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But like I said to her then. It was just a taste, just one little sip of her skin, and no more.
I’d have more in time. First, she’d have to learn to stop hating me, and learn to love the way I made her feel.
We crossed the street and stepped past the black wrought iron fence that circled the park. We moved down the brick sidewalk with its canopy of large shade trees and the benches that lined either side. I was right to expect a big crowd, and most benches were taken up. There was a guy doing the fake statue thing as we came toward a large clearing, and another guy playing a violin for tips. I ignored them and moved further into the park, taking the central spoke that cut toward the other side. There, sitting on a bench directly in the center, was Vlas himself.
I slowed down and checked my back. Steven and Ryan were lingering not far away, leaning up against a low concrete wall. They pretended not to be paying attention, but they were pretty obvious. I had other guys scattered all over the park, and most of them did a better job at blending in. I knew Vlas would have men hidden as well, and I forced myself not to try and pick them out.
“Don’t talk,” I said to her, turning away from Vlas so the man couldn’t read my lips. “Don’t tell him anything. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she said, eyes flicking past me toward the Russian. “Is he dangerous?”
“Very. Keep your mouth shut.” I reached up and pulled her chin toward me. “You’re going to listen to me, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she said, anger flashing in her eyes.
“Good girl.” I released her and turned back toward Vlas.
I led Aida over to him and he smiled at our approach. He was my age, early thirties, with a square jaw and a wide, crooked nose that had been broken more than once. His eyes were ice gray and his blond hair was buzzed down to stubble. He wore a black t-shirt, jeans, and basketball sneakers, and he didn’t look much different from any civilian in the area.
But I knew Vlas, maybe better than anyone else did. We grew up together, though we grew up in different worlds. He was Russian mob from birth, but I didn’t find myself in the Leone Family until later on. We knew each other in school though, and were friends for a time when we were just kids. But our worlds pulled us apart, and our familiarity turned us into enemies, slowly but surely.
“Thanks for coming,” he said without a hint of accent. “I appreciate you showing up on short notice. And you brought the girl with you.”
I nodded once. “I was ordered to show up,” I said. “If I had my choice, the next time you saw me would’ve been at the end of gun.”
Vlas laughed. “I don’t blame you at all. Come on, take a seat.”
“I’d rather not.”
“You know your standing only makes me uncomfortable.”
“Good.” I stared him and he just smiled.
“All right then, fine. Have it your way.” He slowly stood up and stretched his back. “You know, Dante, I liked you better before you were a Capo. You were no bullshit back then, know what I mean?”
“Sure. I wouldn’t have waited for orders before hitting back.”
“Exactly.” He grinned at me. “But here you are with your little girl, obeying your commands like a good soldier.”
“What do you want, Vlas?”
“Let’s talk terms.” He lingered a few feet away, a smile on his face. He clasped his hands behind his back.
“Terms?” I snorted. “I don’t follow. You’re finished with this already? I kill two of your guys and you’re done?”
He tilted his head, grinning. “Oh, no. Terms for you, my man. Terms for your surrender.”
I laughed, unable to help myself. “And why the fuck do you think I’d surrender anything to you?”
“Because we both know you aren’t winning this,” Vlas said. “I have more men and more guns. And I’m not constrained by a Don that’s unwilling to spill blood.”
“I don’t know, that’s not the rumor I’ve heard. I hear your boss is pretty goddamn pissed about what you pulled.”
He waved that away with a casual flick of his wrist. “I think you might’ve heard wrong, then. My Pakhan is willing to let his brigadiers do their jobs.”
“What do you think your job is?” I grunted.
“Killing you and taking your territory.” He smiled, teeth flashing in the sunlight. “Come now, Dante. You know how this goes. We’ve been at peace for too long, sooner or later our businesses are going to clash.”
“Makes no sense,” I said. “There’s no profit in killing each other.”
“Maybe not for you,” he said then his eyes moved over to Aida. He tilted his head to the side and looked at her body, top to bottom. From other men, I felt a sense of pride at their desire. But from Vlas, I wanted to rip his teeth from his skull and shove them through his chest. “I didn’t realize our girl was so beautiful.”
