Page 90 of Malicious Claim

Scar-Cheek smiled. The older man with the pen didn't blink, just kept twirling the pen.

Caruso nodded toward him. "You remember Matteo."

Makros shot the older man with a sidelong look. "Uh, yeah. The numbers guy."

Matteo dipped his head. "And you're the gambler. Still as impulsive as ever, I see.".

Makros waved off the comment. "Tell me why I'm here, Caruso."

The crime lord scraped ash from his cigar. "Simple. The supply chain you stole last month? It was never yours to steal."

Leila's spine went rigid.

Makros, though, was completely relaxed. "Oh?"

Caruso breathed. "It was going to another party. A client."

Makros' smile was on the verge of being amused. "And I'm supposed to care because?"

Caruso's lips only curled slightly. "Because that client is someone you don't ever want as an enemy."

There was quiet in the room.

Makros glanced around at the men sitting at the table, and then at Caruso. "Who?"

Caruso tapped his fingers on the top of the table. "I think you should know."

Makros said nothing immediately. He pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. Then, still not averting his eyes, he took a wild guess, "The Orel Bratva."

Leila stiffened. "Gosh, not those men. Why can't he keep his nose out of Russian affairs?"

Matteo smiled faintly, like a teacher pleased with a pupil's correct answer. Scar-Cheek finished the last of his whiskey and set the glass down on the table with a slow, deliberate motion.

Makros exhaled, then settled back into his chair. "I didn't know they were getting supplies from you."

Caruso let the comment hang. Then he replied, "It wasn't my choice."

Makros' eyebrow twitched. "That's a nice way of saying they've got their claws in you."

Caruso smiled, but it wasn't quite genuine. "We have shared interests."

Leila saw the small unease in Makros' posture. It was the kind that signaled that he was doing some calculations, piecing together bits of missing pieces.

The Orel Bratva.

They were prudent, powerful, and vengeful. If they had their hands in Caruso's business, it wasn't just a question of a supply chain. It was an absolute takeover of his company. That is evidence of how powerful they were. And if Makros had inadvertently crossed into their business they could be coming for his empire too.

Leila's gaze flicked to Caruso and wondered if he had set up Makros.

Makros whistled, tapping his fingers once on the tabletop. "Well, that's a shame. I liked doing business with you when you had teeth."

Caruso's expression turned angry. Matteo's pen stopped spinning.

Scar-Cheek grinned. "You really want to enrage the man who's keeping your ass alive?"

Makros shot him a derisive look. "Am I supposed to think Caruso prevented the Orel Bravta from shooting me?"

Silence.