Page 25 of Deadly Offer

The phone chimed again. Another text from Stepan.

Unusual activity at south casino. Multiple SUVs circling block.

Reuben glanced at the message. “Maybe we should continue this conversation later.”

Nikon was already reaching for his jacket. Whatever was happening between them would have to wait. Business first. Always business first.

“I need to check this out.” He pulled his gun from the desk drawer, checking the magazine before tucking it into his shoulder holster.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No.” The response erupted from some primal part of Nikon’s brain before logic could intervene.

Reuben’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

Nikon’s jaw clenched. Every instinct screamed to lock Reuben away somewhere safe, somewhere Dmitrii’s men couldn’t touch him. The same instinct that had kept Reuben dealing cards instead of meeting with arms dealers. The same instinct that might have pushed Reuben straight into Dmitrii’s arms.

“It could be dangerous.” His voice roughened. “These aren’t poker players, Reuben.”

“All the more reason I should be there.” Reuben stepped closer, eyes flashing. “Unless you really do think I’m working with Dmitrii.”

The challenge hung between them. Trust me or don’t. There could be no middle ground.

“Fine.” Nikon grabbed his car keys. “But you stay behind me.”

“Always do.” Reuben’s mouth twitched. Not quite a smile.

They took the private elevator down to the garage, standing on opposite sides of the small space. The tension between them felt like a third presence in the elevator, heavy and suffocating.

A few moments later, the elevator doors slid open to the underground garage. Nikon’s Mercedes waited in its reserved spot, sleek and black and bulletproof. A necessity in their world, not a luxury.

He’d just reached for the door handle when his phone rang. Leo, head of security at the south casino.

“What’s wrong?” Nikon answered without preamble.

“We’ve got trouble, sir.” Leo’s voice was tight with tension. “Security cameras picked up two of Dmitrii’s lieutenants scouting the exterior. They’ve circled the building three times now. They shouldn’t know about this location.”

The implication was clear. That casino was one of their most discreet operations, housing one of the family’s largest cashreserves in its reinforced vault. Very few people outside the most trusted immediate family knew about the vault.

“Dmitrii.” Nikon growled the name, his grip tightening on the phone. “Andrey told them.”

“Sir?” Leo sounded confused. “I don’t understand...”

“Never mind. Is Alexei there?” Alexei would know exactly how much cash they stood to lose and what money laundering operations would be compromised if the reserves were stolen.

“No sir, but he’s been notified. He said he’s heading over now.”

“Good. We’ll need him to assess any potential damage to our financial network. Tell him I’ll meet him there in twenty.”

He hung up, finding Reuben watching him with those too-perceptive eyes.

“Let me guess. Dmitrii knows something else he shouldn’t.”

“Yes.” Nikon’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

They drove without speaking. Nikon stared ahead at the empty road, the muscle in his jawline pulsing rhythmically beneath taut skin.How long had Andrey been feeding information to Dmitrii? What other vulnerabilities had he exposed?

They were five minutes from the casino when his phone rang again. Stepan.

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