Page 113 of Boss

“No. It's not. But I will prove my loyalty Pakhan. And you will be my destiny. As for my father's money, his patent, all of it, I intend to sue to get it returned to me. And I’ll win. I can be useful to you.”

“And what of your family, The Marshall legacy you have been so fiercely protective of?”

“Burn it to the ground,” Tarek said.

Vladimir’s son Yegor whispered in his ear. The old man took another hit from his oxygen mask and nodded. He said something very low in Russian. His cold cataract eyes returned to Tarek. “And the deal you intend to make with the government?”

“I have enough on my father to make it appetizing. Trust me. Your name will be off the table. To save face after all of this, the feds will take the deal.”

Vladimir stared at him for a long moment before giving a slow nod of acceptance. Tarek let go a deep breath. He stood to shake Kovalevsky’s hand.

“Not so fast,” Vladimir said.

Tarek paused.

“What about the black woman. Her name Yegor?”

“Kassandra Turner,” Yegor answered.

“Yes. Kassandra Turner. I see her on the news. She is a protected witness. Care to tell me what she is a witness too?”

“Nothing. She knows nothing about you.”

“She’s the one he kidnapped,” Yegor answered.

“She’s testifying against me not you,” Tarek said.

“Did you not bring her to Alaska. Was she not there with that messy affair with LuxeOil?” Vladimir asked.

“She saw nothing father,” Yegor said. “Tarek ended his affair with her two months ago when I told him who he really was. He knew he had to keep her away from our business.”

“She was working for an environmental company trying to take down our off shore drilling. She never understood the nature of our business.” Tarek said.

“Doesn’t sound like it’s over between you two.” Kovalevsky said.

“It’s not,” Tarek informed them both. Yegor eyes stretched with surprise.

“Aaah...” Kovalevsky’s gaze swept Tarek. “Why go through so much trouble for her?”

“She’s out of this,” Tarek said. “She’s my woman.”

“Are you sure?” Kovalevsky asked, “Sounds to me that she belongs to the government.”

“She’s mine.” Tarek said. “It all points to me. Nothing touches you.”

“Still, I think we keep an eye on her, for you while you go to prison. Just to be sure she's a good girl. And to be sure you're a good boy.”

“She’s under federal protection. She'll disappear,” Tarek said.

Vladimir smiled. His dentures gleamed. “No one disappears from me.”

51.

Two days later –

Tarek waited in his car. He wasn’t expected to return from El Paso for another day. He came back earlier. He came back for his brother. Several cars went through the guard gate to the luxury apartment home building. However, the one he expected did not arrive. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe his brother wasn’t staying here any longer.

Tarek released a frustrated sigh. He wanted to talk to Kassidy. Hear her voice. Argue with her. It was harder than he anticipated when he set his plan into motion. She was out of his reach. His gaze shifted and his brothers Maserati drove up to the gate. Tarek smiled.

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