Vendetta Girl (A Natalia Nicolaeva Thriller Book 2) Read online

  Vendetta Girl

  A Natalia Nicolaeva Thriller

  by

  Kenneth Rosenberg

  Copyright 2019 by Kenneth Rosenberg

  All Rights Reserved

  www.kennethrosenberg.com

  Also by Kenneth Rosenberg

  Russia Girl (Natalia Nicolaeva Thriller #1)

  Enemies: A War Story

  Memoirs of a Starving Artist

  The Extra (Hollywood Romance #1)

  Bachelor Number Five (Hollywood Romance #2)

  Bachelor Number Nine (Hollywood Romance #3)

  The Art of Love (Hollywood Romance #4)

  No Cure for the Broken Hearted

  Chapter One

  Natalia Nicolaeva sat in the middle of a crowded auditorium, typing notes into her laptop. At a lectern far below, her history professor held forth on the Battle of Grunwald. The man wore dark brown pants and a frayed blue sweater. His mildly unkempt gray hair matched an unruly salt-and-pepper beard. “Who can tell me which country was the largest in Europe during this period?” When he bellowed the question, most of his students sank further in their seats.

  At 21-years-old, Natalia wore jeans and a loose gray sweatshirt, with faded green canvas high-tops on her feet. Her long brown hair was tied back into a pony tail. Natalia was tall, with the athletic build of a hard-working country girl. She carried herself with confidence, though she couldn’t help but feel like an impostor in this place. She’d never planned to go to university. All her life she’d felt destined to be a farmer, married and raising a family amongst the wheat fields of her native Moldova. Yet here she was, attending Saint Petersburg State University, in a city the size of which she never could have imagined living in beforehand. Natalia was still not quite used to the idea.

  “None of you have the courage to answer my simple question?” the professor continued, though his cowering students shuffled their feet and averted their eyes. Only one brave hand shot into the air, from the seat just beside Natalia. “Yes?” the professor asked.

  “Russia!” came the eager reply. Sasha Antov was one of the few students on campus who Natalia considered to be a friend. He was a jokester, always fooling around, with a lighthearted merriment in his eyes. His thin, wiry body was clothed in faded blue jeans, a rumpled green t-shirt and red cotton jacket. The young man was below average in stature, with light-colored hair cut short, but he made up for his diminutive size with an extra-large personality. Scraggly facial hair highlighted his casual attitude. Sasha carried a tattered notebook wherever he went, but never actually took notes. Not for this class, anyway. That duty he left for Natalia. From what glimpses she was afforded, his pages seemed filled with nothing more than doodles and drawings.

  “No!” the professor shouted back. “Not Russia!”

  “Are you sure?!”

  “I am quite sure!”

  “But do the authorities know what you are teaching us? Russia is the greatest country on earth!”

  The professor took a small step backwards, apparently shocked at his student’s impertinence. “The answer is not Russia.”

  Natalia felt her own arm rising, as if under its own volition.

  “You there! Can you please tell us the correct answer?” the professor pressed.

  “Lithuania,” Natalia said in a clear, even tone.

  “Very good,” the professor conceded. “And what present-day countries did Lithuania encompass?”

  Natalia cleared her throat and continued, her nerves slightly rattled. “Modern-day Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, parts of Poland…”

  “Yes, and?” he pestered.

  “Part of Russia,” she answered.

  “I knew it!” Sasha replied with a sly smile. “I was right!”

  The professor turned his attention to the rest of the class. “From 1316 to 1430 the Grand Duchy of Lithuania controlled an area that encompasses the present states of Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and parts of Poland and Russia. In 1401 they joined forces with the Kingdom of Poland to face off against the Knights of the Teutonic Order in the Battle of Grunwald, considered the largest battle in medieval Europe.”

  Natalia saw Sasha jot a few words into his notebook, tear out the page and slide it onto her desk. “Show off!” read the note. A look of consternation crossed Natalia’s face. She considered a response, but in the end merely shook her head.

  “The battle marked the beginning of the decline of the Knights, a Germanic order born during the crusades in the Middle East…”

  As class broke for the day, Natalia saved her notes and then copied them onto a small flash drive. She ejected the drive and handed it to Sasha, who slid it into his pocket. “Why do you need my notes, anyway?” Natalia asked. “I can’t believe you’ll ever look at them.”

  “Of course I will! How else do you expect me to pass my exams?”

  “Why don’t you just take your own?”

  “You’re much smarter than me, Natalia,” he answered. “I trust you!”

  “And what do I get out of this arrangement?!”

  “My eternal gratitude.”

  Natalia put her laptop into a brown leather backpack by her feet. Sasha quickly slid his paper notebook in on top. “You can hold onto this for me,” he said. “Bring it to the next class.”

  “What if I don’t make it?”

  “Are you kidding? You always make it! Just don’t go trying to sell it off in the meantime!”

  “A bunch of doodles? I’d be lucky to get five rubles.”

  “They said the same about Picasso in his early days.”

  Natalia shook her head. She zipped the backpack shut and stood to leave. From the back of her chair, she lifted a green army surplus jacket and slid it on. Sasha followed her out of the auditorium where they emerged into a chilly late-October afternoon, with puffy white clouds scattered across a blue sky.

  “I told you the answer was Russia,” Sasha said.

  “Part of Russia.”

  “What else matters?”

  “Why do you bother to say anything at all if you don’t know the answer?”

  “What do I care? It’s all a waste of time. Why live in the past when you can live in the present?”

  “If you don’t watch out, you’re going to get expelled.”

  “I wish. Maybe that would finally get my parents off my case. Then I could put my energies into the important things in life, like making money!”

  “If you want a good job, you’ll get your degree.” The pair walked toward the dormitories.

  “You think too small, Natalia. The employers in my line of work don’t care about university degrees. All they care about is whether you’re up to the task. And they pay a lot of money. Did I tell you that?”

  “I think you’ve mentioned it.”

  “I can earn more on one job than our professor Grunwald makes in a year.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  “You could do the same, if you wanted to. I could teach you plenty that you’ll never learn in school.”

  Natalia shook her head. “Sitting in front of a computer screen all day is not how I plan to spend my life.”

  “But come on, it’s fun!”

  “You can’t mean that.”

  “What is it that you study? History? What will you do with that?”

  “I’ve thought I might transfer to the law school.”

  “Oh, yes, and what do lawyers do all day? They sit at their desks, in front of a computer!”

  “At least a good lawyer can make a difference in the world.”

  “So can a good programmer.”

  “Is that what you’re aft
er?”

  “No, the world can take care of itself. Did I tell you about the money?” He flashed a bright smile.

  “You better not get yourself into trouble.”

  “Trouble? Forget it. The people I’m dealing with don’t know their asses from a hole in the ground.” Sasha sounded bold as he said the words, though something about his demeanor suggested that he was trying to convince himself as much as Natalia.

  “All I’m saying is, be careful.”

  “Sure, sure, I’m careful.” They continued up the block and on through a large courtyard, finally arriving at Natalia’s dormitory, a towering concrete block twelve stories high. “What will you do now?” Sasha asked.

  “Study, of course. Some of us still care about our marks.”

  “But come on, live a little bit! I’m meeting a friend for a beer. Why don’t you join us?”

  Natalia crossed her arms. “Who has time for a beer?”

  “Are you joking?! When was the last time you enjoyed yourself at all?”

  For Natalia, the question struck home. It was true, she rarely allowed herself any distractions, but that was for good reason. As the first member of her family to attend university, Natalia felt added pressure. Maybe Sasha wouldn’t mind dropping out of school. To Natalia, failure to graduate was not an option. After this taste of the wider world, the life of a farm girl would never suffice. If hard work was what it took to reach her goals, then so be it. She would work as hard as she could. And yet... sharing a beer with classmates once in while couldn’t hurt all that much. Perhaps Sasha was right. It might even be good for her. “Where are you going, exactly?” Her resolve wavered.

  “It’s a little bar, not too far from here. Come on, you’ll like it! I promise.”

  Natalia gave it a bit more thought before nodding in acquiescence. “I suppose one beer couldn’t hurt. Let me drop off my bag first.”

  “I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.”

  “Fine.”

  Natalia pulled out her student ID card and swiped it across an electronic reader to let herself into the building. Walking across the foyer to the bank of elevators, she had a slight spring in her step. She could study later. In the meantime, life was for living. She would enjoy this night out as a typical university student. Who could begrudge her that? When Natalia got to her room, she found her roommate Julia sitting at one of two desks. “Hello!” Natalia called out.

  Julia was petite, with wavy dark hair hanging just below her shoulders. She wore a form-fitting cotton shirt that showed off her muscular physique. “What happened, you met a boy?”

  “Why can’t I just be happy?” Natalia complained.

  “Fine. Be happy.” Julia turned back to her computer.

  “I’m going out for a beer. Do you want to come?”

  Glancing back up, Julia made no attempt to hide her skepticism. “With who?”

  “Sasha. My friend from history class.”

  “I knew it.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Sure.”

  “He’s bringing a friend…”

  Julia shook her head. “Maybe next time… if his friend is cute.”

  “I’ll try to bring back some photographic evidence. Anyway, I don’t plan to be out long.”

  “That’s what they always say.”

  “What who always says?”

  “Anybody who ever went to a bar for one beer in the history of the world.”

  “Maybe some of them were right.” Natalia dropped her backpack onto her own desk and took a quick look at herself in a full-length mirror. Should she change? Maybe put on something a little nicer? She shook her head. No, she didn’t need to impress Sasha. From her jacket pocket, she pulled out her phone and looked inside a small sleeve in the cover. Five hundred rubles and her bank card. “Last chance.” She put the phone back in her pocket.

  “Have fun,” Julia answered.

  “I’ll try.” Natalia took one last look into the mirror, brushing a few strands of wayward hair into place before heading out the door.

  The bar itself was one Natalia would have never noticed on her own. From the street, there was merely a door. In lieu of a sign, an empty purple picture frame dangled above the threshold. Indeed, it was more of a private club than a bar, but after a few words through an intercom, she and Sasha were buzzed inside. They descended a stone staircase into a basement and past a burly, tattooed bouncer on a tall stool. He gave them a once over and then a nod as they went on through. This place was underground both literally and figuratively. Techno music reverberated off the stone walls and arched ceiling of a smoky, dimly-lit cellar. Wooden tables and benches lined either side, occupied by a mix of university students and laborers drinking away the remains of their paychecks on a Thursday afternoon. The bar itself stretched along the back wall. Sasha took an empty table not far from the door.

  “What is this place?” Natalia sat across from him.

  “You’ve never been here before?”

  “Of course not, how would I even find it?”

  Sasha shrugged. “If you spend time with me, I can show you lots of places.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “What are you drinking? The first is on me.”

  “All I’m having is a first one.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Sasha took a quick look at his phone. “My friend Aleksy is on his way. I’ll get three beers.” He rose and made his way to the bar as Natalia took in her surroundings. At the next table, a group of fellow students smoked cigarettes and chatted happily. They were young and free and happy to be alive. Natalia, too, needed to appreciate life’s simple pleasures, though it was hard to let her guard down. After her experience in Istanbul, she struggled to trust anybody new, and here in Saint Petersburg, everybody was new. She’d hoped that by coming to an entirely new city, she could simply move on. Unfortunately, nothing was so simple. Nightmares often made sleep a dicey proposition. She saw him coming for her, Dusan rising from the dead and out for revenge, carving her open with a hunting knife just as she’d done to him. Even when she was awake, Natalia was prone to breaking out in cold sweats, always with the sense that anybody unfamiliar might be a menace. She knew what darkness lurked in the hearts of men. The past was never altogether finished. She needed a new set of memories, happy ones, to replace the pain. Here she was in Russia, out at a pub on a Thursday afternoon. Sonia would have loved this, drinking beer with two boys. The edges of Natalia’s lips turned upward at the thought. Sonia, who was no doubt watching over Natalia, her presence never far away…

  Sasha cradled three glasses of beer as he returned, placing them carefully on the table. “There he is!” A grin lit up his face as he looked toward the entryway. Natalia followed his gaze to see a bulky young man in baggy jeans and worn blue sweater coming down the stairs.

  “Sasha!” The man opened his arms wide as he approached the table and the two embraced.

  “Aleksy!” As they separated, Sasha gestured beside him. “This is my friend Natalia.”

  “Natalia!” Aleksy repeated. “A pleasure to meet you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.” Natalia rose and offered a hand.

  As he shook it, Aleksy cracked a sly smile. “How could it be that a perfidious rascal like my Alexander finds himself in the company of such a lovely creature as yourself?”

  The question struck Natalia dumb. Who spoke like that? Nobody she’d ever encountered. She turned to Sasha, unsure how to respond.

  “Don’t listen to him. He likes to think of himself as a comedian.”

  “If only I were joking!” Aleksy followed the comment with a hearty belly laugh.

  “Sit down and drink your beer.” Sasha settled beside Natalia while Aleksy eased himself in across the table. All three lifted their glasses.

  “Na Zdorovie!” They looked one another in the eye and then took a drink.

  “Shouldn’t we be having something a little more serious than beer?” said Aleksy. “It is a Thursday,
after all.”

  “Oh no, not me. I need to study after this,” Natalia replied.

  “Study?! On a Thursday afternoon? What do you need to study?”

  “Natalia wants to be a lawyer,” Sasha explained.

  “Ah, now I can see it,” said Aleksy.

  “See what?” Natalia asked.

  “Why Sasha conned you into being his friend. He might need you some day.” Again, the smirk crossed Aleksy’s face. “I only wonder how he did it.”

  “Of course, I can understand that you’d be jealous of my social graces,” said Sasha.

  “Social graces?! I doubt you know what the phrase even means.”

  “Are you two always like this?” Natalia asked.

  “Pretty much,” Sasha admitted.

  Natalia turned to Aleksy. “You’re one of his merry band of hackers, I suppose?”

  “A hacker?” Sasha scoffed. “No, Aleksy is not a hacker, he’s more of a slacker.”

  “Sasha is on the technical side. I’m more on the content side,” Aleksy tried to explain.

  Natalia raised her eyebrows. “It sounds to me like you both might need lawyers someday.”

  Sasha shook his head. “Only people working for the wrong side need lawyers.”

  “Which side is that?”

  “The wrong side,” Sasha repeated.

  “Anyway, we don’t work together anymore,” said Aleksy.

  “Thank God.”

  “You know you miss it.”

  “You wish,” Sasha laughed. “Is Xenia still busting your balls down there?”

  “Only if I let her.”

  “Sure, Aleksy. Whatever you say.”

  “Come on, she’s not so bad. You just have to understand how to approach her.”

  “Who’s Xenia?” Natalia asked.

  “His bitch of a supervisor,” said Sasha.

  “She and Alexander never got along so well,” said Aleksy.

  “I’m getting that idea,” said Natalia.

  “I had nothing against her, except that she was a total bitch.”

  “Must you use that language?” Natalia scolded him.

  “If you met her, you’d forgive me.”