Page 90 of Wicked Villain

We went over this before the new contract was signed. That fool gave me such a headache. I don’t know how I didn’t kill him. I explained that all legacy agreements had been reviewed. Father was giving these fuckers an easy ride. It was time to shake things up. Money isn’t even the issue for these assholes. They just feel they’re entitled and they’re not.

“Okay, here’s what we do.” I grind my teeth. “We’ll keep the deposit, withhold the weapons, and sell them to someone else if he doesn’t pay up within the next forty-eight hours.”

Aleksandr stares back, surprised. “Are you serious? Mikel Zeretsky is one of our oldest clients. He’s been with us since Father took over from Dedushka.”

“I don’t care. I’m serious as fuck.” Dedushka—our grandfather—never liked Mikel Zeretsky anyway. “And tell him if he doesn’t pay and we have to sell the shipment, his ass will be barred from every single Karsavin-controlled port and route.”

“Fuck.” Aleksandr chuckles. “That’s fucking harsh, Lev.”

I shoot him a steely stare. “Tell me he doesn’t deserve it.”

“I can’t.” He smirks.

“I’ll make an example out of him so anyone else with any bright ideas will know what awaits them if they pull the same stunt.”

“I hear you. And I agree. We can’t keep giving out favors. Shipping costs have changed substantially in the few months since Father died.”

“Exactly. We’re not running a charity. These people can either use our services or go somewhere else.”

“I doubt Mikel Zeretsky will be going anywhere. He has Bratva protection just by association. He won’t want to lose that.”

“Well, if he does, it’s his funeral.” I hear there are several people after his head, so let him be an idiot and test me.

We make our way across the hall. We’re here for Igor Petrov’s birthday celebration. At eighty years old, he’s one of the oldest Pakhans in the Bratva.

His organization operated out of Chicago, but he and his family live in New York and have been close friends of my family for as long as I can remember. He’s also one of my biggest clients. Igor is a man who will pay what he needs to pay because he knows our worth.

Gabrielle and Anushka are meeting us here. I expect them any minute now.

I can’t wait to see Gabrielle. It’s almost been a week since I last saw her. Aleksandr and I have been busy, splitting our time between work and hunting for Petr.

Regardless of what’s happening, there are still contracts to be signed, clients to take care of, and a Brotherhood to run. The empire must stand even when war is on the horizon.

Aleksandr and I grab drinks at the bar and stand by the balcony, watching the guests mingle.

Aleksandr leans against the balcony rail and raises his glass of scotch. “I’d prefer to be on the streets looking for Petr, but I think we needed the break tonight.” He takes a swig of his scotch, then swirls the ice around in the glass.

“I don’t like that we haven’t found anything more.”

“Me neither. I keep wondering what we could’ve done differently.” He glances away, looking out at the crowd.

“I don’t think there’s anything. They’re all lying low. Even Corrado. He knows he’s being watched.” We’ve had eyes on him the entire time.

“I think Kieran suspects we’re holding back.”

I glance at him. “Well, he’s not an idiot.”

“What do you plan to do if he starts asking questions?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when we get there. It’s not like he can backpedal now. His business is at risk and we have the means to fix it. He knows that.”

“You sound like Father.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I give him a small smile.

“It is. I’d bet he’d be happy we’re in contact with our Irish cousins again.”

“I think so too.”