Page 90 of Emerald Vices

I’ve been getting reports of cops in the area all night, but I didn’t really think it would turn into a raid. I press two fingers to my forehead, massaging away the headache forming there. “Where are the supplies?”

“Hidden after the first sighting, but a raid isn’t a good look. Especially tonight.” We both angle towards the VIP room where Cevdet’s voice is rising above the steady thrum of the music.

“It’s too late to get them out now,” I concede. “Let the cops have their fun. I’ll handle the allies.”

Shura nods and departs to take care of matters. When I slip back into the VIP room, the mood has stalled. It’s clear that all three men are aware that something is up.

“Something the matter, Andrey?” Cevdet asks.

“Just a few kinks that need ironing out, that’s all.”

Cevdet’s smile only gets wider. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the cops that have been sniffing around the area all night, would it?”

I don’t so much as blink. “It seems my enemies think practical jokes and minor annoyances are enough to rattle me. If this is the best they can do, destroying them will be easier than I thought.”

Cevdet snorts. “They’re intimidated, that’s what this is.”

“Cheap moves to undermine your authority,” Luca adds.

Bujar alone stares at the door with his eyebrows drawn together in a worried V. It remains there throughout the entire search, even as Cevdet and Luca return to their drinks.

Minutes later, Shura reappears in the doorway and nods, informing me that the cops have cleared out.

“They found nothing.” I make a show of laughing for their benefit. The allies join in, but I’m not sure how much of it is sincere.

After another two rounds of champagne, Cevdet and Luca finally stand to leave. Bujar looks as relieved as I feel as their ruckus departs.

“That lasted forever,” Shura grumbles, joining us as Vaska escorts our allies from the room.

“Try sitting through it.” I put down my mostly untouched champagne flute and reach for a cigar instead. “Did you find out who called the cops?”

“‘Anonymous tip.’” His disgust is obvious.

I roll my eyes. “I expect better from Slavik and Nikolai. Calling the cops is like telling the teacher. It’s juvenile.”

“Maybe they’re desperate.”

“Or maybe this has nothing to do with either one of them.”

Shura cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

The more I think on it, the more likely it seems. It’s too cheap a ploy for men like my father or Rostov. Which leaves only…

“I think it’s time to have a little talk with my brother.”

The mention of Viktor has Shura baring his teeth like Remi. “There’s no point wasting your time with that scum. It’s bad enough you have men tailing the useless waste of space. If you confront him face-to-face, he’ll just lie through his teeth.”

He doesn’t mention Katya’s plan to confront Viktor, and out of respect for him, I haven’t, either. But we’re dangerously close to the topic now.

I get to my feet. “He’s never been a good liar. Particularly not when he’s drunk. And considering the hour, I’d bet he’s well on his way to plastered.”

I can hear the grind of Shura’s teeth. “What if he destroys what we’ve built? What we have?”

I have a strong feeling he isn’t talking about the Bratva.

“Brother, Katya’s a smart woman.” He flinches, but I keep going. “She can more than hold her own where Viktor is concerned.”

Shura’s hands ball into fists. “We’re not talking about this.”

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