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“Am I being whacked?” I turn toward Nico. “Is that why you brought me to the place where elephants go to die? Am I joining them?”
Nico lets out a frustrated sigh. “No, dick. If I wanted you dead, you’d already be in the ground.”
I pull out a chair at the kitchen table and drum my fingertips on the wood grain. “Okay, I’m out of guesses, bro.”
“So then just be patient and stop with the fucking Spanish Inquisition!”
I throw my hands in the air. “Fine! I’ll just sit here and wait for you to decide what you want to tell me and when.”
Nico pulls his cell phone from his pocket, catching it on the first ring. “Yeah.” Pause. “We’re both here. Waiting for you. Okay.”
Click.
A minute passes, and I keep drumming.
Nico cocks an eyebrow at me. “That phone call didn’t make you any bit curious?”
I slam a hand on the table. “Of course it did! But I know if I ask the question, you’ll give me some one-word bullshit answer. Why bother? I’d rather just save my breath.”
“I’m glad you’re learning some self-control.” Nico pulls out a chair and sits across from me. “That was Viktor on the phone, by the way.”
My ears perk up. Viktor Ivanov, as in head of one of the most powerful bosses of the Russian mafia. As in badass drug lord who lives on what appears to be an exclusively black cigarette and vodka-based diet.
He’s dangerous. And manipulative. And vicious.
Dark hair, ice-blue eyes that can pierce as deep as the knives he’s been rumored to wield like a butcher slicing up livestock.
Livestock. Funny, you know, because of where we are right now.
Viktor and Nico have worked together for the past few years. I don’t know much about him personally, only what I’ve heard. And none of it is good if you’re on his shit list.
He’s got a lot of enemies, nasty ass people who brutalize for shits and giggles. I’m talking, stick a fork in your fucking eye and yank it out kind of brutal. And for people who associate with Viktor? It’s like guilt by association.
And here I am, about to take a meeting with him.
But that’s nothing compared to what I’ve already done on his behalf.
Because of that, his enemies have become my enemies.
Fucking fabulous.
Five years ago, I was just trying to make some fast cash. I had no idea I’d have a target on my back because of it. I’ve done some pretty underhanded things back in the day, things other people might have gotten their dicks chopped off for. But I always landed on my feet.
I was an idiot for thinking this time would be different.
I always think I can escape. Maybe that’s because I’ve been lucky.
But luck is pretty damn fleeting.
And these enemies…they will always find what they’re looking for. You can’t hide, can’t protect yourself. Pretty much the only thing you can do is pray.
But even God can’t stop the inevitable.
I’ve seen it play out more times than I can count.
The first time they came, we conquered.
The next time?