Page 55 of Maxim

I’m led to the same room as I was in before, which I now know to be Jan’s office. The same men are inside.

“Welcome back,” Jan says as soon as I step through the door.

The guards shut the door behind me as I make my way toward the only free chair. I’m paying closer attention this time to the dynamic between Szymon and Jan. The other man in the room is the same man that Olena described. The one that I met once before. Well, not exactly met. Jan refused to introduce him.

Seems today is no different.

“Let’s cut to the chase. We all have things to do. Do you have an answer for me?” I ask.

He chuckles, but I can see the slight flash of anger in his eyes. He likes to make a production of everything. Swing his dick around as if he’s the biggest and baddest in the room.

I won’t play his games, though. I asked for a seat at the table which means I need to show him I deserve to be there.

“You sure like to get straight to the point, huh? You ready to hit the ground running, huh?”

“I don’t like wasting time. You asked me to join your organization, and I agreed, but on my terms. If my terms don’t work, no worries. I’ll be happy going back to being a customer.”

He laughs as he waves to Szymon. “Get us a drink.”

I glance at Szymon and see the bitterness in him. Jan calls him his second-in-command but treats him like shit. He treats everyone in his life like that.

Szymon brings us all a glass of vodka with ice.

“This is a favored drink of the Polish. In Ukraine as well, right?”

“Yes. You’re stalling. Should I be worried that someone is waiting outside that door to kill me?”

He shakes his head, a smile on his face. “I like your brashness. I went to my partner and told him your offer. He didn’t want to agree, but I really put my neck on the line for you. I think you will be an amazing addition to the team. I’ll send you what we will call a sign-on bonus along with a list of names to vet. These are new members who want to come to the auctions. Due to the recent raids of our pickups, we need to be extra careful. Anyone could be a spy.”

“I’ll be awaiting the package,” I tell him.

“Not so fast. Because of your demands, my partner had his own stipulation. Instead of waiting to see how you do, he wants a pound of flesh.”

I swallow hard. That could mean anything. I don’t give in to his flair of dramatics. I wait him out.

He huffs. “Actual flesh. He wants you to bring in five bodies to sell at auction. He wants you to have skin in the game literally. It also will show that you aren’t a spy yourself. What do you say?”

I want to screamhell no. I would never bring women into his depravity. I don’t have an option, though.

“Of course. I’m happy to prove myself.”

“I knew you would. Szymon will come with you to pick up the products. We will give you five days.”

“Plenty of time. Thank you for the generosity.”

My mind is racing with what I will have to do. I need to get word to Alexei quickly. The best way is to get home and send a letter home with Thea.

We need to be more careful with her too. They will be watching me more closely now. I’m grateful my house is hard to look into. Alexei did a great job outfitting it to my needs.

“Are you sure you are up for this? Once you are in it, there’s only one way out.”

He doesn’t need to speak the threat. I can infer it from his words.

If I want out, it will be in death.

Only he doesn’t know what I do. He made a deal with me, but he doesn’t know who I am. He sees me as someone beneath him. Someone who shares his interests. One of those men would fear this man.

I don’t, though. Tonight there was a deal made with the devil. He thinks he’s that top dog, but he’s not. He doesn’t realize that he’s not looking in the mirror. He’s staring the devil in the face as he shakes my hand.

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