Page 3 of Deadly Offer

“Cojones,” Túlio let a reluctant smile tug at his mouth. “You have them, it seems.”

Reuben shrugged, though his heart still hammered against his ribs. “Just a keen interest in self-preservation.”

Ramiro holstered his weapon, avoiding everyone’s eyes. The tension in the room didn’t disappear, but it shifted, becoming something more manageable.

“The delay was unfortunate, but unavoidable,” Grigorii stepped into the conversational gap. “An unexpected inspection was scheduled. And now we’re handling it.”

“Three days maximum.” Túlio’s eyes narrowed, his tone suggesting this was now a promise rather than an estimate.

“Three days.” Grigorii nodded once. “You have my word.”

The meeting wrapped up fast after that. Details finalized. Arrangements confirmed. Túlio and his men departed with nods of cautious respect, leaving Reuben, Grigorii, and a still-watchful Stepan behind in the cavernous space.

“You read him well,” Grigorii observed once the cartel members were gone. “Better than I expected.”

“Well, people under stress pretty much broadcast their thoughts.” Reuben straightened his suit jacket, which hadbunched up during the confrontation. “Poker players. Angry men pointing a gun in my face. The tells are different, but the principle is the same.”

Grigorii studied him for a long moment, head tilted. “My brother chose better than he knew.”

The compliment caught Reuben off-guard. Grigorii wasn’t known for them.

“I can only imagine what Stepan will report back to Nikon about this.” Reuben nodded toward the enforcer, who remained impassive but was doubtless cataloging every detail for his boss.

“Yes. I expect my phone will ring within the hour.” Grigorii’s mouth quirked in one corner. “Think he’ll ever let you out on one of these port deals again?”

“After someone pulled a gun on me? Probably not?” Reuben laughed, the sound tinged with an edge of leftover adrenaline. “But maybe I can persuade him round.”

They moved toward the exit together. Outside, the port continued its normal work—ships loading and unloading, cranes moving cargo—all unaffected by the confrontation that had just occurred.

As they stepped into the open air, Reuben’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, unsurprised to see Nikon’s name.

“It’s Nikon,” Reuben held up the phone to show Grigorii. “Wish me luck,” he murmured, finger hovering over the answer button.

Chapter 2

Two Months Later

Everything in the private poker room was designed to lie; from the gentle whir of air conditioning that masked high-stakes conversations to the crystal glasses that made million-dollar losses look elegant.

Reuben dealt another hand, his own practiced smile the biggest deception of all.

Ten years of academic excellence, a finance degree from an ivy league university, and now here he was... stuck dealing cards to men who made more than the average annual salary in a day.

Reuben’s side gave a phantom twinge, a souvenir from the warehouse standoff well over a month ago. Ever since Ramiro had pointed that gun at him, Nikon had kept Reuben firmly tethered to the poker tables; safe, in-place, and utterly wasted.

The irony might have been bitter if he hadn’t grown to love the game, to appreciate the subtle power of being the one person at the table whose eyes saw everything.

James Donovan’s tell was in his left eyebrow; a slight twitch when he was bluffing. Mr. Hui, the tech mogul, had a habit of touching his pinky ring before a big bet. These were all the little details that Reuben filed away, using them to orchestrate the flow of the game exactly as Nikon wanted.

Nikon.

The heat of Nikon’s gaze pressed down from the mezzanine above, an ever-present reminder of both his protection and possession. Reuben resisted the urge to touch the diamond-encrusted watch adorning his wrist—another beautiful shackle disguised as a placating gift.

It had been weeks since he’d stared down the barrel of Ramiro’s gun, and yet Nikon still watched him as if someone might materialize with a weapon at any moment. The concern would have been touching if it didn’t come packaged with invisible chains.

What had Grigorii said that day at the warehouse? “My brother chose better than he knew.” The words had lingered, a reminder that in Nikon’s world, people were assets first, individuals second. Even those he claimed to love.

“I’ve heard your insight into people is remarkable, Mr. Hoyt.” Donovan’s voice was casual, but something in his tone made Reuben’s instincts prickle. “I imagine that skill could serve you well in... other capacities.”

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