Page 24 of The Pakhan

I grabbed the folder from his hand but wanted an explanation first.

“Meaning it appears costs were inflated for the two construction sites, the difference pocketed.”

In a place like New York City where real estate was a premium and the union was a pain in my ass, costs were damn high. I’d gone to bat with the fucking labor union more than once, the assholes really thinking they could strong-arm me. A few explosions, a loss of a couple million bucks on influential sites and they’d calmed their asses down.

“It’s all in there. Our accountant suspected something a couple months ago, but it took him until now to get solid evidence. The guy was good at hiding his tracks.”

Exhaling, I walked to my desk, sitting down on my office chair with a hard thud. As I opened the file, I started thinking all over again that I was too old for this shit. I leafed through the pages first. I’d always been good with numbers, taking various business classes so that when I took over as Pakhan, I’d know what the hell I was doing in running a billion-dollar business.

Yet it took me a full two minutes to figure out Nikolay was right. The traitor had been very careful, using the most notoriously expensive construction items instead of those that were dollars and cents. It had taken him months to amass his gains, and at the tune of over two million dollars, it wasn’t chump change to me.

When I flipped to the last page, I growled. The guy who’d betrayed me had been an outstanding employee for a long time, someone who’d been promoted over the years.

“What do you want to do, boss?”

I glanced up at Nikolay, thinking about the options. “Where are we at with the two sites?”

“The one is eighty percent complete but the second, the gravel for the foundation is being brought in tomorrow. Concrete will be soon after.”

Nodding, I closed the file, shoving it across my desk. “I’m certain our boy will be there to ensure the foundation is handled perfectly.”

Nikolay grinned. He knew what I was capable of. “I’m sure he will be.”

“I have a meeting with my financial advisor tomorrow, but I think we can squeeze in a little visit early in the morning. A private one.”

“You got it, boss. I’ll be ready. And eager.”

“Sometimes I worry about you, my friend.”

We both laughed. In this business, you either enjoyed your work or would burn out quickly. Fortunately, my most brutal men had been born to do the job.

Including performing murder without guilt or conscience.

And almost always in very creative methods.

CHAPTER 7

Caroline

Shopping.

I wasn’t one of those girls who cared much if anything about fashion. Although shopping was one of Sofiya’s favorite things to do and we’d gone many times together, the thought of trying on clothes made me cringe. At least the event felt a little bit normal, getting out of the house good for my wacked-out brain.

I’d been thrilled when going to malls or other big box stores had no longer been the rage, preferring the sight unseen shopping online. But Sofiya was insistent we go to one of the malls that still existed, the huge facility thriving even in the bad state of the economy.

I hated crowds.

I loathed people.

And I was somewhat claustrophobic.

When you combined that with a chore I hated, I was in a grumpy ass mood. Maybe if I was drunk I’d feel happier about what we were doing.

Sofiya, on the other hand, was thrilled since she had Daddy’s platinum credit card in her hand. I’d envied both daughters growing up, Vadim treating them like princesses. While both Daniella and Sofiya were responsible adults, already working diligently to make their way in the world, when Daddy pulled out his credit card, both reverted into teenagers.

“Would you try and smile?” Sofiya said as we were nearing the entrance to the mall.

I glanced over my shoulder at the burly men trailing behind us like brutal Neanderthals. I knew the soldiers had a job to do, capable of protecting us with their lives, but damn, I wasn’t used to having bodyguards. I honestly had no clue how Sofiya was able to ignore their presence.

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