Page 12 of Devious Corruption

“Because, that gun isn’t legal. How did you guys get it?”

“A new business opportunity popped up. It’s our business, and you need to stay out of it.” Keith’s lips thin as he speaks. “Now, if it’s not at your place, where the hell is it?”

“A friend has it.” Even referring to that hulking, egotistical, judgmental man as a friend makes my stomach sour.

Unfortunately, the feeling is only going to get worse, because I have a good idea as how this conversation is going to go.

“What friend? That girl next door? Or that pretty thing you’ve been hanging with?” Keith smiles, but it’s predatory.

Lev’s sister, Nicolette, has gotten my brother’s attention. I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t run into him; he can come off as a jerk when he’s attracted to a girl. He’s never quite outgrown the whole pulling a girl’s hair on the playground bit.

“No, neither of them.” I push my glasses back up the bridge of my nose. “Lev Yakovlev has it.”

Fire bursts into Keith’s eyes. The steam blowing out his ears would burn me if it were real.

“How the fuck—” He covers his mouth with his hand and turns away, starting to pace in a circle.

My instinct is to reach for him, but history has taught me it’s best to let him walk off his anger than to engage. He’s a good boy, a grown man now, but he needs some time to process when things derail.

“How did he get the gun, Max?” Joey steps in.

“When I was locked out, he came over to help me get into the apartment. You didn’t leave me the key, Joey.” I remind him.

“How does that put him in possession of our things?” Keith snaps, his cheeks reddening with each lap he takes.

“When he opened the door for me, he saw it. You left it right out in the open.”

“Do you know who Lev Yakovlev is?” Keith moves over a step, blocking my view of Joey.

The pacing doesn’t seem to be helping this time. He’s getting himself wound up even more.

“Yeah. He’s friends with Ivan Volkov, Vee’s fiancé. He’s a bit full of himself, but otherwise fine.”

“No, Max.” Keith takes a breath. “Lev Yakovlev is the top fucking guy in the Bratva when it comes to weapon sales. He’s a fucking arms dealer.”

“Like a big one.” Joey adds. He’s stopped his pacing and is now biting his nails.

I straighten up, looking to Joey then to Keith. “How do you know that? How do you know anything about the Bratva or arms dealing?”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Keith says. “What matters is that we need that gun back. Today.”

The front door of the shop opens, and a couple walks in holding hands. Oblivious to the situation they’ve walked into, the woman smiles brightly at me.

“Hi. Do you have wedding planning stuff? Like magazines or books?”

“The magazines are on the left there. The weddingplanning books are in the self-help and relationships section.” I gesture to the signs hanging from the ceiling.

“Great. Thanks!” She forges ahead, pulling the man behind her.

He pauses a beat, taking in our positioning and the state of Joey’s annoyance, decides better not to get involved, and catches up to his bride.

“Guys, we can’t be having this talk here. Come over tonight, we can figure it out then.”

“No.” Keith hisses his response, stalking over to me. “We can’t come over tonight to figure it out. We need it now.”

There’s a something different in him today. It’s not annoyance that things are going this way; it’s fear. Real panic bubbles beneath the surface.

“What have you gotten yourselves into?” I keep my voice low.