With my back to the entrance of my booth, I see a broad smile reflects back at me through the glass.
He steps into my booth. “Da, I knew you would make a great addition to our limited clientele. My brother thinks you should be put out of your misery and we should claim your territory once and for all. Enough of this live and let live, bullshit.”
His stance is wide and his watered-down accent makes him sound nervous. He should be. He’s testing my boundaries.
The bold threat doesn’t faze me as he likely intended. Intimidation never did. Words roll off me like water. Now point a gun in my face and you might get a reaction out of me—as unpleasant as it may be—but words are meaningless without action.
I take the cigar he offers from an inside pocket and snip the end off before lighting it. “And you? What do you think?” Smoke curls around my words as they hang between us for a few heartbeats.
He lights his own and sucks on the end for a few seconds for what I guess he thinks is a dramatic effect and in my boredom I let my attention drift to the phone in my pocket.
“I think lucky for you I am the older twin and that fucker does what I say. But I can only leash a bulldog for so long before he breaks loose.”
A side of my lip curls up in a half-smile. “Is that a fact?” When you work years to gain the reputation of showing no fear, no weakness, and being willing to spill blood there are always fuckers stupid enough to test how far they can push the line.
I study the man across from me. Ivan and his brother have pushed my boundaries and this little game we are playing is nothing more than me toying with my prey before I swallow them whole.
“I think even you know you can’t make money when you’re dead.”
Ivan lowers his weight into the chair opposite mine and I hold his gaze. “Maybe you owe me for being your protector.”
I unhook the button to my tuxedo jacket, knowing the other man’s eyes will drop to the pair of Glocks I have tucked into my double-sided shoulder holster.
I chuckle darkly, genuinely humored by his point of view.
“There’s not a damn person I need protecting from. Especially your half-witted brother. Or you.” I lay the challenge between us like a deadly viper trained to strike. If he wants to have a dance or two, I’m not hiding. But I am growing tired of the banter and games. “I made my purchase. When can I expect my product to be delivered?”
“Let’s talk about a partnership.”
The curtain behind me shifts and the woman in emeralds and chains from earlier steps in, a bottle in hand and I recognize the coiled dragon head on the million-dollar bottle.
“A gift for you, sir.”
Ivan snaps his fingers and she drops to her knees. “May I pour you a glass?”
I consider the bottle of Eye of the Dragon. It’d be easy to surrender to the darkness inside me, let the emptiness residing in me swallow my better judgment, empty a few rounds and execute this piece of shit. No one could touch me for it.
Or, I play along. Follow the chain and dig up the real money behind these clowns.
“You have the respect out on the street and I have the connections to make you more money than you ever thought possible. More than your clandestine arms deals.”
“Is that why you presented me with an invitation?” I take the envelope out and toss it on the table between us.
“I wanted you to see the goods first hand.”
“Tell you what, Volkov. I’ll give you an extra three million for her. And I’ll take the vodka. Seeing as we both know the girl is used goods, I’m offeringthreetimes her worth which is zero.” I give her a cursory glance. “Do this and I’ll consider that partnership.”
I’m betting on his greed to do the talking for him. It’s not long before my bet pays off.
“Consider her a gift.” Ivan snaps and the girl stands, her dead eyes blank windows that stare straight ahead.
“Since we are in the bartering mood, I require more material along the lines of your specialty. No questions. Just merchandise for cash. And as I said, you can keep the house sample.”
I consider him for a moment, weighing my options. I need this man tied to me in every possible way. “Call The Genesis men. They’ll get your particulars. Models, quantity, and then we’ll be in touch.” I take out a plain black business card with a single contact number. No names.
My broker moves around Avery and passes a tablet and I sign on the lines he indicates. I take out my phone and punch in Rage’s contact. “Make the payment. Eighteen and a half million.”
I move my new acquisition toward my handler; Volkov watches every move I make. I turn a hard stare on him. “I take nothing for free. Expect to pay full price for any materials we exchange. Let’s see how this goes. Then we can talk about a partnership.”