“Good. But I hope you don’t mind if we employourown.”
“If you were anyone else, would say your lack of trust is insulting. But I understand this business we do is unfamiliar to you. Is not something you been in long.” Yakov waved a hand dismissively in Jamie’s direction. “Set your electronic jammers. Is noharmdone.”
“Ekaterina?” Jamie asked, looking across the tableather.
“Already deployed,” was Katie’s smoothresponse.
“Good.”
Alexei shifted minutely in his seat, stretching out his legs a little. The table, while long, had a more intimate width, which meant he accidentally bumped Kyle’s foot. Kyle glanced his way, and Alexei offered him a faint smile inapology.
The master sommelier arrived less than a minute later to go over the selection chosen by Jamie. Waiters with the first course, an amuse bouche set in a tiny silver spoon, filed in behind him to serve everyone while the wine was poured. Alexei picked up the spoon and tried to identify the gray mousse, but couldn’t. Only when he tasted it did he realize what it was and tried nottogag.
Foie gras,Katie said to him through the telepathic link connecting theirminds.
Tastes like vomit, Alexei shot back as he swallowed the stuff down, trying not to chokeonit.
Gross,Kyle said.But yeah. It tastesdisgusting.
Katie didn’t bat an eyelash as she daintily ate her bite with relish. Alexei quickly reached for his glass of wine to wash out the taste in his mouth. Why rich people thought that was a delicacy wasbeyondhim.
The dinner conversation was shallow and bland through the first two courses, touching on nothing of note until the third course of seared lobster tail and some fancy sauces smeared across the plate was served to everyone. Alexei perked up; he lovedseafood.
“You requested a meeting for a reason,” Jamie said as he used a small fork to spear out some of the lobster meat. “I’m not staying beyond the dessert course, so let’s get down tobusiness.”
Alexei discreetly cut off a huge chunk of butter from the nearby butter dish and slathered it over his lobster tail. Sauces be damned; melted butter was the only waytogo.
“We haven’t requested any jobs from you recently as we’ve decided not to renew any contracts with Saunders & Associates,”Stanislavsaid.
The British-owned company the Pavluhkins had blackmailed into working for them was how Alpha Team had received most of the jobs they’d performed for the Pavluhkins under the guise of Root Source, Inc. Alexei paused in pulling a bite of lobster free of the shell as Stanislav spoke. He didn’t like what that decisionimplied.
Hold position,Katie murmured in the back of his mind before she joined the conversation. “That’s a shame. The contacts we’ve made through them have been great for my company’s bottom line. Are you looking for a differentpartnership?”
“Unfortunately, not with your company. We’re more interested in what else you or your backer can bring to thetable.”
Alexeireallydidn’t like the sound of that. He glanced at Jamie as he took a bite of lobster, unable to read the expression on hiscaptain’sface.
“I take it you’re interested in one of my family’s?” Jamie askedcoolly.
Yakov opted not to give them a verbal runaround. “Empyrean.”
Alexei nearly choked onhisfood.
Empyrean was the premiere luxury space cruise line that catered to the ultra-wealthy of the world. It offered trips around the Earth and the Moon while guests enjoyed themselves in expensive comfort. Empyrean was owned by the Callahans and was the crown jewel in their business portfolio. Alexei shouldn’t have been surprised the Pavluhkins had moved on to personally targeting Jamie, buthewas.
“No,” was Jamie’s immediate and calm answer before he went back to cutting out a piece oflobster.
“We’ve mined what contacts we could with Saunders & Associates,” Stanislav said, ignoring Jamie’s denial. “We’re looking to branch out into certain spheres of influence that would be beneficialforSDK.”
Unspoken went the implication that those same contacts would financially aid the criminal organization through blackmail and outright murder. ThePresnenskaya Bratvawasn’t afraid to make a point to get others to fallinline.
“So you’re looking to pull the same shit you do with others with my family’s company?” Jamie arched an eyebrow in condescension. “Forgive me if I find your request laughable. My answer isstillno.”
Some of the easiness in Stanislav’s expression disappeared, replaced by a hardness that set Alexei’s teeth on edge. “You forget yourplace.”
“I know my place,” Jamie shot back. “It’s higher thanyours.”
Stanislav put down his fork, looking very much like he wanted to punch Jamie in the face for that statement. Alexei put down his fork as well to make sure his handswerefree.
