Things start to come together

You clean yourself up and shave. As you get dressed, again a suit with no tie, your mind is buzzing. The Melanie situation had blown up but you had to stay focused. Stick with the plan and be ready to move quickly when the time is right.

Louis was still foremost on your mind. In your gut you knew he would be the biggest problem for you. You decide to give Joey a call.

"What's up boss?" You hear his goomba voice.

"Hey Joey. I want you to stay close to Louis today. Let me know if you hear anything okay?" You order.

"Anything in particular?"

"Nah, just, you know, listen."

"You got it boss." You end the call.

You are doing your last bits of spiffying up in the mirror when Natali enters.

"Looking good lover, looking good!" She pinches your ass. You wink at her. She continues. "My mother called this morning, from Russia. Five in the morning of course. I keep telling her to call later."

"Do you miss Russia?" You turn to face her.

She looks at you, understanding where you were going with this. "Well...sometimes. I was kind of thinking of somewhere warmer."

"Hear me out. That village you are from, it's in the middle of nowhere right?"

She looks a bit offended. "It's only an hour's drive from St. Petersburg, I wouldn't call that the middle of nowhere."

"You get my point. It is far away from here and no one would be that suspicious of us going there. It doesn't have to be permanent but it would get us away for the time being. Plus you'd get to visit your family." You argue.

"And you could visit my family too...you poor man." She puts her hands on your chest.

"And..." You say, trying to stay on track. "...from what I understand money can solve a lot of problems in Russia..."

She nods. "Oh yes. If you have the money anything is possible." She gives you a sly grin. "Speaking of which, I have something to show you. Come with me."

You follow her to the study. She sits in her usual leather chair and begins clicking away at her laptop. After a few moments she spins it toward you with a dramatic flourish. You look at the screen.

$124,705,415.01

"What!?" You sputter.

"I think we're ready!" She smiles. "It was something Murray did."

You root through your pocket to find your phone and you give him a call.

"Vincent! I take it you saw?" His gravelly voice sounded happy to hear from you.

"Yes Murray, brilliant!"

"Yeah...well. It's going to be noticed, you've got a few days at best. I hope you have your plans in order."

"Almost. Murray...you're the best!"

"Ha! Don't worry, I took a nice little slice for myself. And Vincent..."

"Yes."

"...good luck. Get out of here, you hear me? You grab your slice of heaven and don't look back."

"Thank you Murray." The call ends.

You and Natali stare at the number a bit longer, holding each other's hand. Your escape was so close now, so very close. For the next couple of hours the pair of you start cementing your plans.