Page 35 of Bratva's Intern

“Did you stop to think there was a reason for this? Someone tried to kill me last week, and as of then, I’ll do virtual meetings only.”

Stone chuckled. “Surely you don’t think I tried to kill you.”

“No, I don’t.” He didn’t have the guts.

“Come now.” He smoothed his tie. “Let’s not be hostile. I’m here because things are changing, and I like to keep my friends informed.”

I arched a brow. “Friends?”

“Well. Business associates, then.”

I waited.

He sighed like he was the one enduring an inconvenience. “You know I’ve been keeping things running without a hitch for you. Making sure your shipments arrive unbothered. Ensuring my officers look the other way. That kind of loyalty doesn’t come cheap, Maxim.”

I hummed, unimpressed. “Your officers don’t look the other way because of loyalty. They do it because you tell them to. And you tell them to because I pay you very well.”

“That’s just it. The price of looking the other way has gone up. I’m raising my fee.”

I leaned forward, folding my hands on the desk. “By how much?”

“Thirty percent increase.”

I laughed.

Stone didn’t.

“Try again,” I said, my amusement fading.

“That is me trying again. The city’s cracking down on operations like yours. There’s more risk involved now. If I’m going to keep the heat off your back, I need a little extra incentive.”

“And if I refuse?”

Stone spread his hands. “Then I can’t guarantee the nextshipment makes it through. Can’t promise my officers won’t start taking their job a little more… seriously.”

I let the silence stretch. Let him think I was considering it. Let him sweat, just a little. I leaned back, exhaling slowly.

“You’ll take fifteen percent less than what I paid you before.”

Stone’s eyes flickered. A shadow of rage crossed his face, but he masked it quickly. “That’s not how this works, Morozov.”

“It is now.” My voice was calm. Unrelenting.

He studied me, calculating. “You’re making a mistake.”

“You came into my office uninvited. You ignored my orders. You disrespected me. And now you want more money?” I leaned forward. “I don’t reward disobedience, Stone. I punish it. Now thank your lucky stars that all I’m doing is reducing your fee.”

“You think you can threaten me?”

“I don’t need to threaten. I just set examples.”

A charged silence crackled between us. Stone tapped his fingers against the armrest of the chair, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t used to being denied.

The door swung open.

Wren.

Jesus Christ, when would he learn to knock? If I’d put a bullet between Stone’s eyes like I wanted to, he would have walked in on the mess. If he didn’t learn how to behave properly, I would have to tie a cowbell around his neck.

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