Dima nodded. “He doesn’t deserve my protection.”
“Couldn’t you refuse?”
“No, and it’s better than being at the club.”
Trevor couldn’t imagine how a bodyguarding gig could be better than a club, but he let it go. “Are you going to tell Dan—Chris—that you saw me?”
Dima shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t always know what I’llsay.”
“How much is your employer paying you?”
“Enough to keep me in this country. If I go back, I’ll have to join the war.”
Trevor’s heartbeat accelerated with this unexpected development. He now knew for certain that Daniel was not only struggling to come up with a solution, but also getting help from powerful people. It was time to shift to Plan B before it was too late.
“Listen, I can’t pay you more than what you’re getting, but once I get the money—”
“I don’t think you’ll get it soon. You have a debt to the wrong people, so you’ll likely be dead by the time you get the money. Having business with dead people is not smart; I know that much.” He started to rise.
Trevor hurried to grab his arm. “Wait, I’m not dead yet. Hear me out.”
With a sigh, Dima sat back down. “Speak quickly. I shouldn’t stay far from him for too long.”
“You don’t like him.”
“I don’t like many people.”
“And you don’t like working for that weird man, right?”
Dima nodded. “True.”
“Work with me on this, and you’ll have enough money to live comfortably in this country for the rest of your life.”
“My employer is not only weird—he is dangerous.”
“I’m sure he is, and that is why we’ll need to be careful.”
Dima twisted his lips. “Like you were careful sitting here where I could find you?”
“You found shit. I’m just a dude drinking coffee in a public place.”
“The risk is still too big.”
Trevor lowered his voice and added conviction to it. “I have a feeling you got into this country because you took a risk. It paid off, didn’t it?”
“It did, but working with you would be even riskier.”
“Maybe, but it could also change your life. You don’t strike me as the kind of man who likes privileged assholes bossing him around. I’m giving you a way out, and you might not get one again for years.”
Dima tapped on the counter with his long fingers, his face engrossed in thought. “Do you have a plan, or are you just talk?”
Trevor smiled, the pressure in his chest subsiding. “I always have a plan.”
“And do your plans work?”
“Of course!”When they don’t fail horribly. “We’ll need to work quickly now, so listen up...”
10
