He doesn’t move. His hand is wrapped around the butt of a pistol hidden behind a frozen pizza. Rage rolls down my spine and it takes a lot of effort to keep from pulling the trigger.
“It’s not like that,” he says quickly. “Boss, really, we can be reasonable men?—“
“I already was reasonable once.” I grab him by the throat and jerk him away. He staggers when I kick him to the table and lands awkwardly in a chair, his belly spilling from the tank top.
“You have to understand, this sudden visit, and bringing that one—“ His eyes dart to Daniel. “We know what that one does for you. I thought you were here to?—“
“I fucking am.” I grab the still-hot frying pan and smash it into his face.
He screams in agony as the metal sizzles the skin on his cheek. I hit him again and again until he drops to the floor. I press the pan against his gut, making him squirm and howl in pain even louder than that fucking dog was barking outside. I toss the pan aside and watch it clatter into the corner, eggs everywhere, some stuck to his burned face, more stuck in his scorched guts. I kneel on his chest and press the gun to his mouth.
“Why Aslan?”
Gleb moans, tears running down his cheeks. I bet they hurt, the bastard. I feel no remorse, no hesitation. This is what it takes to be a Dragon. If I hesitate on this journey, if I let weakness make me pause, I’m doomed and everyone I care about is finished.
“You can’t win,” Gleb says, biting back sobs. “Not with… not with Aslan… and Chesnokov…”
My eyes narrow at Nika’s cousin’s name. He’s my primary Russian nemesis and in control of the other half of Medved’s army.
“You know who my sister married. It’s my grandfather’s seat we’re fighting for. Nobody had better claim.”
“That’s not how it works. Dragons take. Nothing is inherited. Please, boss, please?—“
I shove the gun harder against his face. “We had a fucking deal. You work for me, you get rich, we all win. It was simple. Except you betrayed me. Breaking your word, going back on your promises, that’s worse than putting a bullet in my head.”
“You can’t… live up… to your end. You’ll never… be a Dragon.”
I pull the trigger.
Gleb’s skull explodes in a spray of blood and yellow-green brain matter. His body jerks once as if electrocuted before slumping still. Red mist sprays back into my face as I step away from his corpse.
Daniel watches me from the corner. “We should go.”
I observe my dead lieutenant. Gleb was an efficient worker. He had connections all over the city. I could’ve used him,and in return, I would’ve paid him handsomely. That’s how relationships work. We give each other something worthwhile.
“He was wrong.” I look at Daniel, rage filling every inch of my body as I shove my gun away.
“About what?”
“I keep my promises. I live up to my bargains. And when I’m Dragon—“ I kick Gleb’s body aside as I stride past Daniel. “Everyone like that weak fuck back in there is going to burn.”
CHAPTER 10
NIKA
Idon’t talk on the drive over to the restaurant. I keep looking at myself in the window, catching glimpses of my face: diamond earrings, diamond necklace, makeup, hair done. I look like an entirely different woman. Like a stranger. Even the dress I’m wearing is strange, even though it’s beautiful and flattering. Navy blue, satin, flowing, cut low and clinging to my hips.
I thought Gabe was joking when he dumped it on the bed earlier this afternoon and told me to get ready.
But it turns out my husband takes dressing me up very seriously.
“You don’t have to be nervous.” His voice is low and soft. He’s only halfway paying attention to me. His phone glows and he’s tapping out a message. I wonder what he’s doing on that thing.
“Who said I was?”
“I can tell.” He glances up with a frown, eyes moving down my body. “You look good.”
“Yeah?” My heart flutters and my mouth goes dry. God, I’m so eager for praise from this man, and I don’t even know why. “You think so?”
