“My men went back to thehouse and it was blown to bits—ashes! There were firemen and copseverywhere so they couldn’t get near it,” Peter stated whilesweeping his arm to the men in the room
Ryan’s expression gavenothing away as he looked at them. They nodded to indicate thatPeter was right. Well, he knew that. He resisted asmile.
“I’m thinking that afteryour escape, they got rid of the evidence and relocated.” He staredat him for a moment. “Is that what happened Ryan?”
“I grabbed your daughterand we tore out of there like our asses were on fire, if that’swhat you’re asking. I didn’t stay behind and ask what they intendedto do after I escaped.
Peter’s face reddened. “Idon’t need your sarcasm. With the mood I’m in, I’ll fucking shootyou despite what an asset you are to me!”
Ivan chuckled.
“Shut up Ivan, you’ve beenuseless to me lately. I should shoot you too!”
That shut himup.
Ryan remained unaffected.“It was standing when Miss Nickolov and I left.” Well,technically.
The older man crossed hisarms. “And how, exactly, did you manage that?”
Ryan didn’tanswer.
“I mean, how did youpossibly escape a house full of armed men? You were obviouslyoutnumbered.”
“I’m not working with themMr. Nickolov, if that’s what you are getting at. I certainly didn’tshoot myself.” He heard Ivan make a noise of disbelief under hisbreath. As usual, he ignored him. “As it is, they weren’t as smartas they thought they were. I’m smarter.”
Peter was frustrated andjust about ready to explode. He was looking for someone to blame.He turned around and faced the window with his hands on his hips.These outbursts he’d been having were uncharacteristic for him, buthe was not in control of his empire like he used to be. If need be,he would tear the city apart looking for these people that keptthreatening his family and are destroying his business.
“If this was your family,Mr. Casey, how would you handle it?”
He thought of Georgy, andhis wife and kids. “I’d kill them. I’d kill them all,” he answeredtruthfully. “I would leave them to rot for the crows.”
Peter felt himself smile.He couldn’t help but like this man. “You understand.”
“I understand what familymeans. I would kill for them, I would avenge them, yes.” This wasquite an ironic conversation and Ryan had some serious troublesuppressing his rage.
He turned and faced Ryan.“If you understand this, then you know how important mine is tome.”
You mean, money, power andmore money, Ryan thought to himself. Itwas hard not to let the sardonic smile spread across his face.Peter cared about nothing else. However, he didn’t get where he wasby being stupid. This was leading to something. “I’d appreciate itif you got to the point Mr. Nickolov.”
Peter released a breath andnodded. He took his seat behind the desk and sliced an arm throughthe air. “I worked very hard for this. I can’t have some amateursdestroy what I have.”
“I have told you before.I’m no assassin.” And he was certain that the men Anna was workingwith were not amateurs.
Peter kept talking as ifRyan didn’t say anything. “I have a big shipment coming in tomorrownight by boat. The last two were hit. I lost millions. I need youto lead this one. I need you there for the transfer.”
“I’m not a mercenary Mr.Nickolov and I already told you my terms of hire.”
He pounded his fist on hisdesk and his complexion turned ruddy again. “I don’t give a fuckwhat you said. You singlehandedly took out those bastards that hadmy daughter When half a dozen of these idiots couldn’t find theirdicks!” he waved a furious hand toward Ivan. “I need you to stopthese sonsofbitches from destroying my empire!”
“I won’t do it.”
Ivan took a step towardhim. Ryan felt it rather than seen it, but he called him onit.
“One more step Ivan and Iwill gut you like a fat fish,” he said in an even calm voice. Thedeadly undertone was apparent. His eyes never leftPeter’s.
Ivan’s face distorted intorage and he took another step.
Peter held his hand up andIvan stopped. He actually looked impressed at Ryan’s instincts.“Jesus, you keep surprising me.” He nodded at Ivan, who looked fitto kill, but stepped back. Then he returned his attention back toRyan. “I’ll double your salary.”
“I’m still notinterested.”
Peter’s jaw clenched andhis face was beginning to turn red again. “Fine, what is it youwant? How much?”
I want you dead, all ofyou. “There is no price. I’m here as yourdaughter’s security. I informed you before, I’m noassassin.”
“Everyone has a price. Icould have anyone look after her in my crew, and cost me less thanan eighth of what you charge. I only hired you to make her happy,and she’s still miserable towards me. I wonder if you’re even worthit Mr. Casey.”
Ryan took a deep breath forpatience. “You forget. I saved her life twice.” He finally shiftedhis eyes to Ivan. “Could you do that?”
“You’re damn rights Ican!”
“Can you?”
“Yes!”
“I remember you on thefloor cowering with a dead woman when gunfire brokeout.”
Ivan lunged at him then andRyan moved quickly out of the chair, stepping aside and using thelarge man’s own hefty weight to toss him to the floor with agrunt.
“Enough!” Peter snapped.“Ivan get up. You’re making a fool out of yourself.” He shifted hisattention to Ryan. “You are going to lead that transfer, or I’llfind whatever family you have, and slaughter them. Don’t think youknow me Ryan.”
His threat didn’t affecthim at all and there was a reason. “I have no family.”
Peter looked taken back.“That’s all you have to say?”
He shrugged.
“Does anything scare you,at all?”
Ryan met the man’s eyesunwavering. He didn’t answer his question. Instead he gave himreasoning. “If you pull me off of your daughter they’ll grab heragain and use her against you. The way they keep taking her is toshow you that they can get to you. Soon you’ll be getting pieces ofKatya in the mail. Media attention will be through the roof nexttime, and the cops will look further than just a kidnap murder. Thepolice are already suspicious because of Ivan’s long list of pettycrimes following the shooting at the boutique.”
“You son of a—“
“Shut up!”
