Chapter Thirty
Igor
“Careful Igor or I might start thinking that you actually like my Black ass.” Darius laughed as he removed his biker gloves and folded his arms, legs in a wide stance while he studied me.
“I like you just fine,” I assured him even though I knew exactly what he meant. “I have a proposition and this time it benefits you more than me.” At least on the surface it did.
“Well shit now I’m intrigued.” He shoved the gloves in his back pocket and stroked the stubble that grew along his jawline. “You always come through when you say you will so I’m listening.”
I knew he would. “I have come across a product for which I have no need. It’s not part of my business model and it is unlikely to ever become part of said plan.”
Darius’ gaze narrowed. “Is it me or are you being even more vague than usual?”
I grinned and his own grin joined shortly after. “Not vague, merely careful.”
“Okay so this product is something that you know I can use?”
I nodded. “I am certain of it.”
“All right. Do I want to know how you happened upon this product?” At this point Darius was more than intrigued and I’d bet money that the source of the product would make him want them even more.
I shrugged. “Let’s just say that it came from someone who no longer had a need for it.” That was factually accurate.
Darius tossed his head back and barked out a laugh. “Cut the shit, Igor. Where’d you get these bricks?” Darius looked like a biker thug, but he was an astute man and effective businessman.
“Some of Dmitry’s men who are no longer with us were skimming product to sell behind his back.
I happened upon them in the immediate aftermath of their demise and figured the Road Kings would appreciate increasing profits.
” I shrugged my shoulders as if it was no big deal to me because it wasn’t.
“If not I’m sure the Angry Rebels or the Mexican Brotherhood would be more appreciative. ”
“Settle down, brother.” Darius shook his head, still smiling. “What is the likelihood of this deal coming back on my MC?”
“As long as you change the tacky packaging, zero likelihood.”
“Now I’m curious to see how much you have since word on the street is that Dmitry is having one hell of a bad luck streak.”
“That’s the nature of this life and this business. Good luck lasts only as long as it lasts.”
“You know why I like you, Igor?” He doesn’t wait for an answer.
“You look like a fucking corporate drone in your fancy suits and perfectly styled hair. You speak like a fucking royal half the time too, but at the end of the day you’re just as ruthless as the next guy.
No wait, fuck that you’re the most ruthless white boy I know. ”
A slow smile spread across my face. “Thank you but flattery will not help you get a better deal. I’m charging half price per kilo of moon rocks and China white.”
“Fifty percent off? Per kilo?” His eyes got so wide that I had to stifle a smile. “Is this shit for real?”
I nodded. “I’m not an idiot hence the slashed price tag but I don’t care about the money. All I care about is that someone else is taking dollars from Voronov. It hurts him and that pleases me, if it helps you then that works for me too.”
Darius snapped his fingers twice and two of his men moved toward their van. “I’ll take everything you have at that price.”
I turned over my shoulder and nodded for Ivan and Mikhail to bring the product into the room.
“If you can carry it all, it’s yours.” All that mattered to me was that Dmitry felt the sting of my vengeance each and every fucking day that I allowed him to see another sunrise because the clock was ticking on his last.
Darius had one of his men count the cash and within thirty minutes the deal was done, and the warehouse was silent. “If you need backup, don’t be too fucking stubborn to reach out.” Darius extended his hand out to me, and I accepted it.
“I am stubborn, but I also possess a strong survival instinct.”
“My man,” he replied with a laugh, giving me one more squeeze before he released me and left me alone.
Mikhail leaned against the black Audi with a cigarette in one hand and his phone in the other, talking in hushed tones that gave me pause.
It took more than a minute before he realized I was there and when he did, he quickly ended the call and gave me his attention. “Need me to take care of the cash?”
He was a little too eager and I needed to be careful. “No. Ivan will take the cash to Le Caviar House,” I ordered. “Send me the counts as soon as you have them.”
“Yeah, boss.” Ivan nodded and locked the bags into the hidden compartment in the trunk. “Anything else?”
“When you’re done, get some rest.” As soon as the painkillers kicked in Ivan was back to work and while I appreciated the work ethic, I needed my men healthy and able while we dealt with the Voronov problem.
“On it.” Ivan jogged around the other car and slipped behind the steering wheel, tapping the horn twice before he took off, taking care to use his turn signal to avoid drawing the attention of the law.
I stood at the back door for a full minute while Mikhail stared at me like a fucking deer caught in headlights. “Oh shit, sorry, boss.” He flashed an apologetic smile and rushed around to open the door. “Still getting used to being Maxim.”
I wanted to tell him that he would never be Maxim but even I recognized that would be too harsh. Mikhail was just a tad too eager, which was always a problem with young soldiers. They wanted more action, more responsibility before they’d done fuck all to earn it. “You’ll learn.”
And if he didn’t, he would likely end up dead sooner or later, but I kept that thought to myself as I slid into the back seat.
As it usually did lately, my thoughts turned to April.
Earlier this evening she’d been cold and distant, which was exactly what I wanted, until I was face to face with a cold and distant April.
I hated it, oh how I fucking hated it.
It didn’t feel right, seeing her so withdrawn and obviously angry and hurt. It didn’t fit her. It was unnatural. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want or need my help, or me.
The way she shrugged off my touch? That shit stung the most.
She acted as if the only thing I cared about was my baby and that just wasn’t true, dammit. It’s what I thought I wanted but I know it absolutely is the last fucking thing I wanted.
In fact, as soon as the Dmitry problem was dealt with, I would make April mine.
Permanently.