Page 49 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

I laughed outright. “Anyone can do what you do. You are nothing to us, especially when you continue to be a nuisance. We do not suffer fools.”

“You mean Viktor doesn’t.” He smirked. “You’re not as high and mighty as you think you are. Viktor is the Pakhan. Not Fyodor.”

“And you think this wins you to my side? That I will find something common between us, some common ground?” I laughed so hard my ribs ached. “You are a bigger fool than I thought.”

Ilya strode into the room, his jacket already discarded and his sleeves rolled to his elbows. Menacing waves of anger rolled across the room, causing the temperature to plummet. “That is not a good laugh. I take it he’s being an ass.”

“I’m not sure he knows how to be anything else.” I wiped tears from my eyes and flicked them aside. “He thinks he can convince me to let him be late on his loan, then in the next breath implies I am nothing to Viktor.”

Ilya snorted like a bull and shook his head. Thick muscle bunched in his neck, and he rolled his head from side to side. “Would you like to speak directly with Viktor? I assure you, we have his complete agreement.” Bones popped as Ilya loosened his limbs and shook out his hands. Whatever had happened between him and Annie, it showed in his face, in the bleak way he stared at Kent. He wanted a fight.

“Okay. Wait.” Kent held up both hands in a placating gesture. “I think we’ve misunderstood each other. I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

“Yes, you did.” I tapped my temple. “It’s all right here. But not to worry.” I motioned at Ilya. “We are not going to kill you because you insulted me. We will not kill you because you are an incompetent fool.”

“Not today.” Ilya’s face twisted into that fearsome grin that caused most people to piss their pants.

Miles Kent was no different. He leaned as far back in the seat as possible. “Listen, boys. I’m sorry. I came here to make things right.”

“Then you have Viktor’s money?” I held out my hands and turned. “Have I overlooked it?”

“No.” Kent licked the blood from his lip. “What I mean is, I don’t have it with me. It’s not available to me yet. But I will have it.”

“When?” Ilya asked.

I granted the question with a sharp nod. “You have begged twice now for more time. How much time do you think you need?” He would not get it, but it amused me to see him squirm and dance on the proverbial hot coals we’d thrown at his feet.

“A month.”

I arched a brow. Ilya did the same as I whistled. “A month. That is quite a long time. And mere days away from the flight you have booked to Guatemala. Do you plan on trying to run away with Viktor’s money?”

Kent paled whiter than his teeth. The sheen of sweat lining his face puddled on his neck. “No. O–Of course not. I have a meeting with my cousin. He demands that we talk face to face.”

“One day.” I gripped the armrests on either side of the chair and leaned into his face. “You bring Viktor’s money here, tomorrow, or you are a dead man.”

Ilya reached past me and dragged Kent up by the scruff of his neck. His fist snapped back and breezed past my face.

Kent screamed and flailed, attempting to block the blow with his hands. His face contorted into a grimace, every bruise standing out against his pasty skin. “Please. No more.”

Ilya stopped with his fist an inch from Kent’s face. “No more, he says. No more.” He threw Kent into the chair. “You are content to spout nonsense and beg for more time, but you do not want the consequences that come with more time.” He loomed over Kent. “You are not walking out of here a safe and protected man.”

“We have been watching you. We know every move you’ve made. We will know if you try to flee.” I jammed a finger into his chest. “You are disposable. Remember that. Viktor has been patient enough with your bullshit. No more. Money. Tomorrow.”

Kent peered up at Ilya, his shaking body betraying his fear. “Tomorrow.” It wasn’t an agreement as much as a clarification.

“Tomorrow.” Ilya grabbed a handful of the man’s collar and hauled him to his feet. “I’ll see you to your car. We wouldn’t want you getting lost or hurt on your way.” He drove Kent’s face into the wall, the crack of plaster mingling with Kent’s grunt of pain. “You do not get another warning. No money tomorrow, you die. End of story.”

With a furious shake that rattled Kent’s entire body, Ilya dragged him from the room.

One problem taken care of. I poured each of us a drink from Viktor’s liquor cabinet and waited for Ilya to return. We had much to discuss, problems to solve. Most important of all was figuring out what Annie wanted from us and why she’d told Ilya she never wanted to see us again. Without Kent there to distract me and keep me on guard, I let her words sink in. To never see her again was like being told to stop breathing. I could do it for a time, but my instincts—my primal need to live—spurred me intoaction. I’d give her time, if Ilya and Viktor agreed, but we were not done with Annie. And everything that we’d seen from her during every interaction said she was not done with us either.

Why the sudden shift? I tossed the first drink down and poured another. Answers were never at the bottom of a bottle, but it would distance me enough from the problem that I might find a solution. Unlike many men, I did not turn angry or violent or seek to right wrongs while drunk. I turned introspective, contemplative. I’d solved many a problem while drunk.

My gut instinct told me to talk to Annie and learn more about the situation. If she made good on her threat and called the police, we’d deal with it.

But it was not my call to make. We were united in this relationship, all three of us having equal say in our life with Annie. I needed Ilya’s and Viktor’s input before I made a rash decision much like Ilya’s.

26

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