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Dante nods, continuously fixing his tie before I touch his forearm. This isn’t the first time we’ve attended dangerous meetings like this one but it is the first time we’ve done something like this while actively engaging in war with the opposing party.
Feliks may havegraciouslylet us choose when and where this takes place but that doesn’t mean he’s to be trusted.
“Let's get this over with,” Dante states, taking a steadying breath before he strides forward into the large warehouse Sienna chose for the meetup. It’s on our turf and, while abandoned, it serves as an easy open stage for whatever Feliks has to present to us.
I fall into step behind Dante as our bodyguards take their positions and the Arco brothers keep to the outskirts, ready to attack at a moment's notice. Archer would be here too if he could but I’ve asked him to remain with Cara all day. She has dinner with her friends later and if this goes sideways I need her to be protected.
I miss her.
A chill creeps over my skin as we enter the warehouse and I tug my suit jacket a little closer around my shoulders. As always, Dante insists on formal wear for meetings but these clothes seriously lack warmth-retaining capabilities.
I roll my shoulders, chasing the chill away as we walk further into the warehouse and take up positions, all eyes on the opposite door as we wait on the man of the hour. An acrid chemical smell assaults my nose with each breath and a quick glance around at the decaying walls, shattered windows, and ripped tarpaulin dotted about tells me all I need to know about why we don’t use this place.
If anything, the building itself stands as a threat to Feliks; no one would find his body here.
A few moments later, the door at the other end swings open and Feliks Lenkov strides in, followed by six guards. A pitiful amount compared to the men we’ve brought with us. Despite this, Feliks strides towards us with an air of confidence and my blood boils.
The thought of creatingpeacewith these bastards after every threat to Cara’s life turns to ash in my mouth, and I grit my teeth to prevent the anger from escaping.
“Mr. Scarano.” Feliks stops a few feet away and nods. His muscular form strains once more at the suit he’s chosen and his close-together stance betrays his nerves about being here.
“Mr. Lenkov,” Dante replies smoothly, “I trust you had no issues finding the place.”
“Not at all. A smooth drive,” Feliks nods.
“Excellent.” A beat of silence exists between us and I run my eye over the six men he’s brought with him. They all bare the tattoos of Russian henchmen and their jackets bulge with concealed weapons, hard to miss really. My fingers itch and I clasp them tightly together at the small of my back. Now’s not the time to get trigger happy and Cara’s words flit through my mind.
If there’s a route to peace that minimizes the casualties, should we not take it?
I take a deep breath and quickly clear my throat as a sudden tickle sweeps up my throat. It breaks the silence and Dante takes a half-step forward.
“Killian tells me you have something to offer us? A bold claim from someone who is merely agruntin the line of the Russian family.” A thinly veiled insult that would drive men with fragile egos to break into a fight. Feliks however, does not.
“I understand that it’s difficult to believe that I could be standing here offering you peace when I am, as you say, nothing but a grunt,” Feliks begins. “But my claim is honest. I told Killian that I plan to overthrow the Pakhan and that plan is actively in motion as we speak. The two remaining Brigadiers poised to take over my brother’s position have been killed. Now, I understand those deaths will immediately be blamed on you and your family, but the Pakhan is growing desperate and I hope to end his reign before that blame can result in further pain for your family.”
“Hope is a fool's thing in war,” Dante replies quietly. Another chill steals over my shoulders and goosebumps spiral down my spine as I coil every muscle in an attempt to restrain the shiver.
“Hope is all we have,” Feliks says and a small smile breaks across his lips. “I understand those before me have caused great pain to members of your family and for that, I can only apologize. The old blood wars of the family are killing us all slowly. We have been struggling foryearsand the might of your combined families is not something we cannot survive. If there is peace to be had between us, I am eager to reach it as quickly as possible as I do not wish us to become obsolete. Ihopemy actions will come to prove that, in time.”
To my surprise, Dante smirks faintly. As new toleadingas Feliks is, he does seem to have a smooth way with words.
“I know the crumbling condition of the Russians, what benefit is there to an alliance when I could just wipe you all out for good? It’s better to remove the thorn than live with it.” Dante’s stance shifts slightly and Feliks casts a glance at one of his men.
The man opens his suit jacket- something that causes every guard around us to tense - and pulls out a blue plastic folder that he then hands to Feliks.
“True, you have enough power to wipe us out for good, I don’t doubt that.” Feliks nervously licks his lips and his fingers press firmly into the folder, indenting the plastic. “But the Pakhan will not back down. He will kill a great many of your own men before we are wiped out. You and the Irish, you would both suffer great losses, leaving you weak and open to attacks from smaller organizations like the Cartel or the Yakuza. We both know they would love to see the larger families wipe themselves out.”
Another tickle swells up my throat and I cough gently, masking the sound under a growl of irritation. Feliks is talking sense here; the Russians are bloodthirsty and will stop at nothing if they are crashing toward their own end.
“And?” Dante prompts.
“Peace between us would be sealed by me handing over the entire Russian gun-running operation to you. You would have complete arms domination and become the top weapons supplier.”
Such an offer soundsludicrouswhen voiced out loud. Learning the Russians were snaking into the gun market I had set up through my clubs had beeninfuriatingand now Feliks wants to hand it all over on a silver platter?
I scoff and Dante glances at me, giving permission to speak.
“Bullshit. What would you have left if you gave us your strongest business asset?”
