Page 1 of The Enforcer

CHAPTER 1

Christos

Pop! Pop! Pop!

My three soldiers immediately reached for their weapons, two of them crowding in front of me, prepared to lose their lives for the sake of mine.

We’d stepped out of the rented SUV on the streets of New York only seconds before. I was pushed down to the sidewalk, loathing the fact I’d left my weapon inside the vehicle.

“It’s down the street,” Luca grunted out.

“Dirty fucking city,” Elias muttered. He was my righthand man, his ability to flush out traitors and assassins legendary.

I rose to my feet, buttoning my jacket. By all rights, the meeting was one I should be running, not the man who acted as if doing business with a foreigner was beneath him. I was Christos Nomikos, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in theworld. There were those who bowed at my feet with a single look while others preyed on the crumbs I dropped when I was bored.

Was I also an arrogant bastard? Only to those I considered holier than thou. And Jeff Stern of Stern Land Development fell into that category. He believed because his father was a New York senator that our business was beneath him.

I was here to ensure he realized he should feel blessed I’d bothered making the first phone call initiating doing business in the United States. We’d bring several hundred jobs to the project, all well paid since the project was backed by millions of US dollars. As angry as I was at his contemptuous attitude, I would play by his rules. For now.

“No weapons inside. Lose it, Elias,” I told him.

“You sure, boss?” he asked. He usually traveled with two or three assault rifles hidden inside his vehicle. Given we’d arrived on a private jet, we had dozens at our disposal if needed.

I gave him a hard look.

It was a demand, not a request, which left a bad taste in my mouth. Being unarmed was never a good idea. I headed toward the doors of the private club, the meeting location established by the two men I’d flown from Greece to meet with. Hopefully, this was a formality and nothing more. I wasn’t in the mood to spend more time than necessary in the Big Apple.

“I know you’ll manage to retrieve it if necessary. Stay alert,” I told the two men who’d remain outside.

The door was opened for us and I walked in, immediately scanning the location.

“Hands to your sides. I need to check you for weapons.” The man’s gruff voice was an instant irritant, but I complied. There was no sense in destroying the deal over protocol at this point. However, I remained on edge.

A direct insult.

There was no question the assholes patting me down like some common criminal were enjoying every moment. I held my arms out, glaring from one thug to another. With their dirty, faded jeans and stained tee shirts, inked forearm muscles flexing just for the hell of it, I could tell they were trying to intimidate me.

As if that would work.

While as per demanded I wasn’t carrying a weapon, my compliance in no way meant I didn’t have access to a duffle bag full of them. I had one of my soldiers with me, two others waiting outside. They wouldn’t hesitate to burn down the place should I warrant it necessary.

I could feel Elias’ heated breath from behind me, the man cursing in Greek under his breath.

“What the fuck did that asshole say?” one of the thugs barked out like a mutt in heat.

“He mentioned you must have an ugly mother.” I allowed a smile to cross my face.

As anticipated, the thug reared back. If he made the mistake of throwing a punch, it would be the last decision he made.

“Enough. They’re clean. Allow the men to pass.”

I shifted my attention toward the man standing in another doorway. At least he had the decency to wear a suit, although it was ill fitting.

He held out his hand as I approached. “Christos Nomikos. It’s good to finally meet you after all our phone conversations.” The man was lying. He couldn’t care less about my arrival. I was only here because of the issues we were still facing and because I’d become the master at handling outside interferences. Although my position hadn’t been by choice.

Both my brothers would have started bloody wars at this point and not just in the United States.

While I accepted the gesture, I was keenly aware the men surrounding us were eager and willing to act on methods of violence.

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