Page 104 of Deviant Need

I extend my hand.

“Mikhail. Good to meet ye,” he says in a thick Irish accent, his grip firm.

I give him a curt nod and pull my hand away.

My father’s eyes narrow slightly behind his tinted glasses.

“Tommy was just telling me about a situation,” my father says, his tone flat. “Someone has been skimming from his docks. Small amounts, but consistent. It’s become a problem.”

It’s us. We’re the ones taking from them, and they have no clue. My father plays everyone like they’re idiots.

Tommy nods, his jaw tight. “Aye. Been going on for months now. Can’t pin down who exactly, but the numbers don’t lie.”

My father turns slightly, his attention still on Tommy but his words aimed at me. “The solution is simple. Audit every man who touches the shipments. Cross-reference their schedules with the missing inventory dates. Isolate the pattern, then eliminate the source.”

“That takes time,” Tommy says. “And if word gets out I’m auditing, they’ll scatter.”

“Then you don’t tell them,” my father replies. “You bring in someone from outside their circle. Someone they don’t know is watching.” He pauses. “Mikhail, how would you handle this?”

I force myself to focus. “Install new surveillance at the docks. Don’t announce it, just do it. Hidden cameras on the loading zones where the skimming would happen. Run it for two weeks, and you’ll have faces, timestamps, everything you need. Then you pull them one by one, make it look random so the others don’t catch on until it’s too late.”

Tommy’s eyes light up. “That could work. Smart thinking.”

My father’s jaw tightens, just barely visible. “Acceptable. Though it would be more efficient to simply replace the entire dock crew with vetted men. Eliminate the problem entirely rather than chase symptoms.” He takes a slow sip of his drink. “But I suppose your approach has merit. For someone with limited experience in these matters.”

The words land like a slap disguised as approval. Tommy doesn’t seem to notice, but I feel it. He’s ripping into me for problems he’s causing them, for enjoyment.

“Of course, Father,” I say, keeping my voice even.

Movement catches my eye. It’s Daniil walking past, his purple hoodie standing out in a sea of suits. He glances at me, just for a second, and something passes between us before he keeps walking toward the bar where Yulian sits nursing a drink.

My stomach twists watching him go. I want to follow him, want to be anywhere but here having this conversation.

“Mikhail,” my father says, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “Are you paying attention? This is important.”

I snap my focus back. “Da, Papa.”

“Good. Because what I’m about to propose requires your full attention.” He turns to Tommy with a slight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Tommy and I have been discussing ways to strengthen our alliance. Something more permanent than business arrangements.”

Tommy grins. “A family tie. Makes everything cleaner.”

My father continues. “A marriage between families creates loyalty that contracts cannot. It ensures commitment on both sides. Wouldn’t you agree, Mikhail?”

The question feels like a trap. “I suppose that depends on the arrangement.”

“My daughter Siobhan just turned eighteen,” Tommy says. “Smart girl, knows the business. Beautiful too. Would be a perfect match for a young man like yourself.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut and my brain stutters, trying to catch up.

“A marriage,” my father says, his eyes fixed on me. “Between you and Siobhan. It solidifies our partnership and ensures loyalty on both sides. A mutually beneficial arrangement.” He pauses, taking another slow sip. “We should finalize it next week.”

Everything goes cold.

Sweat breaks out across my back, and the panic hits fast. That crushing weight in my chest that says I’m about to spiral. Air won’t go into my lungs properly, coming in short and tight. My mouth tingles, that weird numb sensation spreading across my tongue and sliding down the back of my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself to breathe.

A marriage.

I can’t do this. Can’t deal with any of it. It’s too much after everything that happened, after he almost killed me in that cage, after what went down when I came home. I was just starting to feel okay, finally getting my head straight because we had a plan. This destroys all of it.