Adrik leaned back in his chair and barked a laugh. “What makes you think that I would agree to such a plan?”
Porter nodded Kenzie on, and she knew this was her part to play. She reached into Porter’s bag, grabbing out the stack of photos. Before, she had wondered what she’d say to Adrik in this moment, but she now realized she hadn’t needed to think about it. Her words came to her easily.
“What did you tell me once?” She paused, recalling his exact words. “Oh, yes…well, Mr. Petrov, let’s make this simple, shall we?”
She took pride in his deep frown as she tossed the pictures onto his desk, showing him setting the coffee shop on fire.
He examined them and he couldn’t hide the way his eyes widened. She lifted her chin, feeling more powerful than she had in weeks. “You wanted me to realize what game I was playing and who I was playing it with. Thanks for the advice. I did find out who you were and exactly what you’ve done. Too bad for you what I found out makes you a hundred percent fucked.”
—
The strength in Kenzie’s voice made Porter smile. He regarded Adrik’s dark expression as the scumbag scanned the pictures on the desk. Only a couple of seconds passed before Adrik looked at the man who attacked Kenzie with a glare that could wither a weaker man. It took everything in Porter not to grab the man who hurt Kenzie and level him. Even knowing how close he was to Kenzie now sent Porter into a possessive mode he would rather enjoy unleashing, but he reminded himself why he was there. This wasn’t about revenge. This was about ensuring that Kenzie and her store were safe.
Adrik finally turned to Porter, and, oh, how his features declared retribution. “What do you think you can accomplish with these pictures?”
“Get you to realize that you’re not the only one with leverage here,” Porter replied, casually crossing his ankle over his knee. They might have intimated Kenzie. They wouldn’t do that to Porter. He’d ruin these men in this room. “You will leave Kenzie and her store alone. If you don’t, I will take these pictures to the chief of police, where you can’t weasel your way out of it.”
“You’re threatening me?” Adrik asked, incredulous.
“It’s not a threat.” Porter placed his hand on Kenzie’s thigh as he noticed her tense next to him. “It’s a realization that Kenzie will not be touched. Her store will not be touched. You might think you own all of Vegas, but I know…we know…for a fact that isn’t true. Not only do we know an attorney that you cannot push over, we also know a president of one of Vegas’s top casinos.” He lifted his brow, knowing the exact thing to say now. “Do you honestly believe without the support of the other casinos in Vegas that yours will be successful?”
Adrik snorted at Kenzie. “Aren’t you closely protected, little one?”
“She is beyond protected,” Sawyer said from behind Porter. “By those in Vegas who would crush the venture you are so determined to see come to life. Take this as the warning it is. I have copies of these pictures at the police station. If anything happens to Kenzie, her store, Porter, or me, a friend will take these pictures to the police chief. A chief that I know isn’t in your dirty pocket.”
Adrik’s eyes narrowed. “Ah, yes, the clean cops in Las Vegas who won’t be bought.”
“Then realize that those men are strong enough to not let you walk away from this charge.” Sawyer’s voice grew gruff. “They do not fear you. And they are not on your payroll.”
Adrik’s mouth pinched as he considered Kenzie. “You play a hard game, Ms. Hart.” His expression was cold. It was calculating, yet his features reflected a man who knew he was fucked and then some. He grabbed the blueprints, opening the large document on his desk.
Minutes passed as Adrik studied the document with an intense focus, telling Porter he was contemplating his next steps. Porter didn’t mind the pause. He took a quick look at Kenzie out of the corner of his eye, and if he didn’t know her so well, he would think she looked as strong as ever. Yet the slight nibble of her lip showed her unease now.
Adrik finally lifted his phone to his ear and said, “Put Mr. Hemming on the line.” A moment passed before he said, “It’s Adrik. We’ve got a new design for the casino. We no longer need to wait and can proceed with the build. I’ll send the new blueprints over today, and we can start tomorrow.” Then he hung up the phone.
He stayed focused on Porter as he rose and came around the side of his desk, offering his hand. “Our business is concluded here. Stay away from me, and I’ll do the same to you and yours.”
Porter hesitated in shaking Adrik’s hand, but he knew this type of man. Adrik might be as dirty as they come, but a handshake was the seal of a deal. Porter grabbed his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Glad to hear it.”
When he dropped Adrik’s hand, the shithead offered his hand to Kenzie, and Porter growled, “Not a chance in hell I’ll let you touch her.”
Adrik laughed, slowly lowering his hand. Business was business, and even though Adrik was a coldhearted bastard who ran his life making others fear him, this to him was just business.
That simple.
Kenzie rose and Porter joined her, yet said, “There is one final matter to discuss.”
“Which is?” Adrik folded his arms.
Porter narrowed his eyes on the man who had attacked Kenzie. Apparently, his glare was indicator enough, since Adrik said, “I need him.”
“He attacked her,” Porter retorted. “He needs to answer for that.”
A long pause followed before Kenzie touched Porter’s arm. “I want this over.” She glared at the man who hurt her. “He didn’t scare me then, and he doesn’t scare me now. I want to forget these men, not deal with an assault charge. Please, let’s go.”
Porter clenched his jaw, not wanting to let the fucker off that easy. All the same, he cared only about what Kenzie wanted. She was all that mattered. And he understood an assault charge would drag this out for months. For that reason alone, he gave her a nod, then ushered her from the room.
As they reached the door, Adrik called, “Do tell. Who gave you these photos?”