Curious where they were taking me, I climbed onto the bench seat, Pete taking a seat behind me. After a short ride, we turned off and ended up at a different runway altogether. “Where are we?”
“This is the area for private planes.” Mary waited for me to get out of the cart, then pointed to a sleek plane behind her. “We’re over there.”
“Are you sure it’s me you’re supposed to take there? Because I booked a normal ticket. This seems a bit over the top for $227.”
“Mr. Olysses asked me to get you.”
Suspicious, I stopped and stared at her. “Mr. Olysses sent you? Which one? The one with the perfect hair, the crazy one, or the one who can’t sit still?”
She chuckled behind her hand. “The one with the perfect hair.”
Liam.
“Okay, then. Lead the way.”
I followed her inside the plane, once again speechless at the opulence that could be crammed into one small plane. Pete sat down in a chair in the corner, giving me as much privacy as the plane would allow.
“You can sit anywhere you wish.” Mary walked to a curtained-off area. “I’ll let the pilot know we’re here. Takeoff will be in about ten minutes.”
Nodding, I took the seat closest to me and automatically buckled in. The leather was comfy, and I had enough room to stretch out. My ripped jeans stood out in stark contrast to the gleaming interior, reminding me that I didn’t fit in.
But too late now. Because I was doing this.
14
LIAM
“Whatever you do,don’t try and get out of the contract,” Gabriel growled, imparting his wisdom minutes before we were due to meet with the Russians. This time it was an official meeting.
“I know what’s at stake. Stop treating me like an imbecile.”
I lengthened my strides, my sweaty hands clenched at my sides, my clothes feeling too tight. I didn’t want to do this. Was still trying to find a way out. And Gabriel knew me too well not to have noticed.
But even though I’d been frantically taking apart the contract word for word, I’d found no way out of it. The head of the Olysses family had to marry the oldest daughter of the head of the Bratva.
In return, we would open trade routes, gain additional supply chains, and up our manpower should we have to go to war with whoever was threatening us. We needed an ally we could depend on. And this was our chance.
No matter how much I wanted to say screw it and walk away, there was more at stake than Quinn. A slight like this wouldherald the beginning of our end. And instead of an ally, we’d make another enemy.
Unperturbed by my cutting tone, Gabriel kept on with a smile on his face and a cheer in his step. “I’m your second. It’s my job to make sure your head’s in the game.” Stopping me with a hand on my arm, he looked around. Only our men were close enough to hear what we were saying. “But just in case, Jude’s in the building next door.”
Even though I didn’t intend to do anything rash, knowing Jude had my back released some of the tension in my shoulders.
“Good. Now let’s get this over with.”
I wiped my hands on my pants before entering the stateroom through two huge, carved oak doors. The building used to be a church but had become part of the Bratva business.
“Liam,” Aleksándr greeted me, stony smile in place, meaty hand outstretched to shake mine. “So glad you could join us.”
As if I had a choice.
I nodded at the men spread around the room, noting his two seconds were present. I also spotted at least three generals. It was a show of power, but one that didn’t impress me. Each of my brothers were worth a dozen of his men.
Unbuttoning my coat, I pointed to the table. “Of course. Shall we begin?”
“You always have business on your mind. That’s why this will be a great union.”
He pulled his chair back, the signal for everyone to take a seat. Gabriel sat down next to me, eyeing the two seconds who’d taken seats opposite us. Maybe I should have been the one to make surehishead was in the game. He looked relaxed, but his fingers were twitching too much for him to not have thoughts of pulling out at least one of his guns.
