Lost and Found: A Mafia Romance Read online

  Lost and Found

  By Katerina Winters

  Text copyright © 2016 Katerina Winters

  All right reserved

  Table of Contents

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 1

  Just as always the girl with the one ear was waiting for him. Mikhail Kulakov, one of Boston's two main Russian mob bosses, was quite intrigued by the wide-eyed girl. For a couple of months now he has been visiting Milly's Diner for his morning coffee. Milly's was not only under his jurisdiction, but they also made the best blueberry scones in Boston. However, for the past few weeks he has been stopping by for more than just his sweet tooth.

  The girl was no more that eight or nine, Mikhail surmised, she always wore the same outfit. A pair of too short jeans with flower embroidery, man-sized construction gloves, and a threadbare badly stained blue scarf. But her most recognizable piece of clothing was a small black puff jacket that rode high on her wrist. The jacket stood out the most, due to the fact that it had Mickey Mouse ears, or at least it had more than one ear at one time in its life. All the clues pointed to one obvious conclusion—she was homeless.

  "Dobroye utro Mikhail." she sat on the curb near his black BMW with a large smile.

  Holding his coffee along with a brown paper bag with his scones, he walked over to his car sliding into the front seat. As was his routine he rolled down the window and waited for her to come closer.

  "Kak dela?" he responded in his mother tongue, watching the large brown eyes scrunch in thought as she carefully tried to come up with a response.

  "khor...khora...no no wait it's khoro." by now she was desperate to get it right. Mikhail smirked while taking a sip of his coffee waiting to see if she could grasp the elusive word. "KHOROSHIY!"

  "Good. Your pronunciation has improved a bit from last time," he said with an approving nod as he pulled out one of the two scones. Mikhail knew from experience that offering her a scone would only result in her polite refusal so he tried a new tactic. "I will trade you this scone for one of your hand warmers."

  Her smile grew larger as she held the box she had been holding higher to his open window. Shifting her weight he watched her balance the box with one hand as she used her teeth to pull off the large work glove. Mikhail watched the surprisingly tiny hand slip from the giant dirty glove and hand him the warmers he really didn't want.

  Tossing the warmers in the seat next to him, he handed her the scone.

  "Thank you," he watched with veiled interest as she hungrily devoured her scone. Absently he handed her one of his restaurant napkins he had laying in the car. The Rose was the restaurant he owned, located in the industrial side of town, but on the edge of the up and coming art district. After his morning meeting with the little urchin, he would join his captains for morning meetings in the back room at the Rose. As if catching herself for showing her hunger, she sheepishly looked down while changing subjects. "I looked up some information about the tattoos on your forearm.

  "And what did you find?" he sipped his coffee while checking his phone for messages.

  "Well I only saw a couple tattoos, but it seems like your pretty high ranking in your organization." When he didn't answer she continued, "I found the information online at the library, the same time I listened to the Russian beginner videos."

  The fascination she had with his tattoos reminded him of how he first met her. It was one of the few days he let one of his men drive him to the office. Mikhail was surrounded by his men practically day and night he enjoyed an occasional drive by himself. But it simply wasn't done, to have the boss without protection was ludicrous, that's why Nico, one of Krill's boys drove him that morning. Sending Nico out to pick up his order Mikhail sat in the backseat of the black SUV and answered emails. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the little girl get closer and closer to the vehicle. The black tinted windows kept her from seeing in, but that didn't seem to stop her. Holding a large dented box, she shuffled closer and closer until she was right beside his door.

  The loud knock on his window ruined his intention to ignore the encroaching girl. Sighing he pressed the button to lower the window.

  "Sorry to bother you sir, I just wanted to know if you would like to buy some hand warmers for two dollars." A red packet was already through the window, dangling from her gloved hand.

  Her boldness was shocking and a little amusing. Mikhail couldn't remember the last time someone was so bold. Turning his head, he looked down to get a better look at who exactly was sticking their hand in the car of a criminal.

  Big brown eyes stared up at him expectantly as she held the warmers out, her light brown skin was slightly red due to the below freezing winds. From the little hair he could see around the tightly synched hood it looked to be wavy jet black hair. Her small slightly upturned nose was covered in small freckles. The large smile she offered was all teeth, which were surprisingly white considering her lack of a home. But it was her eyes that drew his attention, they were huge. Large innocent brown eyes full of hopeful happiness, despite her current situation.

  "No thank you," a brief flash of disappointment went across the vivid eyes but was quickly replaced with curiosity.

  Though she withdrew her hand, she remained in the same spot. "I like your accent. It's not German and it's not French. But judging by your driver, the neighborhood, and your tattoos on you knuckles I say Russian." when he didn't answer immediately, doubt settled in. "Am I wrong? I'm sorry. I have been reading detective books and I have been trying to notice more stuff like the detec..."

  "Your right." He had to stop her before she went on any further. It was evident that she didn't talk to many people. Though he was surprised by her aptitude, Mikhail never hung around too many children but he would hazard a guess that she was quite sharp for her age. "What's your name?"

  For the first time during their conversation, a hint of wariness came over her. It seemed the age old adage of don't talk to strangers was beginning to filter through.

  "Misha," she began hesitantly, "Misha Abosi. What's yours?"

  "Mikhail Kulakov." Her waning smile returned full force as he pronounced his name. She repeated it a couple of times, seemingly liking the sound of it.

  "I like your tattoos. Do they mean something?" Mikhail wasn't sure how to respond to such an abrupt change in subject, not to mention such a dangerous topic. However, Nico's return saved him from responding to the innocent question.

  "Aye! Get out of here!" the harsh yell from his driver startled the small urchin. The cheery face was replaced by a brief note of fear. Just as quickly as she appeared she left, Mikhail watched the one-eared coat disappear around the neighboring building.

  Rolling up his window he waited for Nico to begin driving.

  "Nico."

  "Yes sir?" he could see the man's awaiting eyes though the rear view mirror. Nico was actually a couple of years older than Mikhail. His hair was slightly longer than it should be, along with his seemingly permanent five-o-clock shadow Nico always seemed to have a casual look.

  "Don't ever interrupt me l
ike that again." Mikhail made sure to make eye contact with the enforcer. He wanted to make sure Nico could see his cold displeasure.

  "Of course sir," a shadow of fear that crossed Nico's face, just as the one he caused on Misha.

  Since that day, he has made it a point to see the urchin every day. With every passing morning, she became more comfortable around him, even with Nico who she wrangled into buying some warmers once.

  "Tomorrow lets see how far you get with your Russian." As usual his promise to see her the following morning made her smile brighter.

  "Bye Mikhail, see you tomorrow," she chirped before backing away from the starting car. As he pulled away, he watched her out of his rear view mirror. The one-eared girl vigilantly stood there watching his black car disappear.

  Early the next morning, Mikhail was greeted by Nico when he stepped off the elevator in his condo.

  "Hello sir." wearing his usual all black suit and black gloves, Nico stepped forward to take his briefcase.

  Mikhail grunted in response. He was not pleased, but it was pointless to send him back since they were going to the same location. After his customary morning meeting at The Rose, Mikhail went to his office in the shipyards. Since Nico actually worked in one of the warehouses as a foreman, it made no sense to demand the man to leave.

  It was still very early in the morning, looking out his window into the dark early morning sky Mikhail let his thought drift to Misha again. Where did she sleep? Where were her parents?

  Passing under the main overpass that was near Milly's, Mikhail noticed the flashing lights of police and ambulance. Though there weren't many cars this early in the morning, the traffic through the intersection slowed considerably due to curious onlookers.

  "Don't worry sir, I will get you there in time." After weaving through the clogged traffic, Nico got them back on track allowing them to arrive only a minute past his normal time.

  Misha wasn't there. The familiar one ear jacket was nowhere in sight. A cold feeling formed in the pit of Mikhail's stomach, Misha was never late.

  Nico got out to go get his order, but with each minute that passed and no sighting from his usual greeter, the feeling in the pit of his stomach grew colder. The rush of cold air swirled into the SUV as Nico climbed back into the driver seat.

  "Sir I thought you should know, the scene down the block was from a stabbing," Nico said quietly as handed him the coffee. Nico must have noticed Misha's unusual absence. Catching the dark look in his eyes, Nico quickly added, "It was an older male transient."

  After waiting an extra twenty minutes, he ordered Nico to drive to the restaurant. A part of him was angry that the little street urchin stood him up. Mikhail should have probably felt foolish for waiting, but another part of him was consumed with the cold gut feeling that something was wrong. Mikhail could sense Nico's restlessness as well.

  Pulling up to The Rose, Mikhail slowly got out, with every mile his agitation grew. Shutting the door, he walked to the driver's window.

  "Nico, I want you to go back the scene and find out more info." With a quick nod Nico drove away.

  For a moment Mikhail stood there, there weren't too many times he felt this type of inability. He had no way of contacting her nor did he know where she slept. Even though his pride would take some damage he couldn't help but hope she stood him up.

  Chapter 2

  Sitting at his usual table in the back of The Rose, Mikhail absently listened to Abram drone on about the new car one of his boys picked up. Abram Zharkov was Mikhail's second captain, he ran a massive chop shop discreetly hidden outside the city. Abram was a thirty-five year old chronic smoker, gambling, pot head who looked nineteen. He had a full set of pearly white teeth that were bigger than they should have been compared to his mouth. Abram was always laughing and smoking, even when he was killing a man. Since the day Mikhail picked his captain up from the GULAG mining labor camp, the captain lived his life with abandon. The only two things to be counted on from Abram was his unwavering loyalty to Mikhail and his uncanny ability to make money.

  Earlier that night Nico finally got back to him with the information he requested. A homeless man was stabbed to death near the Davis overpass. He was found under the bridge by another transient. Using some of their resources in the local police department, Nico found the man's priors: robbery, vandalism, loitering, and numerous cases of sexual assault.

  Mikhail remained stoic as usual towards his soldier's report, but his mind was racing. The feeling in his gut remained the same as the morning, something was not right. Ignoring Abram's rants Mikhail decided that if Misha were not in her normal spot tomorrow morning he would send some men to look for her. At this point he didn't care what his men may think of his interest in the child, Mikhail needed to know.

  "Boss!" a shout from the back hallway hushed the entire back room. Everyone went still, alert and ready. The source of the voice Michael, a young man that worked in his shipyards, came running in.

  The expression on his face was of a confused shock. "Sir you might want to come see this."

  The moment he stood up, Abram stood up right beside him, as expected the captain followed Mikhail as he made his way down the back hallway. Everyone else in the private back room remained seated but stayed quiet, for a chance to hear what was going on. Reaching the back alley metal door, that was being held open by two more of his crew all wearing the same confused expression.

  "What the hell is going on?" Mikhail's demanded sharply. The small group of men standing in the alley stood aside to reveal a blood soaked child.

  "Misha!" Mikhail's eyes widened as he stared at her. Misha was wearing her normal clothing, but nothing else was normal about her. Even in the dark back alley Misha's coat and jeans were visibly coated in blood. Her usual smiling face was frozen in a look of shock. In her hand she held what looked to be a blood-soaked box cutter.

  Leaning close to him Michael whispered in his ear, "We were all out here smoking when she came up to us. She asked for you by name and gave us this." Mikhail took the bloodstained item from Michael.

  It was the napkin he gave her the other morning with the restaurant's logo and address.

  "Misha." slowly he stepped forward from the door so she could see him. The sound of his voice seemed to break the trance she was in. "Misha, what happened?"

  "Mikhail," she whispered softly, the large eyes that were staring blankly focused on him. "woke up and he was on top of me. He broke my jacket and tore my pants."

  Everyone remained silent as they tried to decipher her broken words.

  "I just kept stabbing him." by now her voice was getting louder and she was no longer looking at him, her eyes were glazed over as she recalled the events. "I don't want to go to jail," the words came out as a desperate plea.

  Mikhail sensed everyone bristle at her last words. All of his men were ex-convicts, each one of them would rather die than go back to prison. It was one of the main reasons why he handpicked each one of them. Crushing the napkin in his fist realizing she must have walked from Milly's to find him made his blood boil, he should have listened to his instinct earlier.

  "Misha come here," he stepped closer to her, he needed to see if any of the blood was hers. When he stepped forward Abram and the other men followed suit. Immediately he recognized their mistake, still clutching the bloody box cutter she realized she was being surrounded by his men. Fear quickly took over. Instinctively she tried to back away from the group.

  "Wait!" Mikhail barked the order to Michael, who was trying to grab her. But Michael's clumsy attempt to grab her was enough to spook her. With a quickness only a child could have, she dodged his men and took off towards the street.

  "Misha wait!" he ran after her, closing in on her he was only a few yards away from catching up. The pounding feet on pavement told him his men were not far behind. But she reached the mouth of the alley before he could. She didn't see the car backing up, nor did the driver see her. Mikhail watched in horror as the car hit the one e
ared girl.

  Quickly he skid to a halt next to her body, kneeling beside her he slowly turned her over. A female scream and the curses of his men vaguely registered in his mind. Abram yelled to his men to get Isaac, their personal doctor. Mikhail was relieved to see she was still breathing. The car only seemed to hit her on the shoulder, knocking her to the ground, from what he could tell nothing was broken.

  "Take care of the driver." Mikhail didn't need to see if Abram heard his order, he could already hear him yelling at the driver to get out. Picking up the little girl, Mikhail noticed that she still was clutching the box cutter.

  Isaac meet them at Mikhail's condo. It was an older high rise building Mikhail owned in an up and coming neighborhood. It was one of the first investments he made when he came to America. It took every penny he had to buy the place, thankfully the investment paid off well. By now he could have bought another place, a newer place even, but this one was his trophy it reminded him how far he came.