“And what’s that?”
“My son thinks we should make a deal with an Argentinian named Diego Fuentes.”
“And you disagree?”
“I do. Too many business partners make for trouble,” he said in a heavy Russian accent. The man had immigrated here when he was a child, but he’d never lost his accent.
“And I say another business partner can bring in more profit,” Leo said while glaring at his father.
Maxim was nonplused by his son’s hostile glare. He almost seemed to find it amusing. Like a puppy trying out his growl for the first time.
They really didn’t need to make more money. They had more money than they could ever know what to do with, but like all power-hungry men, once you had power and wealth, you needed more and didn’t care who you had to work with to get it.
“As head of operations, Zoe, what do you think?” Maxim asked turning to look at her. Leo’s calculating eyes fell on her as well. This was a lose-lose situation no matter how she looked at it, whether she sided with one or the other. Luckily, she knew how to keep herself out of sticky situations.
“Well, I’d want to know the pros and cons. Leo, what do you know about Mr. Fuentes?” Of course, she’d heard the name, but she wanted to know what Leo did.
Leo stiffened his spine and looked like he was ready to take on a board meeting. “He’s been running his own business for several years now. He has his own partners and runs operations from New York to Florida with drugs, money, and weapons.”
“And why would he be interested in our setup all the way out here in Vegas?”
“He’s looking to expand and make his way to cover both coasts.”
“Thinks he can take over the world, eh.” Maxim hmphed as he grabbed a cigar from the table next to him and lit it. “Doesn’t sound like the kind of business partner we need.” He took a deep puff of his cigar and blew it out.
“He sounds smart to me,” Zoe chimed in. Both men stared at her in open shock. “Well, he is. If he already has that much revenue along one coast and makes it to the other, it’s only a matter of time before it spreads along that coast as well. If you partnered and could take a percentage, you would be part of a whole network from coast to coast. Your business doubles and more clientele. If you don’t side, he could run you out of business. You aren’t the only man in control of drugs here in Vegas. If Fuentes is looking to expand this way and you don’t take up an offer, he’ll move on to one of your competitors.”
Maxim puffed on his cigar, his face a mask of consternation. Maxim liked to take time to make decisions. He never rushed into things.
Leo watched his father like a hawk. His body was tense. Zoe knew how much Leo wanted this. A chance to prove to his father he could run the business and do things his way.
It was a difference between generations. Maxim was a traditionalist—if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it mentality. Leo was younger and always looking for the next best thing. More than once their ideas clashed, and this wouldn’t be the last time.
She didn’t take a side but put out the pros and cons of both sides, making it Maxim’s choice. It wasn’t her job to pick sides. Though if she had to pick one, she’d say stay away from Fuentes. The man had a reputation for being cut-throat. It was rumored that he was descended from pirates. Any man who had crossed him was never heard from again.
While they waited for Maxim’s verdict, Zoe’s gaze fell to the crowd below and sought out her mystery man. He was standing near the bar, his gaze watching everyone. What was he looking for? she wondered.
“Zoe, set up a meeting.”
Zoe blinked up at Maxim, getting pulled back into the conversation.
“But it was my idea,” Leo complained, sounding like a whining child instead of a man in his thirties.
Maxim gripped him by the back of the head and pulled him close so their faces were only an inch apart. “Now you listen to me, Leo,” Maxim warned, waving his cigar between them. Smoke drifted up into Leo’s face, and she was sure it burned his eyes, but he never shied away. It would have been seen as a sign of weakness, and Leo was anything but weak. “I still run this business, and I say Zoe meets them. They check out, you can take point. Understood?”
Leo looked like he wanted to argue but nodded.
Maxim released him and took another drag of his cigar. “Your time will come, son. Soon.” Leo didn’t say anything but stormed off. No one tried to stop him. Leo had a tendency for a flare of dramatics. He would get himself drunk, find a few women to fuck, and he’d be fine the next day.
“I’m going to go get a drink,” Zoe announced.
“We have champagne.” Maxim waved a hand toward the table with the ice bucket and bottle of champagne.
“You know I’ve never cared for that stuff.” It tasted disgusting and the bubbles tickled her nose.
“No, you prefer beer.” Maxim shuddered. “Horrible stuff.”
“We all have our vices, Maxim. I’ll be back before you know it.” Zoe headed toward the stairs and caught Aleksei winking at her from the bench seat. She wasn’t going to the bar for that. She was thirsty. Nothing more.
