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“For a man who gets off on telling people what to do, you should listen more.”
“I am listening, Isakov.” He shrugs. “But I know what you are, and nothing you say can change my mind about you. Criminals can’t be counted upon to take down criminals. And I have no reason to believe that if I put you away, I can’t do the same for the rest of the Bratva.”
You arrogant little shit.
“If you won’t listen to my other warnings, then at least listen to this one.” I lean across the table. “Yevgeniy has a mole in your firm.”
“Impossible!” Josh’s eyes flare wide. Audrey and Galina share his surprise.
“Is it?” I ask. “How else did Yevgeniy find Galina and her mother so quickly?”
Josh stands quickly, chest filling with air and wounded pride. I know the signs of a man who wants to fight. Wired with my own disdain because of how he put the woman I love at risk, I rise to meet him on the other side of the table. There’s no barrier between us. I could easily wrap my fingers around his neck, and I’d watch in satisfaction as I squeezed the color onto his face.
He’s a full half a foot shorter than me, and he seems to realize this as he gazes up at me. Surprise turns to hesitation; hesitation transforms into the shadow of fear in his eyes, and he reconsiders his decision. My hand twitches at my side. I can grab him by his skinny gray tie and use it to strangle him. Or I could just slam it downward to bounce his face against my table.
There are many options, and each one is more tempting than the last.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Galina slaps her hands on the table, glaring at us each in turn.
Josh recoils, his whole face wrinkling up like he’s smelled something awful. He’s eyeing Galina like she’s the cause of his problems. My dislike for him grows stronger by the second.
But while Galina’s words have created chagrin in me, my annoyance with this man and his reaction to her keep me from calming down.
“You’re a selfish son of a bitch,” I say coldly. “Why did I ever think that I could reason with you?”
“Fuck you, Isakov,” Josh snaps.
Now it’s Audrey’s turn to step into Josh’s space. With a quick motion, she gives him a tap on the side of his head.
“Galina is right; you’re both being unreasonable right now. At least hear him out about the mole.”
Josh gawks, shrinking from her outrageous actions. It’s such a ridiculous scene that I have to fight to keep myself from laughing.
“Our goal is the same,” I say carefully to Josh. “To end Yevgeniy Grachev. Seek glory all you want, but your fight is with him, not me.”
Josh considers me suspiciously before the lines smooth on his forehead. “Tell me about this mole.”
“I have no name,” I reply. “And the man who could tell his identity is six feet underground. But as long as this mole exists in your office, there is nothing the law can do.”
“And what do you suggest?”
“Bring me every bit of information you’ve collected on my Bratva,” I suggest. “Every last piece. Leave no copy behind in your office. If any new information arrives, I want it brought here and here alone. What Yevgeniy doesn’t know, he can’t act upon.”
“You’re asking me to break a lot of laws, Isakov.”
“Better for you to break laws,” I reply, “than to have Yevgeniy break you once you’ve outlived your usefulness. And trust me, you’re getting dangerously close to that point.”
Josh goes silent, and his face blanches. Finally, it seems the gravity of his situation is starting to set in.
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t,” I answer truthfully. “But Galina trusts me, and your wife trusts her.”
Josh sighs, placing his hands on his hips as he considers my words. “I’m going to need some time to think about this.”
You coward. “Fine,” I say. “But be quick about it. You have a lot less time than you think.”
My gaze tears away from Josh and his stupid lavender suit just in time to see Galina and Audrey step out of the sunroom. Josh is running his mouth as he launches into details about all the irrelevant things he’ll need before he can agree with me, but my attention is no longer focused on him.
