Page 72 of Unspoken

"Nah."

His expression turns serious, a knowing crease forming between his brows. "I didn't think so. What's really happening?"

"Was hoping I could get some intel."

"What kind of intel? You know I’m not Google. Can't give out everything."

"I know… I need information on the Russians in the city–their moves, their people. Specifically, a guy with a golden tooth."

Stan's face hardens. "You work for the Russians. Why are you asking me?"

"You know who he is? The man with a golden tooth?"

Stand leans in closer, lowering his voice to the point where I have to read his lips. "Why do you need this info, Logan?"

There is a loaded pause while I’m struggling to weigh my trust in him against the danger of revealing too much. Eventually, I say nothing. He’s my friend. One of the best and one of the very few who stuck around despite all the shit I had to take from the department and the co-workers when I was booted off the force. But I have a feeling that telling too much to too many people may put those people in jeopardy.

"Alright," Stan concedes, seeing as I’m not willing to share. "The man you're looking for…they call him Shtyk. He used to work for Yuri Solovey. Was his enforcer."

This bit I already heard from Vlad.

I pluck another chicken wing from the pile in front of me to occupy my mouth with something instead of spilling what I shouldn’t. Because this secret I now share with Sasha wants to come out. All these emotions inside my chest—wrapped around my heart—want to burst free. And it’s harder than I thought—pretending like nothing is going on in my life.

"From what we've gathered so far," Stan begins, taking a swig of his beer, "Shtyk is trying to take over the gun trade and routesdown south from Vlad." He pauses, narrowing his eyes as if considering whether to continue. "He’s also talking to Toro and Toro isn’t exactly friends with Vlad."

The puzzle in my head just had more pieces added to it, but the picture is still unclear.

I nod, filing the information away. Toro has been on every law enforcement agency’s radar for years now and nobody’s been able to pin the asshole down. Carefully, I press further. "Is there any truth to the rumors about Vlad being involved in his father's death?"

Stan gives a strange look. "Where did you hear this?"

"You know, people talk."

Stan exhales slowly, his expression thoughtful and conflicting at the same time. "I don't know for sure, brother, but I wouldn't be surprised if that were true."

"Why not?"

"Vlad's been making some moves lately too," my friend explains, fiddling with the label on his beer bottle. "He’s in bed with the rival Arellano cartel, for one. And Toro hates their guts. Although Vlad's business tactics are way different than his old man's. Most of his businesses are legit now."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," Stan confirms, taking another swig. "Your employer condones human trafficking. I think he even spoke out against it at some event last month. And Shtyk is supposedly knee-deep in selling his own youth to the highest bidder. He handled it for Yuri too."

I consider this new information, wondering how it fits into the puzzle I'm trying to solve. It's clear that the power dynamics within the Russian mafia are shifting–and not necessarily for the better.

"Thanks for the intel, man."

"Anytime," he replies, draining some more of his beer. "Just be careful, Logan. I don't want to see you get mixed up in something you can't handle."

I nod, appreciating his concern even as I steel myself for the dark path ahead.

The rock tune thumping in the background only adds to the chaotic atmosphere reigning inside my brain.

"Sounds like this Shtyk is a real scum," I comment.

"Couldn't agree more," Stan replies, leaning closer so he doesn't have to raise his voice. "The guy's bad news all around. I wouldn’t dig any deeper if I were you."

"Think he'd have a valid reason to openly attack Vlad?"

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