Page 71 of Beautiful Beast

“I don’t forget deals I make,” I murmur to him and turn my attention back to Carlos. “There seems to be a mistake. My business partner wants to buy for three million. Not five. Don’t try ripping us off.”

“But I spoke to you. I called you a few days ago to secure this deal. You don’t remember?”

A few days ago … I was busy punishing Anya for helping Nadia escape. I do remember getting a phone call and discussing the guns with Carlos.

But I don’t remember a price point we agreed on.

Unless … I just can’t remember because Anya’s been dominating space in my mind like nothing ever has before.

Of course, I can’t tell Carlos this. If he really did say he wanted five million, then we’re fucked. But if he’s trying to fuck me over, I’m not going to stand for that.

“We did speak,” I tell him. “But I never agreed to a number.” That I can remember.

“Five million,” he hisses.

“No. Three.” I fix my cufflinks as I stare him down. “Unless you want to fight for the guns. It would be my pleasure. I’ve been itching for a fight for a long time now.”

“You don’t want to piss me off,” Carlos warns. “I have the backing of the Cartel behind me. If you want these guns, you’ll have to pay for them.”

“Three million,” Sergei says. James remains impassive while Ivan is sweating bullets next to me. Ivan is more of a pencil pusher than a field man. And while I feel the tiniest bit bad for him, I want to snap at him to get himself together.

“Five,” Carlos repeats. His men behind him raise their guns. “Or we walk.”

“Then you get nothing,” I remind him, sliding off my jacket. Something tells me things are about to get a little messy.

“We’ll find a buyer who’ll actually respect us and pay the price we agreed to.”

“Or we could just shoot you and take the guns for ourselves.”

The room goes silent.

Then Carlos scoffs. “You wouldn’t. My men are excellent shots. You don’t want to get your pretty suit ruined, do you?”

“I don’t give a fuck about my pretty suit. If you don’t give us the guns for three million, I’m going to carve a smile into your face just for shits and giggles.”

Carlos shares a laugh with his men.

“You don’t seem to realize who I am,” I say.

“You’re Erik Koslov.”

“Yes. But I’m also called the boogeyman. And do you know why?”

“No,” Carlos says dismissively.

“Well, shame for you because you’re going to find out if you don’t give us those guns for three million.”

“We’re walking.” Carlos backs up to stand behind his armed men. “Tough shit, my man.”

“James,” I murmur.

He nods and raises his gun in one smooth motion, shooting one of the guards in the head. The other one starts firing. I dive behind a desk and grab my own weapon. Ivan grunts and stumbles to where I am. Blood drips from his leg.

“You got shot?” I pull him farther behind the desk to keep him from getting shot in the actual head.

“I did. God, Erik, it hurts. I didn’t sign up for this. When I agreed to work with you, it was just to give you money.”

“We’ll get you help, Ivan. Just hang on.”

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