drifted and landed on his shoes. Abahti stared down at the pictures but made no move to pick them up. The evidence of his betrayal was irrefutable. His large head lifted and he remained expressionless.

  “I can explain. There are things you don’t understand.”

  The gun tapped against the side of Lee’s leg and his finger stroked the trigger. “Why explain it now? It’s clear you’ve been playing me from the start. Pops knew who you were and didn’t trust me enough to tell me. Michelle knew who you were, and did the same. I guess I am the idiot. Ar
en’t I?”

  Abahti’s hand moved an inch, as if to reach behind him. Lee raised the gun and his friend put both hands up in surrender. “It was her, Lee. Chocolat came to me with this plan. She’s been plotting against you from day one. The people in the photo don’t want anything to do with your business. They just want the Chalice. You know my history. I’ve told you about the smugglers I was once connected to in the diamond mines of South Africa. Well, those men were even more powerful. Pops got too close to the Chalice. He played a dangerous game, pitting the Nigerians against The Order. He did all of it to destroy us. I’ve protected you, kept them at bay. You need me, Lee. They won’t stop coming for the Chalice. Dammit, it’s complicated.”

  Lee smiled.

  Abahti shook his head in panic. “Are you listening to me? Let me call my contact. Arrange a meeting. See for yourself who we are dealing with. I have been loyal to you. I swear it.”

  “Too late.” Lee aimed.

  “You used to be the best in the business, Lee. You’ve slipped and everybody knows it. It’s because of her! And where is she? She’s betrayed you. Lied to you. Now she’s in the wind, running from you. I can take you to her. It’s not too late.”

  “I think it is.” Lee fired a single shot between the eyes. His friend, partner, and most loyal enforcer dropped dead.

  “Where’s my woman?” Lee asked in a hollow voice.

  “Písek. The drop at the bridge hasn’t happened yet. My men just confirmed it. It’s a ten-minute drive at best.” Monk Eastman walked out of the back room. He stared down at Abahti and smirked. “Got to give it to you, when I told you of Eddie’s plan I thought you’d handle it diplomatically. Killing him here is way too messy for the Czech Republic. How do you plan to get rid of a body in broad daylight?”

  Lee stared at Abahti. The loss of his friend stung, but Michelle’s betrayal burned his gut. “You mean two bodies,” he answered under his breath.

  “Two?”

  Lee lifted his arm and fired directly into Monk’s face, then stepped over and put another bullet in his chest. Two of Monk’s men entered through the hallway door and he shot them both before they could assess the scene. Lee walked over to Abahti’s body and placed the gun in his hand. He removed Abahti’s gun, fired it once toward the door, and tossed it over to Monk’s body. Lee dragged the other two men inside, and left.

  ***

  Sasha gasped. The car made another sharp left, and they were thrown to the right against her car door. She checked to see if the men continued pursuit. “What the hell is going on?”

  Michelle put her gloves on. She unzipped her boots and removed a pair of sneakers from her satchel. Sasha looked on with horror as her sister changed shoes. “What are you doing?”

  The driver cut down a narrow roadway shocking the people in the street to jump out of their way. “You get out here…walk the rest… I go no further,” said the driver.

  “C’mon!” Michelle’s voice cracked like a whip when the car stopped.

  “What? Huh? What the hell?”

  “Run!” Michelle hissed.

  Sasha did as she was told. Michelle carried the large duffle and walked hard and fast to keep up. A group of Asian tourists ahead snapped pictures. Her sister slipped through the crowd. It was hard to keep up with Michelle in the high-heeled boots she wore. She pushed through the crowd and shoved the men aside. They all talked at once, grumbling over the intrusion.

  “Wait! Michelle!”

  Michelle sprinted for the bridge. Sasha hesitated a moment, then followed. The thing did look ancient and the cobblestone road to cross made it hard to walk, much less run, over it in heels. Twisting her ankle awkwardly, she winced—and lost sight of her sister. “Michelle!”

  She almost kicked the shoes off to run barefoot. But she kept going. “Michelle, wait! Wait!”

  Halfway across the bridge, Sasha caught up. “What are we doing? Where are we going?” Sasha panted, keeping the fast pace in order to stay at her sister’s side. She looked up to see the less-populated end of the bridge. They approached and Sasha blinked in surprise. There were stone steps that led down to another level. Michelle kept glancing behind her as if the devil were on her heels. She half-ran and fast-walked the rest of the way, ignoring Sasha.

  “You’re running from Lee, aren’t you? Are you crazy? He’ll find you, Michelle. What are you doing?” Sasha grabbed her sister’s sleeve but Michelle snatched free and walked faster. “The man is crazy about you. He’ll find you. He’ll kill you. Kill us both. You can’t do this!”

  “It’s done. Stay or keep up, it’s your choice. Decide now!” Michelle yelled.

  Sasha fell behind. She looked around, then to her sister. She hurried after her. “Wait, I’m coming.”

  They crossed the bridge and took side stairs to a lower level where the boats and city could be seen. Tourists hung off the bridge, snapping pictures at the small boats coming in and out of the canals. Michelle dashed to the left, closer to the arch of the canal. They were still elevated several feet above the murky waters. If they wanted to board a boat, they’d have to climb down or jump. How is this an escape? It looked more like a trap.

  Sasha thought to warn her sister and stopped. At the end of the dock, two cars had parked and men quickly came down a level to approach them. At first she thought they were Lee’s men. But the one in the lead didn’t appear familiar at all. Her breath caught as fear and dread covered her. She remembered the threat Lee leveled at her when he found out she’d stolen from him. Why did Michelle think they could escape this man?

  “Hey, baby. You weren’t expecting me?” the first man said.

  “Go. Go the way we came. Run. Run, Sasha.” Michelle pushed her. She glared at the stranger and his entourage. “What are you doing here, Eddie?”

  “Who is he?” Sasha asked. “Does he work for Lee?”

  Michelle glanced back at her sister. “He’s Eddie Cumminskey and he doesn’t want you. He wants me. So go.”

  “No! I won’t leave you.”

  Michelle frowned.

  “We’re sisters. Right? I won’t leave you, Michelle.” Sasha smiled. “It’s me and you. Always. No matter, that’s what Pops taught us. No matter what.”

  The moment passed with applause from the man called Eddie. Winking, he gave Sasha a deep bow. The toothpick in his mouth moved from the left to the right corner. He wore a dark business suit but his face had a haggard meanness to it. His skin was pasty and his eyes bloodshot. He looked like a madman. There were six other men with him. None of them seemed armed but Sasha knew they must be.

  Michelle dropped the duffle bag. She faced Eddie when she spoke. “What do you want?”

  The smirk on Eddie’s face faded. He spat his toothpick and let his hungry gaze sweep them both. “Now that’s a loaded question, Chocolat. It’ll take some time. A lot of it with you on your knees. Eventually you’ll understand.” Cumminskey stepped up close. “So you done with Lee, huh? Good, you got a new daddy now.”

  “Fuck you!” Michelle hissed.

  As he reached for her, she swung, blocking his touch, and shoved her fist into his throat. Eddie gagged, but reacted swiftly, grabbing her by the arm, twisting. Michelle bent over in what Sasha believed submission until she kicked her left foot back and slammed it into Eddie’s kneecap. The man howled in agony and dropped, releasing his hold on her. Every man in Eddie Cumminskey’s entourage drew his weapon.

  “Michelle!” Sasha screamed in surprise. More SUVs sped up. The doors opened and Eddie’s men turned and started firing at the others.

  “Get down, Sasha! Get down now!” Michelle yelled.

  Sasha dropped for cover. Michelle didn’t. She ran for the edge of the pier, the river. Sasha stared at her sister in disbelief.

  “Michelle!” Lee yelled over the gunfire. Having killed three of Eddie’s men, his troupe converged and moved in. Sasha saw Eddie rise with his gun. The sneer on his face was unmistakable. He raised his gun and fired at her sister. Michelle took the hit d
ead center in the chest and was thrown over the edge of the bridge.

  “Nooo!” Lee screamed.

  Sasha soon learned, from the strained burn of her throat, that the screams were hers as well. Lee, full of rage, fired repeatedly at Cumminskey. She, too, had to roll for cover as sparks from the concrete ground and wall of the lower level of the bridge flashed around her. If her sister was dead, and Kumar was dead, she wanted death for herself. Still, the fighter in her made her seek cover. In tears, she scrambled away from the horrible scene.

  Lee didn’t care or try to cover himself. He marched straight toward Eddie Cumminskey, firing until his gun fully unloaded. He tossed the piece and went after him. Eddie had discharged his final round, too. The coward bled from his mouth and chest. Still, somehow, he scrambled away on his backside. Lee kicked Eddie in the face. Kicked him in the gut. Eddie rolled away, his eyes fluttering under his lids. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

  Lee stepped on the dying man’s throat. Eddie thrashed underneath his boot heel. His feet drummed against the ground, and he fought to lift Lee’s foot from his throat. Lee pressed down harder, glaring at him, wanting Eddie to see his face before he died.

  Eddie exhaled a gurgled breath and went still.

  “We got to help her! Help my sister, please!” Sasha cried, scrambling to the wall of the bridge. Lee snapped out of his bloodlust and blinked. He shed his coat and hurried to the wall.

  “She went in, Lee! I don’t see her!”

  He didn’t wait. He dove in after her. The temperature of the water froze the breath in his lungs. The murky thickness of the river made his vision blur. He dove as far as he could and swam up for air. He dove again and went down. He kept diving. He swam against the current, searching, searching for her…never giving up.

  ***

  “Pops! The police, they’re everywhere.”

  “We’ll have to jump,” her father panted.

  “What?” Michelle looked to the river. The cops would come in on them soon. They’d been chased out of Prague. Písek had been the furthest they’d reached before being surrounded in the square. Pops said he had a plan. Michelle didn’t understand it. All she did was run. Hell, she was only sixteen. What the hell did she know about escaping? Pops always handled those details. She just did the work. “I can’t. The river…it’s too far to jump. I’ll die.”