“I could haul your ass downtown and book you, if you like.”
Tread lightly, Max. You don’t want to piss this guy off. Not if he has the power to lock you up and throw away the key.
“Look, Max. I get it. You’re nervous. I would be too if I were in bed with the Russian mob. No one wants to wake up dead wearing a mob necktie. But, if you cooperate with us, we’ll protect you. Screw us over and we’ll do the same to you.”
“What do you need from me?”
There was no point in this pissing contest. In this situation, I was woefully ill-equipped.
“I’ll need protection for a few people,” I said and watched as he took out a little notebook.
“Your sister, Inessa. Her husband, Charlie. Their son, Jeremy. Your cousin, Vlad. Angelica. Anyone else?”
I stared at him.
“Did you imagine I would come to you without having done my homework? Is there anyone else you need to add to my list?” he asked.
“No. That’s everyone.”
“Good. I give you my word, Max. We’ll protect your family.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“But you have to give us one hundred percent of your cooperation or the deal is off and you’ll have a change of address.”
“I get it. I need a few days to get myself organized,” I said, hoping that I could buy some time to figure things out.
“Fair enough. I’ll give you five days. Use the time wisely.”
“I will.”
I got up and left the shop. I didn’t much feel like sitting and shooting the breeze with the law while I was on the wrong side of it. No sense in poking the bear.
I called Vlad from the car and asked him to meet me at the office. It was time to strategize.
“Good morning, Max. How is Angel? Is she feeling any better?”
Damn it. I didn’t have the energy or the patience to talk chit-chat with Angel’s assistant about why her boss wasn’t at the office.
“She’s okay, thanks. The baby is keeping her busy.”
I reckoned that was enough of an explanation. Thankfully she accepted it, wished us well, and allowed me to pass.
Vlad arrived shortly after I had.
“How’d it go?” he asked me as soon as he closed the office door.
“Better than I expected.”
“What do they want from you?”
“It seems like they’ve been aware of the Russians for a while. I can’t believe they haven’t hauled our asses away yet. They must really need my help.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
“Indeed.”
“What’s the next move?”