I stand there, watching Viktor with a wariness as he proceeds to pour himself a drink.
“Want one?” he asks.
“I'll pass.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugs and motions me to a chair.
Even though I know I have backup, my legs tremble as I walk over to sit. He sits across from me, sprawled out on a couch.
“This is your last chance to make the right choice, Mrs. Yuri. I need you to work with me instead of against me.”
“Please.” I sound and look desperate. “I don’t even know what you want from me!”
“It's simple, really. I need access to your financials and your client list.”
“Whatever for?” I shake my head. “That’s none of your business!”
“It is my business when I need to fix your annual fee for what you’ll pay me in protection money.” He sips his drink. “The other tenants in your former office building understood the arrangement. They paid, they stayed in business. You chose... differently.”
“Protection money?” I pretend to look furious. “The only person I need protection from is you! And I no longer work in that building, do I? Why the hell should I pay?”
“Because you worked there once and didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain…because you owe us a debt.”
“When I took the place on rent, I never knew what I was getting into!” I cry out loud. “This isn’t fair. Please…just let me go.”
“Like hell I’ll let you go. Pay me what I’m due!” His face twists with rage. I lean into it, pretending to cower in my chair.
“Okay, okay,” I say softly. “I’ll send Anton the details, and your brother can decide what to charge me for the time I stayed there. Just don’t hurt me, please.”
Viktor's face twitches at his brother's name. “Anton doesn't handle these matters.”
“But, isn’t that his building?” I ask, wide-eyed, feeling like I’m onto something. I'm taking a risk, but the slight widening of his eyes tells me I've hit something. “I was told, when I took the office on lease, that I’m to deal with his team.”
“You're mistaken,” he says sharply. “Protection is my territory.”
“I see.” I finally let myself have a small smile. “So Anton doesn't know you're running your own side operation, does he? That does make sense, now that I think about it.”
Viktor slams his glass down on the coffee table. “Watch yourself, Mrs. Yuri. This could have all been easy, but you've made it harder than it needs to be, and for all the trouble you’ve caused me, you’re going to have to get me information on the Yuris.”
“You said nothing about that.” I stand my ground, trying to get a rise out of him.
“Well, now you know. My brother heard about my men who were found dead in his building. Do you know how long it took to convince him it was an accident? That they were in the wrong place at the wrong time? If only you’d listened then…”
“Those men came at me with guns!” I shout, the anger rising like the wind inside me. “You started it!”
“And you’ll finish it, now. I need more power, Mrs. Yuri. Pay me the protection money, and get me information on your new family.”
“So that's what this is really about,” I say, putting the pieces together. “You’re working behind your brother’s back, fighting for control.”
“My brother would understand if he knew what I was trying to accomplish,” Viktor snaps, standing now. “The Yuris have been encroaching for years.”
“You’re going rogue, just admit it.” I smile.
Viktor's face darkens dangerously. “You think you're clever? Your husband won't always be there to protect you.”
He takes a step toward me, and my heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat. But before he can get any closer, the warehouse door slams open.
Valentin, Leonid, and Miron walk right in, looking like they’ll kill Viktor if he so much as lays a hand on me.
