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I put one arm on his shoulder. “Thanks, Dimitri.”

The loud clunking of the crane above us stops us from talking. We watch as the container gets set down in the spot we were told. After the workers disconnect the freight, Dimitri pulls out a key to unlock the cargo.

Men stand at the ready, guns aimed at the door in case of any horseplay. But nothing happens as the door opens. Twenty wooden crates sit inside the container and I follow Dimitri inside to check the cargo.

“Everything is here,” he tells me.

“Then let’s hope the cartel shows up soon so we can get out of here.”

Dimitri chuckles. “You don’t like the docks.”

“No,” I mutter as I walk backward and lean against a container and wait.

My father used to have me run shipments when I was twenty. Weekends away from school, my life, the parties, the drugs, the women. All to do something I had no interest in. Of course, back then I had no idea how deep this went. How interconnected The Partners were around the world. I hated him for making me do this. Learn the tradeoffs. And every time I come back to a dock, a feeling of shame runs through me.

Twenty minutes later, our contact in the cartel shows up. The deal is done. Keys are handed over and money is transferred.

“Drinks?” Dimitri asks me.

I want to go home but I can’t pass up opportunities to build trust with everyone in the game. “Sure.”

We meet at a hole-in-the-wall bar a few miles from the harbor. Mario is in the car, so it’s just Dimitri and myself. From what he’s told me, everything seems normal. He was present at one of the missing shipments. The container never made it on the ship.

I know now that had to do with Calvetti and Sons and their deceit to The Partners. I am glad Dimitri is aware of the threat even if he doesn’t know everything.

“How have you been, Kilian? I’ve talked about myself for an hour.”

I sip my whiskey. “Same as always.”

“Any women in your life?”

I laugh. “Only the ones I find for the night.” But my thoughts go directly to dark-chocolate eyes and black hair.

“Still playing the field?”

“I don’t have many choices.”

Dimitri’s face falls at my words. A man who knows the man I used to be, the walking dead I am now.

“What about you? How are your wife and daughter?” I ask, curious.

A smile takes over the Russian’s face. “We just had a baby boy! The whole family is great. We plan to…”

I barely listen as he talks, my mind wandering elsewhere. I’m startled when my phone rings and I see Andre’s name on the screen.

I throw money on the bar. “Dimitri, it’s been good to see you. But I have to take this call.”

“No worries, boss. Duty calls. I get it.”

“I’ll see you around.”

He says goodbye in Russian and I make my way out of the crowded bar.

“What did you find out?” I ask Andre. I don’t say a word as he speaks.

10

MIRABELLA