Page 6 of Deadly Legacy
A faint smile crossed Reuben’s face, his eyes teasing. “Pretty sure our investor prospectus doesn’t list ‘makes hostile takeovers actually hostile’ as our competitive advantage. Besides, the SEC might come poking around asking too many questions.”
Nikon’s lips quirked up at the corner, appreciating Reuben’s dark humor in the moment. It was Reuben’s way of acknowledging the gravity of the situation while still maintaining his composure.
“So now?” Nikon asked.
“Now I ask whatyousee that I don’t.” Reuben turned fully toward him, fingers finding Nikon’s wrist. It was a simple touch, grounding them both. “Your professional assessment.”
“The tactics Alexei described? They remind me of Dmitrii.” Nikon kept his voice steady, watching Reuben’s reaction as his hand moved to rest on Reuben’s shoulder. “The targeted pressure points especially. It’s how he operates when trying to destabilize territory.”
“So he’s found my father as his way in.” Reuben’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t pull away from the touch. Instead, he stepped closer, their bodies nearly flush now in the privacy of the balcony. “Using my personal connections.”
“Exactly.” Nikon leaned against the railing, pulling Reuben with him until they stood side by side, shoulders touching. “From what you’ve told me about Quantize Guard, their security technology could give him eyes everywhere—outside our casinos, warehouses, distribution channels.”
Reuben nodded, his analytical mind already mapping out the implications. “Their facial recognition software would flag our key personnel throughout the city. He’d know when your security teams change shifts, when money moves, when important clients arrive—all without ever setting foot inside.”
“You see the threat clearly,” Nikon said, a hint of pride in his voice despite the gravity of the situation.
“And Wallace Hoyt becomes his perfect front.” Reuben exhaled slowly, his shoulder pressing more firmly against Nikon’s. “Legitimate business cover with a personal connection to me.”
“We need more information before making any moves.” Nikon’s hand found the small of Reuben’s back, the touch comforting between them. “Alexei is likely already tracing the money. By tonight, we’ll know more.” He leaned down, pressing his lips against Reuben’s forehead.
Reuben’s warmth against him was a casual intimacy that still sometimes surprised Nikon. For most of his life, touch had been either functional, tactical, or a quick sexual release in the dark. Never comfort. Never connection.
A moment later, the office lights flickered on automatically as darkness crept over the windows. Reuben took that as his cue to gather his materials while Nikon made a quick call to their security team.
They left Matthew Capital as evening descended, Nikon insisting on driving, settling behind the wheel of his black Mercedes while Reuben checked messages on his phone. A weapon pressed against Nikon’s side beneath his jacket—a habit he wouldn’t abandon regardless of how above-board their business affairs appeared to the outside world.
“Alexei just sent me preliminary financial trails.” Reuben scrolled through data on his phone. “Three offshore transfers into Hoyt Investment Group within the last month. Cayman Islands, Singapore, Dubai.”
Nikon guided the car through evening traffic, eyes constantly scanning surrounding vehicles. Old instincts never died. “Did Alexei trace them further?”
“He’s working on it.” Reuben set the phone down, rubbing his temples. “If we can prove financial connections between Dmitrii and my father, maybe we can somehow use it as leverage when approaching Quantize Guard’s board.”
Nikon nodded, his mind already mapping contingencies. The corporate business tactics Reuben preferred. The shadowmethods he would deploy in parallel. Not at cross purposes—simply complementary protection.
“Well, we’ll know more tomorrow.” Nikon’s voice revealed none of his growing certainty about Dmitrii’s involvement. “But for now, let’s focus on what we can control.”
Reuben turned to study his profile. “You’re already convinced it’s Dmitrii.”
Sometimes Nikon forgot how well Reuben read him now. “Let’s say I’m... preparing for that possibility.”
The conversation paused as Nikon pulled into the private garage beneath their penthouse building. Only when they were alone in the elevator did he speak again.
“Dmitrii’s been too quiet these past months.” Nikon’s jaw tightened, the muscle visibly flexing beneath his skin. “And that’s never a good sign. When he threatened to come after us, it wasn’t an empty promise. I’m sure he’s been planning, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
“But why now?” Reuben loosened his tie as they stepped into the apartment.
“Because he finally found your pressure point.” Nikon’s voice lowered, taking on that dangerous edge Reuben recognized from their earliest days together. “Look at what he’s doing with Andrey. My own brother, paraded around like a servant at Dmitrii’s clubs, forced to hold doors and fetch drinks. A living reminder of our failure.”
Nikon’s eyes darkened. “It’s not enough for Dmitrii that we disowned Andrey after what he did. Dmitrii wants us to see what he’s reduced him to. Every time one of our sources reports Andrey’s condition, it’s another knife twisted.”
“And now he’s using my father against me.”
“Exactly.” Nikon nodded grimly. “We’ve been waiting for him to do something. This could be it.”
The doors opened directly into their penthouse foyer. Reuben slipped off his jacket as they stepped into the apartment. “He’s had months to make a move. Why wait until now?”
“Like a spider waiting in its web.” Nikon removed his jacket, tossing it over the couch as they entered their living room. “He must want something specific from Quantize Guard. And your father gives him that personal leverage as well.”
