Chapter Thirty-two #2
The two pieces of arm candy sat up straight, eyes wide and mouths ajar. Pinstripe Suit, however, was not shocked. Nor in awe at Nikolai’s audacity.
“You can call me Bjorn—”
“We don’t have it,” Nikolai bellowed over the thumping music. “And springing that jackwagon free just to harass his ex won’t change that. Bobby ran off with your prototype, and he’s probably dead in the woods or in some werebear’s belly by now. Just make a new one and leave us the fuck alone.”
Bjorn, whoever the fuck he was, sat forward, allowing Nikolai to get a decent look at him.
He had an angular face, high cheekbones that only showed in the high contrast lighting, his eyes deep set in their sockets.
His big, brown eyes turned to murderous slits as he yelled over the music.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. ”
“Yeah-yeah, and you didn’t hire then kill Pierre.
We’re done playing coy. You’re done.” Nikolai put one hand to each of Bjorn’s bodyguards.
With an easy flick of his wrist, they flew across the floor into opposite ends of the club.
The clatter that followed made the track skip and the room was filled with awkward silence.
People stared and that’s when Bjorn climbed to his feet.
As the music slowly returned to the room, the lights danced behind him, all eyes on Nikolai’s back.
Bjorn slid out of the booth, leaning close to Nik.
The mechanic stood his ground, following the elven man every step of the way.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were here to threaten me, Nikolai Sokolov.” Bjorn through gritted teeth, only earning a sharp, icy look in exchange.
“Do you?”
“Do I what?” Bjorn sneered.
“Know better.” Nikolai arched a brow. “You touch what’s mine or his again, and next time I won’t announce myself.”
Bjorn scowled as his arm candy shuffled out from behind him and scuttled toward the elevator leading to other floors. Nikolai kept his hardened focus on the slicked-back scumbag.
“Find Bobby and the prototype, bring it back to me and my office by tomorrow morning, and I won’t have the Enforcers drop by the little bake sale tomorrow to scoop up Isabella and the Bonesaws.”
Nikolai lunged toward him, only to have two sets of hands holding back his fist. Bjorn’s bodyguards were back and holding Nik’s arms down by his sides.
If he wasn’t afraid of creating more of a scene, he’d toss them into the crowd.
But that would draw Jessie out and either make things worse or get them in trouble.
“You touch that kid and I’ll skin you alive,” Nikolai snarled.
“How will you do that when you’ll be in prison?
And, unlike your mother, your crimes will land you directly into the darkest dungeon the council has to offer with no key.
I have many favors owed to me in the council.
Not even the Blightwood brat could save you.
You’ll have to hear about how the Enforcers marched on the shop and how Jessie Bonesaw was unfortunately killed in a misunderstanding during an official raid of his business by the rats.
” Bjorn smirked, folding his hands into the small of his back. “The clock’s ticking, Nikolai.”
“You’re bluffing. You don’t have shit on me.
” Nikolai jerked again simply to watch his bodyguards stumble a bit to keep him back.
He wanted the bastard to see that he was only being held down because he allowed it.
Because if he picked a fight, then the Devil would appear and all sorts of chaos would rain down on them.
Or worse, because if he beat Bjorn black and blue, then anything he’d set up might actually come to pass.
Killing a council employee is up there on the list of crimes one doesn’t walk away from, no matter what den of crime one did it in.
“By all means, wait till morning to find out. But what will Ms. Witchbane say when she finds out you knew her baby would be in danger and did nothing to stop it?” Bjorn shrugged playfully, his smirk crawling up his face.
It was too wide, too eager, it made Nikolai’s stomach churn.
“Even if you stop me from taking her at the bake sale, there are other ways to make a kid disappear. You of all people know that. But, if that’s not enough leverage, as it certainly wasn’t for Gillian Hurley, let’s just remember I know who you really are.
And all it takes is one email from me and that pitiful shop of yours goes up in flames.
How much are you willing to bet that I’m bluffing now, Mr. Sokolov? ”
Nikolai stayed quiet, fire burning in his belly and fists shaking.
How do I even find that fucker? The Fridge didn’t even find him!
Nikolai didn’t have a choice. Fuck! He glanced toward the dance floor, finding Jessie catching a glimpse through the heavy crowds.
Jessie raised his brows, the universal sign of ‘you need me?’.
Nikolai shook his head, returning his gaze to Bjorn.
The Executive, or whoever he claimed to be, let out a smug laugh. “Excellent. Glad to see you do have a brain in that fuzzy head of yours. I’ll have an associate looking for you in the foyer tomorrow morning, so…please…do be punctual.”
Nikolai ripped out of the bodyguards' grip and sent them tumbling down at Bjorn’s feet.
He cleared the space between them in a single step, looming over the elf with a snarl on his lips.
The man froze, body stiff as Nikolai let out a single huff of hot air out through his nose, then brushed past him toward the stairs.
Looks like I am working tonight. But he didn’t have time to drag Jessie and Katarina with him.
I love you both, but we’re on a tight schedule and I can’t be caught stumbling around with my cock out…
not with what’s at stake. He would have to do this alone, and he prayed to anyone who would listen that both of them forgave him for what he was likely about to do.