Page 12 of Deadly Offer

Reuben moved to the chair. “Mr. Miroslav. I must admit, I’m curious about the elaborate setup downstairs.”

A laugh escaped Dmitrii’s lips, genuine amusement mixed with something hungrier. “Straight to the point. How refreshing.” He leaned forward, studying the younger man’s face. “Tell me, how long did it take you to spot the tells were manufactured?”

“About three hands.” A slight edge colored Reuben’s tone. “Though I’m sure you already knew that, watching from above.”

“Very good.” Dmitrii rose, moving to the bar cart near the window. “Drink? I have an excellent bottle of 25.”

“No, thank you.” Reuben remained seated, but his eyes tracked Dmitrii’s movements. “I prefer to keep my head clear when discussing business.”

“Business?” Crystal clinked against crystal as Dmitrii poured himself two fingers of scotch. “Who said anything about business? Perhaps I simply wanted to meet the man who’s captured Nikon Matvei’s attention so thoroughly.”

Something flickered in Reuben’s eyes, too quick to read. “Then you’ve wasted both our times. I’m just a dealer in his poker rooms.”

Dmitrii paused a moment to take a sip from his glass. “Now that,” Dmitrii returned to his desk, savoring the burn of the scotch, “is the first lie you’ve told tonight. We both know you’re far more than that.” He set his glass down, leaning forward. “The question is, why does someone with your talents waste time dealing cards?”

“I enjoy my work.” Reuben’s fingers stilled completely on the armrest. “The pay is good. And the hours suit me.”

“The pay is insulting for someone of your capabilities.” Dmitrii’s voice dropped lower, more intimate. “I’ve seen how you read people, Reuben. How you notice things, things many others would miss. You’re wasted dealing cards to rich idiots.”

A slight shift in Reuben’s position. It was barely perceptible, but telling. “And what would you suggest instead?”

“Partnership.” Dmitrii let the word dangle in the air for a beat before continuing. “Real partnership, not the kept-boy arrangement you have with Nikon. Your skills, combined with my resources...” He spread his hands, encompassing the opulent office. “The possibilities are endless.”

“That’s quite an offer, considering you’ve only watched me play poker for an hour.” Reuben’s tone remained neutral, but his eyes had sharpened to razor points.

“Oh, but I’ve been watching youmuchlonger than that.” Dmitrii smiled, lifting his glass in a mock toast. “The port deal a few months ago, for instance. It was quite impressive how you spotted the customs officer’s involvement just from his body language.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Dmitrii caught his mistake. Reuben’s eyes flickered–a brief, sharp movement that betrayed his mind connecting the dots. Only Grigorii’s inner circle had been present for that operation. Which meant Dmitrii had just revealed he had eyes inside the eldest Matvei’s organization.

Dmitrii kept his smile in place, but inwardly cursed his eagerness to impress. Heat prickled along the back of his neck when he realized that he’d revealed too much, too soon. And Reuben’s slightly shifted posture told him the younger man had caught on to it as well.

“Well.” Reuben’s voice remained neutral, but the single word carried layers of meaning. “You seem very informed about the Matvei’s.”

“Information is power.” Dmitrii waved his hand dismissively, though his mind raced to recover from his earlier slip. “But we’re getting off track. I’m more interested inyourfuture than in your past.”

“My future is with the Matvei family.”

“Your future is being wasted.” Dmitrii set his glass down with more force than intended. “Nikon keeps you dealing cards because he’s afraid of your potential, afraid of losing control. He sees you as something to be protected, and not a partner to be empowered.”

A dangerous glint flashed in Reuben’s eyes. “You don’t know anything about my relationship with Nikon.”

“I know enough.” Dmitrii leaned forward, dropping his voice. “I know he clips your wings while claiming to protect you. I know he keeps you away from real power while pretending it’s for your own good.” He paused, studying Reuben’s face. “I know what it’s like to be underestimated, to have your talents dismissed as dangerous rather than valuable.”

Reuben stood, straightening his jacket. “Thank you for the game, Mr. Miroslav. And for the... enlightening conversation.”

“Think about my offer.” Dmitrii remained seated, shrugging a single shoulder. “You know where to find me when you’re ready to spread those wings.”

At the door, Reuben paused. “A word of advice, Mr. Miroslav? Next time you stage a poker game, tell your plants to be less obvious. That wedding ring tell was particularly heavy-handed.”

The door closed behind him with a soft click. Dmitrii stared at it for a long moment before allowing himself a genuine smile. He reached for his phone, sending a quick text to his security team to ensure Reuben’s safe departure. No need to spook him with obvious surveillance.

Everything had gone exactly as planned. Well,almosteverything.

That slip about the port could prove problematic, but the seed had been planted. Reuben would think about their conversation, about the possibilities Dmitrii had dangled beforehim. And next time, Dmitrii would be more careful about revealing his sources.

He moved back to the observation window, watching Reuben’s departure from the poker room below. Such a fascinating acquisition Nikon had made, and such a mistake to keep him confined to dealing cards.

“Until next time, clever boy.” Dmitrii’s breath fogged the glass one final time. “Until next time.”

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