I fold my knife and put it back into my pocket, then return to my seat. Alina doesn’t ask what I said to the man. I feel her eyes on me, watching us. She doesn’t need to ask. His head is still bowed in prayer when he takes the only empty seat at the table.
Dessert arrives, dark chocolate espresso torte, and the room resumes its performance of civility until Gavriil sets his cup down then addresses the room.
“Put out the word,” Gavriil says. “Archer Kent stole from us.”
Alina sucks in a breath at the sudden mention of her brother’s name.
“He sold to fools who can’t carry what they bought. We’ll correct both affronts.” Gavriil turns his head, and the entire room tilts toward his gaze. “Dominik will handle the correction.”
Agreement ripples through the room in quiet murmurs. I nod once. The only answer that matters is the outcome.
Once the plates are cleared, we move into the back room where men splinter into tight pockets of conversation. I guide Alina to a loveseat near the window, out of reach of curious ears. “Stay here,” I tell her. It’s not an order so much as a recommendation. She nods in understanding.
The door to the side lounge clicks. Gavriil gestures me over. The room smells like leather, smoke, and hard decisions. I stand in the doorway where I can speak to him and keep an eye on Alina.
“She’s become an object lesson,” he says, holding a cigar between his fingers that he probably won’t even smoke. “Useful. And every valuable object belongs to someone.”
“I’m aware,” I reply.
He watches me like a man considering whether to take away and break a toy he gave to his brother. “You brought a lamb into a den of wolves, and she didn’t tremble. Interesting.”
Interesting is the last thing I want Alina to be to him.
“She doesn’t say much, and she knows when to be silent.” I try to paint her as the docile girl that’ll hopefully lose his interest. She has already tested him once tonight, though.
“She knows when to look at you like you’re the only wall between her and the fire,” he corrects. “You enjoy that.”
I let the comment pass. Truths acknowledged can easily become ammunition down the road.
Gavriil lowers the cigar, still unlit. “Your seventy-two hours are down to less than twelve.” His gaze is almost kind. “Tomorrow, before sundown, you’ll bring me Archer and the money, or you’ll bring me the girl.”
Those options don’t really work for me since I don’t put much faith in Archer choosing his sister over himself. Or having all two million on hand.
ThePakhanis not my brother, though. He’s a shrewd businessman who has to be bargained with. At the end of the day, he’s a greedy son of a bitch.
“Then let’s negotiate,” I say, because that’s what greed responds to. This is the point of no return, and I step over it anyway. The second I attach her freedom to the deal I’m not bargaining for myPakhananymore. I’m bargaining for my girl.
Gavriil instantly perks up, already sensing a win before I lay out the plan I’ve spent days concocting. “I’ll get you back the two million Archer stole and the crates of guns that are worth at least that amount. You’ll end up profiting from Archer’s stupidity. And when I succeed in providing you with both of those things, Alina goes free.” I very intentionally leave out Archer being part of this deal, hoping my brother doesn’t notice. If the idiot returns most of the money and helps us locate the guns, then for Alina’s sake, I’ll let him go free. Probably with a few broken bones for the trouble he’s caused, but still breathing.
My brother steps closer to me, his voice soft even though it feels like a hand at my throat. “That’s quite a risk, little brother,going against outlaw bikers who won’t easily give up the guns they paid good money for.”
“I can handle the bikers. I’ve already got a lead.”
“How long?”
He’s asking how long it will take me to retrieve the weapons.
“One week.”
My brother is greedy, but he’s not a patient man.
“If you fail to get the money or the guns, I will take her from you a week from today. Do you understand me,Bratishka?” he asks softly, always more dangerous than shouting.
I hold his gaze, refusing to let my relief that Archer isn’t part of the agreement show. “I understand you intend to test me.”
“I intend,” he says, warmth slithering into his tone, “to remind you that family always comes first.” His attention flicks to the window where Alina sits like a pretty statue. “Don’t forget the lesson you’ve already learned about letting the wrong women distract you.”
Gavriil leaves on that note, confident he’s pushed me toward the “right” choice by resurrecting my old mistakes.
