I tracked the convoy through my scope as it pulled up. Three black SUVs, all armored. The Bratva came out in force, led by a man I recognized. Vlad, Stasia’s uncle and a top-level asshole, was flanked by four men, all probably armed, looking like they could break someone in half without breaking a sweat.
"They brought more security than needed," I murmured into my comm.
"Noted. Hold position." Henny demanded.
Rel remained still as the fuckers strolled in the room. I respected that, even as my trigger finger itched with the urge to provide more immediate protection.
The two groups acknowledged one another over the table setup for their talk. There wouldn’t be any hugging or hairbraiding between them. Not when there was a fuckton of tension.
"Anyone see any Bratva snipers? I’m not logging any." Henny's voice came through.
I swept my scope across the buildings.There.A shadow in a window that shouldn't be occupied, and the faint glint of a rifle barrel.
"I see one man," I said. "He’s tucked away. I don’t think he’s there to take out the boss man, but I can eliminate him now if you want me to."
Henny's breathing was steady in my ear. "No, let’s wait. A shot going off during the meeting could blow this all up. He may be a third party anyway. Someone like you, Pip."
“As if there’s anyone else like me.” I snorted, then smiled as I heard some of the other men chuckle.
Let them believe I was full of myself. Let them think whatever they want. So long as they did their fucking job and my Henny didn’t get hurt, I didn’t care.
Silence surrounded us after that. I kept my eye on the sniper for a beat longer, but he didn’t seem to move. It made me wonder who it could be if it wasn’t a member of the Bratva. I knew all the players in the game.
I made a mental note to check on it later. Or I would if whoever it was didn’t end up on the wrong side of a bullet today.
Rel and Vlad were talking back and forth when I focused back on the meeting. I could tell things were getting bad even as the whole picture appeared calm. You don’t work with someone for years without knowing their tells.
My instincts screamed for me to light these men up.
I tapped the side of my earpiece three times, allowing it to switch over to the private channel between me and Henny. It was meant to be for emergencies only, or if we thought the enforcers were going to double cross us.
This wasn’t the case now, but I needed to hear him without other ears listening.
“Henny,” I said quietly. “You alright up there?”
“I’m fine, Pip. You?”
"Better now that I can hear you. How's the shirt holding up?"
He sighed. “Pip, we’re supposed to be focusing on Pharrell and Ricardo. Save the flirting for later.”
"I am working. Just multitasking. Thinking about later, when I peel that shirt off you and?—"
"Focus," Henny interrupted, but his breathing had changed. "Save it for after."
"Spoilsport."
Movement in the restaurant caught my attention. One of the Bratva guards was shaking, his expression agitated. Then another guard shifted, hand moving toward his weapon.
"We have a problem," I said, switching back to the group channel. "Bratva guards are moving into defensive positions."
"Confirmed," Henny said.
In the next second, the Bratva men standing behind Vlad raised their guns. My finger hovered over the trigger, ready and eager to take the shot.
Pharrell tapped the table twice. Henny’s voice followed over the line. “If Pharrell does that motion again, show off. Let them know we’re here.”
Not even a minute later, the boss’s fingers drummed on the tabletop. I pressed the button to reveal my sight, then aimed it straight at Vlad the douche. The rest of the guys picked their own Bratva idiot to focus on.
