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“One hundred million euros worth of uncut diamonds,” he said.
I looked at Elias, who gave no response.
“What makes you think I have access to that?” I asked.
“Well, Davit, I don’t know if you have access to it, and I don’t care. You have one week. If not…” He trailed off, leaving it to me to fill in the blanks
I knew he was attempting to bait me, and I told myself not to take it. But I couldn’t hold my tongue.
“Or what?” I asked through gritted teeth
“Davit, you know,”he said.
I did, but I wanted to hear him say it.
His life was forfeited, gone as soon as I had the opportunity. There was no question of that. But hearing the words would ensure that he would suffer.
And I wanted him to suffer.
“If not, you’ll never see Amy or that precious little baby again.”
“You could do that?” I asked.
It wasn’t lost on me that he hadn’t said they would die, didn’t tell me the graphic details of how, but I was certain that didn’t mean anything.
I also didn’t want to appeal to his better nature. Knew that he didn’t have one.
But still…
“I could if I’m forced to,” he said.
“How can I contact you?” I asked, leaving the topic of how he could threaten such a thing.
Because I knew how.
If—and that was a very big if—Amethyst had ever meant anything to him, she didn’t now. And Crystal…she wasn’t even an afterthought.
“You can’t,” he finally answered. “But I’ll be in touch in exactly one hundred and sixty-eight hours.”
The line clicked off, and this time I couldn’t maintain my emotions.
I swept the glass that I had set on the table off, watched it shatter, the liquid inside of it dripping down the wall.
Then I looked at Elias.
“We have it?” I asked.
“Not on hand, but I can gather it. You don’t intend to pay, do you?”
To concede to Raphael’s demands would be like declaring open season on the Petrosyan family. Our enemies, even our friends, would take the payment of ransom as a sign of weakness.
And they would pounce.
I had no doubt news was out, suspected someone was aiding Raphael. And I didn’t know if I could protect them and fend off attacks from all sides. Still…Crystal and Amethyst were on the line.
“Not unless I absolutely have no other choice,” I finally said.
I went quiet, then looked at Elias.
