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Chapter15
"I take it your date went well," said Mary as she set a coffee and a stack of messages on my desk.
I raised a brow but kept the Cheshire cat grin that I wanted to show off. I wanted to shout to the world that Daisy was mine, but until she was officially under my roof and protection, I would refrain from any celebrations.
"She liked the dress," I offered.
Mary chuckled. "I know that look. You liked the dress, you sly dog."
"Daisy is going to need a lot more items sent to the house. I'll be forwarding you a list. I also want to arrange a time for you to go shopping with her."
Mary's eyes lit up. "Oh! Do I get to Pretty Woman your woman? Will I like her?"
"You'll be her new best friend whether you like her or not." I then remembered that my angel already had a best friend. If I was moving Daisy into a better living situation, I'd have to figure out something better for Becks too. I didn't want Daisy to have to go back to that neighborhood for any reason. "I want her working here. She's a student, so something part-time. She has high school education. She's smart, so something that can put her brain to use, but can be done in my office."
"She can't work if you're keeping her occupied doing other things."
If Mary were a man I would've punched her, but she was smart enough to make the comment while standing a good seven feet away from me and with a desk between us.
"Also look for a position for someone else."
Mary took out her notebook to start writing this down. "And what are the second person's qualifications?"
I tried to remember what Daisy had told me about her friend but once I had confirmed the roommate wasn't a concern, I had stopped caring. "Probably a high school diploma. Probably full-time."
"Aboveboard or under the table stuff?"
"Figure it out. I'll let you know when I know more."
If Mary was annoyed by the lack of information, she kept it to herself. "Will do. Let me know when your girl has time and I'll be her fairy godmother. Is there a style you are more into? I usually see you with the high-class escort clique, but I don't know if that's actually your kink. You want two sizes too tight and part of a nipple showing? Lolita? About to have tea with the queen? Remember, don't be embarrassed. I will judge you totally silently and my poker face is legendary."
The idea of Mary dressing Daisy to match some sick fetish made me nauseous. Especially when my angel was already so damn sexy on her own. Fuck. "Try to guide her to her own fashion. She's never had money, so she's not going to know where to start. She's a full-on ten but doesn't know it, so push her, but remember that. I'll be asking her if she liked you at the end of the day, so read the room."
"Please. Everyone likes me." Mary gave a wink and sultry smile before looking over her notebook as she seemed to mentally go over everything I said because I know she didn't write it all down. Then her smile widened. "This is going to be so much fun, boss! You're legit serious about this girl, aren't you?"
I took a drink of coffee and tried to keep the stupid grin off my face. I was a goddamned criminal boss. I wasn't supposed to be acting like this over a girl, even if that woman was Daisy.
"Thank you, Mary. Send Sergei in.”
She narrowed her eyes at her quick dismissal. Apparently, she wanted to bask in my joy a bit longer, but life was about disappointment sometimes.
"Got you, boss. Sourpuss Sergei, coming right up."
Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked out of the office, leaving the door open.
Sergei didn't have an office in the building. He wasn't the office type of guy. He was the type to do his work in old warehouses and basements.
But because I did my work here, I made him put in an appearance sometimes, especially mornings after my brother made threatening appearances in the middle of a date.
Sergei had our guys scouring our territory all night, asking around about new players who had showed up. If Borya was right in his warnings about new players in town, I would be a fool to ignore him.
And if Borya was that new threat, it would be equally foolish to underestimate him. The fact that he was family would make him more dangerous to me than anyone else I could face. I'd have to remember that.
A crash sounded from outside the office. By the time I grabbed the gun from the holster beneath the desk, two men were standing in the doorway to the office with their own pieces drawn but not pointed at me.
There was no sign of Mary, but since I hadn't heard her scream, I just had to hope she was okay.
The men I had posted near the elevators probably weren't as lucky.
The two guys with the guns stood on either side of the door, each well over six feet tall and over two-hundred-fifty pounds of muscle. Probably not the brains from the way they were postured.
A moment later, a shorter man in a pinstriped suit, thinning slicked-back black hair and the beginnings of a gut hanging over his pants entered my office.
I kept my gun out and on my lap with the safety off, but I didn't stand.
If these interlopers wanted me dead, they'd had plenty of time to start shooting. No, this was the opening of a negotiation. Fucking posturing bullshit. Trying to make a big entrance and wave their dicks around.
The only person I wanted to be waving my dick around right now was Daisy. Using my foot, I pressed the button, alerting the security team that there was a delicate situation in my office.
Just because they hadn't started shooting yet didn't mean I didn't want backup available and ready.
The man pulled out a chair and took a seat, making himself at home.
I waited for him to speak first. If he was going through all the trouble to make this entrance, he could speak his piece and get the fuck out. I wasn't going to waste time on pleasantries for this fuckery.
"Alek Rishka. I've heard many good things about you." His deep Russian accented voice was so heavy that even I had to listen carefully to pick up the English. It was also so raspy that it belied a life of many cigarettes and cigars.
Starting with a compliment was unexpected. "I'm sure you've heard how I treat those who barge in uninvited."
"Does that happen often?"
"Never. For good reason." My thumb ran up and down the cold metal of the gun, allowing it to center me and keep my emotions in check. If I actually told him how I felt about his entrance, this meeting would rapidly deteriorate into blood and bullets. And as confident as I was, I could recognize when I was outnumbered and outgunned.
More importantly, I was curious. This had to be related to what Borya warned me about.
"Let us not forget our manners. We are men of culture, are we not? I'm Kolya Vasiliev. Head of the Black Thorn."
Was I supposed to know what the fuck that meant? I'd learned early on never to lie about recognizing something. That was the fastest way to get a lead ticket to six feet under. So, I stuck with saying nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"We've had our eye on your family for a while. Your father tried to gain access but wasn't considered a good fit. But we're impressed with what you've done with the city. We want to talk about a partnership." He reached in his jacket, pulling out a cigar.
I had to hold back the urge to roll my eyes as he held the cigar out. One of the door guns walked forward to cut off the head and light it, even though Vasiliev never said a word. I didn't have time for this shit. Was he planning on smoking that entire thing here?
Thanks to fire codes, the whole building was loaded up with smoke detectors, but I'd long ago disconnected the ones on my floor, thanks to my own penchant for smoking.
And by now backup was surely waiting right outside the office if I needed it, but it was apparent that for the moment Vasiliev wasn't a threat. This was all bullshit and posturing, none of which I had time for.
"What the fuck do you want with Miami?" I'd worked damn hard to get this city exactly the way I wanted it, and now he wanted to swoop in with some partnership? What was he expecting to offer?
I already knew what he wanted with Miami. We had one of the most desirable ports in the country. Everyone wanted a piece of my city, which was why it was so hard for me to get a hold on it.
Right now, the various families and syndicates that shared one of those pieces of the pie were all in a tenuous symbiotic relationship, which didn't have any room for this Russian prick.
My Russian prick was all the prick needed.
Instead of answering my question, he pivoted. "You have a nicely packed regional operation. My veins operate all throughout Europe and even reach into Asia. This is a partnership you don't want to pass up. Your brother can testify to our influence."
And there was the confirmation that Borya was involved.
How had he gotten wrapped up in this mess? If he was with them, why wasn't he here right now, backing up Vasiliev? And if he truly was on my team, why wasn't he here backing up me?
What had happened to my brother over the past six months?
"And what makes you think I want to hop on the Eurotrip?"
"There must be some confusion. I'm here as a courtesy. You have a cute little operation going. I'm here to give you a pat on the back. A good job from one countryman to another. But we're going to be taking the reins from now on."
"Nothing I love more than courtesy." With that, I lifted my gun and set it on the desk with a heavy thud. My finger wasn't on the trigger. It wasn't an outright threat, but it was an obvious sign that I was through with courtesy.
A moment later, Sergei appeared behind the hired guns. In seconds, he put a bullet in both their heads, collapsing them to the ground.
Vasiliev didn't flinch as he took another drag of his cigar. "Is that your final answer?"
"It's safe to say I'm firm on this," I said, leaning back as Sergei took his stance at the back of the office, more of my men taking up positions in the waiting area outside.
"Noted. I wish you the best, Alek. You're going to need it."
