Page 7 of Break Me
He rose to his feet. “For being such a highly intelligent dude, you are a dumbass. What happened to that photographic brain of yours? Didn’t you see the number on the fire engine?”
Sighing, I shook my head, but I could feel the glint in my eye. “Something else had captured my full attention.”
“Jesus. You got it bad. All you need to do is make a couple calls and you’ll discover which engine company was sent to the fire. If you’re interested. Probably not. Since you’re a confirmed playboy and all.”
“Don’t test me.” I glared at him and we both laughed. The last thing I needed was to tangle with a wildcat right now. With whatever the hell was going on with the Papadakis clan, I needed to keep my eye on the ball. My instinct told me the two Greek brothers were up to something.
They were Greek mafia after all, although low on a list of players in town. We’d thought it a good idea to develop and nurture a business relationship with them. Up to this point, the relationship had been decent enough. That’s why the sudden breach in the contract had caught me so off guard.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Just keep Mikhail in the loop about Papadakis. I don’t think I need to tell you, but I will; the grapevine has it that the brothers could be working with an Irish contingency in town. If you know what I mean.”
Huffing, I shook my head. Yeah, I’d caught some wind of that, but there were always rumors about one syndicate or another trying to weasel their way into Las Vegas.
As if they’d ever gain any control. We ruled the city both with criminals and everyday citizens.
“There is never a dull moment in this town. Either the Irish or the Russians, now the Greeks. When will they learn we own this town?” The question was rhetorical.
“What fun would it be if we didn’t need to stay on our toes? But I’m serious. The Greeks are some bad dudes. Like the Armenians. They’re like cockroaches with sharp fangs. Just watch yourself.”
I grabbed my cellphone from my pocket, lifting my eyebrows. “I think I can handle the Greeks. They just need to be put in their place. They can’t use extortion on us. That won’t fly. There are plenty of other food service companies in town.”
“Maybe so, but they don’t take kindly to being shut out.”
“Just like I don’t take kindly having terms of our agreement changed midway through a contract.”
“As if that will stand. You and I both know it. Months or years in court isn’t worth it,” Kazimir said as he walked toward the door.
“I’m just going to offer an incentive. Nothing more.”
“Uh-huh. Let me know how it turns out. With that singer finally starting her residency in two weeks, you know our cousin will be chomping at the bit to ensure there are no hiccups. Ecstasy, Genesis, Revelation, and Dreamscape are all booked solid for months. Plus, we have every high-dollar roller trying to command time in the Viper Room. Just something for you to keep in mind.”
We owned four hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. Through an alliance with an Italian family, Cosa Nostra who had made Reno their own, we commanded both strips with iron fists. The Viper Room had its share of very special guests from corporate moguls to sports stars, musicians and Hollywood actors spending time and a hell of a lot of money losing at blackjack and poker.
We were considered to be on cloud nine, wealthy beyond our dreams and with a recent expansion into Washington State and Saba Island, we were rocking and rolling. My brother had good cause for alarm.
That didn’t mean I was going to lie down and take Papadakis’ shit. No fucking way.
“I hear you. By the way, Lainey Rose isn’t just a singer, bro. She’s a phenomenon in the music industry.” She had also canceled the first time, which had made us leery of offering her a second chance.
He waved his hand. “Whatever. As long as she brings in wealthy guests, she can be a fairytale princess for all I care.”
“Get out. I need to do my job without you hanging on my coattails.”
“Ha. You wish.” He grinned and walked out, closing the door behind him.
I sipped my drink as I rolled my finger across the screen on my phone. I had no real clue why Papadakis had suddenly changed his tune with us, but Petros had made it perfectly clear in his smarmy way that he was playing with us. He’d wanted a reaction and I’d done my best not to give him one.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t livid at his method of extortion. Since I was in charge of food and beverages, music and entertainment, it had been left up to me to talk some sense into him.
I’d left furious and without a resolution. That wasn’t like me. I was known as the wheeler and dealer throughout the Southeast.
After another gulp of my drink, I dialed Viktor’s number. He was the older Papadakis brother, a tough old bird but usuallycapable of holding a decent conversation. He also considered himself an influential Greek Mafioso. We’d see how he handled my demands this time.
“Alexsey Dmitriyev. I thought you might be giving me a ring. My brother said your meeting didn’t go very well.”
I tried to laugh it off. “Not well at all, Viktor, and I think you know why. However, why don’t you explain to me why after two years of doing business together you suddenly want to cut ties with us.”
“I never said we wanted to cut ties. You simply need to pay us what we are worth, which you’ve never done. We cut you a break with promises of you providing us with additional contracts. That hasn’t occurred.”
