"And?"
"Dead end so far. Shell company. Multiple layers of protection. Whoever set it up knew what they were doing." He sets down the file he was reviewing. "I'm still digging, but it's slow work."
The information sits heavy. We're being attacked on multiple fronts by an enemy we can't identify.
"How do you want to handle Luan?" Alexei asks, moving closer to the desk.
"With caution." I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers. "There's clearly no love lost between him and Ramiz. We sawthat when he helped us escape the ambush. The question is whether that rift is genuine or performance."
"And if it's genuine?" Zakhar prompts.
"Then we exploit it." I say it simply. "An enemy's enemy can be a useful tool. Luan has something against his father. We find out what, and we position ourselves to help him in exchange for information and cooperation."
"And if he's playing us?" Alexei's voice carries the particular edge it gets when he's contemplating violence.
"Then we deal with him accordingly." I check my watch. "He should be here soon. When I suggested this meeting, he was surprisingly accommodating."
"That makes me nervous," Zakhar says.
"Me too." I admit. "But we need information, and he's our best source. So we take the risk."
We fall into silence. Each of us running through scenarios, contingencies, the various ways this meeting could go and how we'll respond to each possibility.
A knock at the door interrupts our preparation.
"Enter," I call.
One of our men opens the door. "Luan Krasniqi, sir."
"Show him in."
Luan enters with the confidence of someone who knows his value. He's dressed impeccably. Tailored suit. Expensive cologne that fills the room. His expression is carefully neutral, revealing nothing.
We all stand for the handshake. The ritual of civility before potentially hostile negotiations.
I gesture to the chair across from my desk. "Please, sit."
He does. Zakhar takes the other chair. Alexei moves to stand behind me, positioning himself near the window but within easy reach if it becomes necessary.
I settle behind my desk. Let the silence stretch for a moment, establishing that this is my territory, my meeting, my rules.
"Thank you for coming," I begin. "I wanted this meeting because a series of events have occurred lately targeting both sides of the Severyn organization. I have reason to believe the Krasniqi family is involved."
Luan's expression doesn't change. "What leads you to that conclusion?"
"Your father believes I interfered with his arrangement with Arthur Ainsley."
"Didn't you?" Luan asks, something almost amused flickering in his eyes. He pauses, then adds with deliberate casualness,"You did marry the man's daughter, after all. That's quite the interference."
The mention of Victoria makes all three of us tense. Alexei's hand moves fractionally toward his weapon. Zakhar goes very still. I feel my own jaw tighten.
Luan notices. Of course he does. That was the point.
I force myself to stay calm. Measured. "Perhaps in a way, I did interfere. But Ramiz will still get his money. Arthur Ainsley's debt will be repaid."
"With interest, I'm sure," Luan says dryly.
"There's also the small matter of your father trying to ambush us in his home," Alexei adds from behind me, voice hard. "That seems like a rather direct act of aggression."
