Page 29 of The Pakhan

I gave him a look as Sergei found a parking place.

“No fancy cars or houses? A gambling debt or two?” I paid the man more than a decent salary by anyone’s standards. He’d once told me he was careful, preferring to save most of what he earned.

“Nope. I even went by his home last night, a shitty place in Brooklyn. He drives the same older Dodge Ram he has had for years. His bank accounts reflect nothing outrageous. By all appearances he seems like a guy who works hard, is a homebody, and other than a receipt for a new big screen television, doesn’t need much.”

“Something is off here. Either you’re wrong about him or he’s farmed the cash somewhere else. What about family?”

“Maybe. He and his wife broke up a few years ago. His parents are alive but living in Idaho of all places. Now, he has a younger brother, but I can’t find him anywhere. I thought the same thing. Something is off but it’s his signature on every document.”

I was definitely getting too old for this shit. Back in my father’s heyday of running the Bratva, you knew your enemies. They were blockheads half the time, those intelligent enough to use more manipulative tactics also generally the same ones who liked to brag. I hadn’t anticipated this would turn into an interrogation but when something was off, that usually meant another entity was involved.

People certainly sold their souls for money, but sometimes their reasons for doing something had little to do with their personal needs and more about a friend or family member. Blackmail was a powerful tool. I’d used it often in my reign myself.

As I stepped out of the back of the SUV, taking a second to button my jacket, I admired the work that had been done already. The previous building had been standing vacant for years, but it had taken an act of God to purchase and obtain the permits. I’d been lucky to be offered the two buildings beside it so the complex could be turned into a hotel and conference center.

I did enjoy expanding our business opportunities. There were still a few months left but I was more than pleased with the design.

“Where is Tanner?” I asked as I squinted at the late morning sun. The girls had been out shopping already for a couple of hours, my daughter eager while Caroline had continued being reserved.

There was still something she hadn’t told me. I was certain of it. Tonight she would come clean. My palm itched just thinking about what would happen if she didn’t.

“Likely in his construction trailer.”

“Instruct the workers to go get an early lunch,” I told Sergei.

“Yes, Pakhan.” He was just like Nikolay in that he’d be happy to get his hands stained with blood.

I moved through offloaded crates of steel bulkheads, noticing the gravel was ready to be dumped into the main part of the foundation. Tons more would be needed. As soon as I walked into the trailer, I overheard Tanner talking to someone that didn’t sound exactly like a supplier or employee.

“I can’t do this any longer,” he said. He had his back to me, oblivious that I’d walked in. “Don’t you dare threaten me. I’m putting everything at risk for you.”

He seemed to sense he was no longer alone, finally turning around.

“I need to go, Rock. I’ll call you later.” He ended the call, tossing his phone onto the desk and wiping his hands. “Mr. Chernoff. I didn’t expect to see you here. What can I do for you?”

Sadly, one of my gifts had always been I could sniff out fear. And this man was riddled with terror.

I took a second to remove my sunglasses, placing them in my suit jacket. With the file regarding the discrepancies. “I haven’t been to the site in a couple months, which wasn’t my intention.”

“Well, you had good reason.”

“Mmm…” I found the particular piece of paper on which I’d outlined issues in red. I pulled that out alone, placing it on the desk where he could easily see it. “Yes, I did, but you know the saying. When the cat is away, the mice will play. Only this time, the mouse was dumber than usual. Which I admit does surprise me. You had a very promising future.”

“Sir, I don’t understand what you mean.”

I nodded toward the paperwork. “Come on now, Tanner. The jig is up. You were very creative in your method of stealing from me but if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a thief. What I don’t understand is why. You have very few wants or needs. You don’t excessively spend money and unless Rock is your bookie, then you don’t have a gambling problem. So what the fuck is it?”

He appeared strangled. And also resigned. After a few seconds, his entire body slumped, fear increasing. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“There are always choices, my friend.”

“Not this time. Not if I want…” Tanner glanced out the window. “I don’t want money. I don’t need anything, and I would give all the money I had to protect him.”

“Him?”

Tanner nodded. “My brother. He’s in deep and the only way to work it off is by doing what I did.”

I glanced at Nikolay who shrugged. My other gift was knowing when someone had lied to me. Tanner wasn’t. In fact, I was certain he was about ready to piss his pants. “How much money are we talking?”

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