AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh no? Why’s that?” Yuri puckers his lips.
I toss the second bag at his feet.
“I never gave you collateral.” I flash a knowing smile at him, watching as anger riles in his eyes. Those half-dead, fading eyes. I have half a mind to give Ace the signal right here. But that would be bad for business, and I don’t think my vest could stop a sniper rifle bullet.
He crouches slowly to the second duffel, hesitant.
“I guess I forgot my own strength,” I say. “There is gold in there. You just have to dig it out.”
Yuri rips open the bag and loses himself. Cursing in Russian, he springs to his feet with that old-style pistol drawn on me. It’s a tense moment of him staring me down over the pistol. Then he remembers himself, laughing that fake, gaudy laugh that he used on us in the casino all night.
“You, Castor, are something else. A short memory, perhaps. Your rivals, Martino Rigiano, pulled something like this. That’s why I goaded you to get me that one.” He nods to Salty Dom’s bag. “Now look what you’ve done. Repeating history. Tell me again how Martino ended up?”
“Martino was put down by his own kind, because he deserved it. Now put the pistol away, Yuri. And let’s discuss how it came to this.”
He straightens his arm without a care in the world that there could be others watching, threatening to pull the trigger. “We are done here. You made a terrible miscalculation by taking matters in your own hands.”
I take a step forward with my hands raised. “You aren’t pulling the trigger, because you know you’re in the wrong. We have different ways of doing business. Threatening what’s mine is not a good first step.” I step closer – now ten feet away from him – and plant myself there. “Now this is what I propose. I forgive you for your brash movement, and you take that head for what it is – your first mistake dealing with us. We talk terms, shake hands, and play blackjack again in celebration.”
We stare at each other long and hard. Of course he’s going to reject me. I just killed a close comrade. I’d imagine that strung out fuck was his version of Marco. But the fact remains – he overstepped, he made the first move, he fucked up.
“Deal’s off, comrade,” Yuri shows his teeth, his voice deep and menacing. “Rusoco was a close cousin of mine.”
“One you never should’ve thrown at me,” I say. “Your move backfired.”
He scoffs. “Here I thought you were a man of business over principle. Seems I was wrong. A hothead is no good for business.”
“Neither is a snake in sheep’s clothing.” I arc an eyebrow as he lowers the gun and stuffs it in his pants. “But we will be doing business.”
“Oh? I doubt that from where I’m standing. How I see it is, you’re going to turn around, and walk that jewelry-ridden ass back to your car, and on the way, I’ll decide whether Dima puts a bullet in the back of your head. It is in your interest to find your manners before then.”
We stare at each other for a long minute, letting tensions linger. He has no idea his crew is under my men’s crosshairs. I’ve been doing my research, Yuri, while you were trying to intimidate. You think I acted rash, which I did, because you threatened my woman, but I wasn’t going to let it end there.
“My terms extend through all of your ports, two plane channels, and truck pick-up. You keep ten percent, I keep ninety.”
I start ridiculously high, because emotions will make him scoff at anything I present – especially with Rusoco’s head at his feet.
“I’m wondering if you inhaled some terrible amount of paint, Mr. Bullion. This conversation is over. Put six thousand on black for me and await my retaliation.” Yuri grabs the duffels and turns to waddle toward his yacht.
“Aleksandr Popov, Dimitri Popov, Boris Zaigraev.” I list out his contacts, causing him to stiffen in place.
There’s no more sarcasm or playfulness in his expression, it’s all concern now.
“If you want your thriving business to continue as is, we will come to terms, here and now. Hey.” I snap my fingers. “No more sudden movements. We’re past that. Don’t reach for your phone, or your gun. Your contacts are safe… currently. But depending on how the rest of this conversation goes, you might be out some key players for life.”
“You’re bluffing. Too much poker at the casino, yes?” His voice is even, disbelieving. I have him right where I want him.
“If you don’t agree to terms, and we don’t shake on something we both find beneficial, you will find out who’s bluffing.”
Yuri plops the duffel bags down and begins walking my way, casually waving down his sniper. He puts his hands on his hips as he analyzes me. “You are very different in business dealings, where I? I am the same.” He opens his arms. “Happy, smiling.”
“As you stab me in the back.” I lift my chin. “And try to steal what’s mine.”
“You were getting cocky,” he lowers his tone. “Nothing in this life is free, my young friend. Nothing.”
“I will be exporting precious metals. They’re heavy, but it will be worth the risk,” I cut past the bullshit. “Ten percent will get you to six-hundred-thousand monthly.”
“Do you know the hoops we have to jump through to get just a kilo into this country?” he snarls.
