Page 20 of Gamble with Me
"What can I do for you, Valeria?" he asked, disturbing the flow of my wild fantasies. He walked around the table and stood before me, his expression emotionless and posture tense. Standing so close to him, I realized he was taller and bigger than I remembered. His broad chest rose and fell in an even rhythm, and his expensive cologne, assumably the latest Versace, tingled in my nose.
"I saw the news today," I declared, turning my back on him and putting some distance between us because my determination to continue was crumbling down. "Adam Rivers is dead."
"Is he?" Zyon growled, making the tiny hair on my entire body stand up. It was a nearly animalistic sound. I looked at him, my knees shaking. The insane glint returned into his dark eyes, and his expression was deadly. It was as if I were talking to someone else.
"Y-yes," I stammered, mentally rolling my eyes at my weakness. "His wife and father are gone, too."
"And?" He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest, flames dancing in his irises. He didn't blink or move; he just glared at me, almost setting me on fire. Somehow, we both knew what I wanted, but it was me who had to say the words.
"What would the police say about yourinterrogating sessionin Adam's casino?" I inquired, doing my best to sound confident. "Would they consider it a lead to solving three murders?"
"Murders?" he echoed and chuckled darkly, moving toward the table. "What are you trying to say, Valeria?"
"Adam stole your money," I started, lifting my chin and staring directly into his eyes. "I told you where he might be. Your men found him and burned the place down. Case closed."
"That's a serious accusation," Zyon said, eyeing me up and down. "Do you have any proof of those claims?"
I almost shrunk under his disgusted look. My stomach sank when I realized it wasn't the anger I had seen a few moments ago. It was disappointment. For some reason, he was saddened and displeased by my words. Clearly, he expected something else from this conversation.
"My testimony would be enough for the investigation to take a different turn," I replied, sitting on the couch and crossing my legs. "Do you want to risk it?"
"Are you blackmailing me, Mrs. Kellerman?" he asked, and I gulped, hearing that strong, dangerous word. I didn't want to think about its meaning and its consequences.
"I'm simply stating the facts, Mr. Zhumagulov," I shrugged, digging my nails into my thigh to ease the tension in my body. "And my silence has a price."
"I'm surprised, Valeria," he sighed, rubbing his eyes and shaking his head. "You just accused me of three murders, and still, you dare to blackmail me." He straightened to his full height, placing his hands on his hips. "Do you wish to see your husband's head on a spike in front of your daughter's school?"
Pure fright cut through my heart like a sharp knife, but I couldn't go back. I had already started this game and wouldn't stop until I got what I came for.
"I recorded a video that will be sent to the police if something accidental happens to us," I retorted, returning his hard stare. I was prepared for his threats.
"And what will you do if I kidnap your daughter, huh?" He lifted an eyebrow at me and smirked when I flinched a little. I would kill him with my bare hands if he touched Zara, but I couldn't tell him that. Instead, I responded as calmly as possible.
"Even in your line of work, there are some rules, Mr. Zhumagulov. You won't touch my child!"
"Do I look like someone who follows the rules?" he raised his voice, coming dangerously close to me. The only thing missing was the gun pointed at my head.
"Don't try to scare me. Thanks to the rules, your organization is blooming." I stood up, mirroring his stance and holding his fiery look. I was afraid of him. He could bury me in the ground so deep no one would ever find me. But what I dreaded the most was that I would have to spend the rest of my life with Chester.
"Would you bet your life on it?” he snarled, squinting his eyes. “Would you gamble with your existence to confirm your presumption?"
Well, I had no choice but to follow my instincts. My survival depended on it.
-12-
Valeria
“Ibelieve we can come to a mutual agreement, Mr. Zhumagulov,” I stated, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing. “Without unnecessary threats and violence.”
“That’s funny, don’t you think?” Zyon hissed, his sinister eyes burning holes into my head. “You played me like you’re some poor neglected wife who needs help—”
“I never said that,” I cut him off, but he didn’t care and continued.
“You walked in here with a clear intention to blackmail me, threaten me and my family’s safety, and you expect me not to fight back? You’re cleverer than that, Valeria.”
I was on thin ice. One wrong move and I would lose the ground under my feet and be gone forever. He could make it happen with one stupid phone call. Fuck! If he decided to retaliate, I would never see Zara again.
“I’m only using the opportunity presented to me,” I said, my voice drenched with boredom. I wanted to show him I wasn’t scared and wasn’t interested in a pep talk. Even when my insides quivered, and I felt like I might start throwing up at any second. Maybe I should’ve checked this place for emergency exits. I might need one at any minute.
