“I’m a businessman. If it doesn’t profit me in dollars and cents, the deal stays on the table.”
Oskar snorted. “I’ll give it to you, kid, you’ve got a lot of balls. But that’s not enough to get you out of here alive if you don’t do as I say.”
“It’s amazing what kind of leverage a man can hold,” Avit said smugly, “when he finds the right information.”
Oskar tensed slightly, but I saw it.
“You see,” Avit went on, “I told my brothers who you are. Why you ran from Russia. Who you’re running from. Incredible, how long you’ve managed to stay hidden.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Oskar’s face.
“Ah, that’s right,” Avit added softly. “Don Giovanni was protecting you. But he’s dead now, isn’t he? That was your biggest ally on US soil.”
Avit stepped in close, toe to toe with him.
“Unlike you, the Safin faction has powerful allies within Philly, across the US, and recently, globally. The Triads. You might know them. Yes?”
Oskar laughed manically. “And you expect me to believe that you and your punk-ass brothers got in with the Triads? Do you even fucking know how impossible that is?”
“But you got in,” Avit replied casually. “Which means it was child’s play.” He shrugged. “But if you don’t believe me…”
Avit slid his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, and held it out to Oskar.
Oskar’s cocky bravado dropped instantly. His face paled, his shoulders tensed, and fear danced in his eyes.
Even with barely an inch difference in height, Avit somehow managed to tower over him. He took one step forward, forcing Oskar to take two steps back.
“If my wife or I don’t reach Safin headquarters in”—Avit checked his watch—“five minutes, those allies won’t kill you.They’ll hunt you and your precious sister for the rest of your life until you beg them to kill you.”
I watched the wheels turning in Oskar’s head.
Then, under Avit’s unblinking stare, Oskar walked over and untied me. He stepped back quickly, like he couldn’t get away fast enough.
Avit’s voice dropped to a menacing growl. “From this moment on, you don’t look at, touch, or even think about my wife. If you bother her again, I’ll return the favor, and your sister becomes my business. Understood?”
Oskar nodded stiffly.
Avit moved toward me, still watching Oskar as he extended a hand. I took it gingerly and pushed to my feet, my legs trembling like jelly.
The sudden motion made me feel nauseous, and I shut my eyes for a moment.
Avit’s hand rose to my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Wexler is waiting outside the door. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
As much as I wanted to drag him out with me, I nodded and reluctantly released his hand. My legs protested every step, but collapsing in front of Oskar wasn’t an option. Avit had the upper hand and, he needed to keep it if I wanted him to leave this room alive.
Before I crossed the threshold, I couldn’t stop myself…this time I looked back, before closing the door behind me.
Chapter 23 - Avit
As soon as I heard the door close behind Sienna, I slammed my fist into Oskar’s jaw. Startled, he toppled backward, landing on his ass. I straddled him and drove another punch into his face.
“You piece of shit. You think you can come on my fucking turf and threaten my wife?”
I hit him again. And again. Cartilage and bone cracking beneath my blows. When I walked into that room and saw Sienna tied to that damn chair, I almost lost it right there. And the fear in her eyes? I still didn’t know if she was afraid for me…or of me.
Now that she was out of the room, I could finish negotiating with this bastard, and then I could go and take care of my wife.
I’d been honest when I told Oskar I’d told my brothers everything.
