Dimitri (31 page)

Dimitri had taken Eric Santos' warning to
heart. Though he'd like nothing more than to beat the shit right
out of the real estate developer, Dimitri knew he was being
watched. He could easily hire men to do the dirty deed but it would
blowback on Benny in a way he wouldn't allow.

While he walked that gray line between the
world of law-abiding citizens and the darker underworld Nikolai
inhabited, Dimitri wouldn't cross it, especially not now that he
had so much to lose. Benny meant more to him than any satisfaction
he would have attained through pounding his fist into Jonah
Krause's face.

The sound of voices approaching the doorway
drew his attention. Yuri's ability to charm never surprised
Dimitri. He'd seen his friend talk his way out of some truly
legendary scrapes. How he'd managed to persuade Jonah to visit his
office after regular business hours Dimitri would never know. No
doubt there had been dollar signs attached.

All smiles and smarminess, Jonah Krause stepped
through the door. Yuri came in right behind him and shut the door.
From another corner near the entrance, Ivan appeared with stealth.
If Dimitri hadn't known he'd been hiding there, he never would have
seen the hulking fighter.

As he turned to make a joke with Yuri, Jonah
noticed Ivan sliding in front of the door, blocking the man's only
chance of escape. Dimitri could almost smell the fear radiating
from Jonah now.

"What's going on?"

"What? Ivan?" Yuri's shoulders bounced easily.
"He's filling in for one of my bodyguards. Food poisoning," he
lied.

Dimitri knew the moment the other man saw him.
Jonah stiffened and his eyes widened, the whites so big and bright
Dimitri wanted to laugh. The real estate developer hadn't caught
sight of Nikolai yet. Dimitri hoped Yuri's cleaning crew would be
coming by tonight because the man was probably going to piss
himself.

"What is he doing here?" Nervous and fidgeting,
Jonah stepped to the side so he could talk to Yuri but keep an eye
on Dimitri and Ivan.

"He's a business partner. I thought he'd like
to be here for this discussion."

"Then I think I'll pass." He took a step toward
the door but Ivan stepped forward. Jonah beat a hasty retreat. His
gaze darted around the room in search of another exit. He froze
suddenly. His Adam's apple slid up and down as he got his first
look at Nikolai.

With the white sleeves of his shirt rolled up
to his elbows, Nikolai had bared the impressive and intimidating
swath of tattoos marking him from his knuckles to the edges of
shirt fabric. The top few buttons of his shirt were undone, showing
even more of the heavy ink on his chest. A cigarette clamped
between his lips, he flicked open his favorite lighter and made
sure the real estate developer got a good look at the bright
flame.

After lighting up, he took a long, slow drag
and eyed Jonah with that icy, bone-chilling glare he'd perfected.
He held the cigarette between his fingers and pointed at the empty
chair in front of Yuri's desk. "You. Sit. Now."

Jonah tried to look calm as he made his way to
the chair but Dimitri spotted the trembling fingers he curled into
his fists at his sides. Once seated, he glanced around nervously.
"Is this where the four of you tie me down and take turns beating
me?"

"Jonah, Jonah, Jonah," Yuri said with a laugh,
"you insult me. Unlike you, I don't condone violence to frighten
people into submission." Yuri walked to his oversized leather chair
and got comfortable. "I don't find any enjoyment in terrifying
those weaker than me by, say, setting their business on
fire."

Jonah gulped. Dimitri waited for him to spout
the same lie he was using to defend himself against the police and
in the press—that a greedy, rogue employee had been acting without
his approval or knowledge. Instead, the man exhaled a shaky breath.
"I never meant for that to happen!"

Rage boiled over in Dimitri's chest, the anger
bubbling hot and threatening his control. "You sent five men to my
home, to my girlfriend's place of business, with lighter fluid,
guns, knives and a baseball bat! What did you think was going to
happen?"

Jonah slid back in his chair. "Not that," he
said and gestured frantically to Dimitri's bruised and battered
body. "They were just supposed to vandalize the place. They were
supposed to make it look like they were after her brother. How the
hell was I to know they would take it that far?"

"They shot up a car and killed people. That's
what they do. They're stupid, barbaric thugs. They take things too
far." Dimitri moved closer but muscled down the urge to strike the
man. "The only reason you're still breathing is because Benny
wasn't hurt. If one hair on her head had been singed, you would be
wearing cement shoes. Do you understand?"

The man's head bobbled as he hurried to show he
understood. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I'm not going to sue her
over the building her brother destroyed."

"That's not good enough for me."

Jonah swallowed and glanced between Dimitri and
his friends. "What do you want?"

Yuri's part in this evening's setup arrived. He
grabbed a navy blue folder from the corner of his desk and tossed
it at the man. "Sign this."

With shaking hands, Jonah opened the folder and
started to scan the pages held inside. The color drained out of his
face. "You want me to give you my retail development?"

"Not give me," Yuri corrected. "I'll buy it
from you."

"For a third of what I paid for it!"

"You did acquire most of those buildings and
the lots through blackmail and extortion." Yuri clicked his teeth
and wagged his finger. "You were a very naughty boy."

Jonah's eyes took on the same malicious glint
they'd had the day he'd been so nasty with Benny. He threw the
folder at Yuri. "Fuck you."

Yuri didn't even flinch. "Fuck me?"

Nikolai stepped up beside the desk and lifted
his shoe. He stubbed out the burning tip of his cigarette on the
sole and dropped it into the trash. Cracking his knuckles, he
asked, "Is this where I get to play?"

Jonah was out of his chair in the blink of an
eye. He jumped behind it and held up a hand. "If he touches me, I
swear I'll fucking sue!"

Yuri laughed. "If he touches you, you're
probably going to need a trauma surgeon or possibly an undertaker
but definitely not a lawyer."

Dimitri didn't think it was possible but the
man paled even more. Sputtering, he shouted, "This is
extortion!"

"Is it?" Yuri shrugged. "I'm just taking a page
out of your playbook. Isn't this how business is conducted
here?"

Jonah's face reddened. Whether it was from the
humiliation at finding himself outmaneuvered or the anger of
screwing himself over, Dimitri couldn't say. He lashed out with
such ire. "You lured me here with the promise of a multi-million
dollar deal."

Yuri gestured to the folder. "That's a
multi-million dollar deal. It's simply not one that's going to line
your pockets."

Jonah breathed heavily as he tried to make his
decision. Finally, he growled with disgust and stalked to the desk.
He picked up the folder, jerked the contract out of it and yanked a
pen from the holder on Yuri's desk. Furiously, he scribbled his
initials and full name in the appropriate spots. He tossed the
signed contract at Yuri. "I won't fucking forget this."

"No, I'm sure you won't," Yuri calmly replied
and stacked together the pages. "Of course, if my contacts in the
district attorney's office are correct, you'll have plenty of time
to replay this moment where you're going."

Jonah's expression twisted from fear to sheer
panic. He recovered quickly. "We'll see about that."

Yuri nodded and tucked the contract into the
folder. "Yes, we will."

"Are we done?"

Yuri glanced at Dimitri. "What do you say?
Should we let him go?"

Dimitri's jaw tensed and he gritted his teeth.
Hating that he couldn't put his hands on the man who had tried to
kill them, he nodded stiffly. "Get out of my sight."

Jonah didn't have to be told twice. He hurried
to the door but Ivan blocked his path. Dimitri enjoyed seeing a
grown man so obviously rattled. He wanted the real estate developer
to experience the same fear Benny had that awful night.

"Hey, Jonah?" Yuri called out with a friendly
air. "If things go well for you at trial and you manage to escape
jail time, I'd be happy to put in a good word for you at one of the
big-box stores I'll be opening next fall."

Jonah's eyes narrowed and he grumbled under his
breath. Ivan smirked and opened the door. Jonah didn't even try to
put on a brave air as he left. He scurried out of there so fast
Dimitri was shocked his pants didn't catch fire from
friction.

"You're lucky he didn't piss himself," Ivan
commented with a gleeful smile. "I thought for sure that he was
going to lose it when he spotted Nikolai."

Chuckling, Yuri slipped the folder into his
briefcase. "I enjoyed that immensely. I'm sorry you couldn't
relieve some of that bloodlust, Dimitri, but this was for the
best."

Dimitri waved his hand. "I want to hurt him but
I want to keep Benny happy more. She'd be furious with me if I put
my hands on him and risked our life together."

Nikolai rolled down his shirt sleeves, covering
the tattoos he usually kept so carefully hidden. "How is she
coping? I overheard Vivian talking to her on the phone about
nightmares."

"That's normal, I think," Yuri replied. "It was
a traumatic experience for a sweet girl like her. She's had
personal traumas, no doubt, but the last week has been particularly
violent for her."

Dimitri hated that he hadn't been able to
shield her from the uglier side of life. That she'd had to see her
brother and boyfriend shot in the same weekend? It was
terrible.

"She's strong," he said finally. "She'll
overcome it."

"Erin was the same way," Ivan reassured him.
His cheeks took on the strangest shade of pink as he suggested, "It
helps if you hold her while she sleeps. They feel safe and secure
that way."

Dimitri appreciated the pointer but Nikolai
chortled with mock disgust. "If we start talking about our
feelings, I'll throw myself out that window."

Yuri laughed and changed the subject. "I heard
that you two had a look at the building Nikolai's friend has for
sale. What did she think of it?"

"We're making an offer tomorrow. It's the right
size and the area is one where the business would thrive. I hope to
close by the end of next week. She's already in talks with a
contractor she knows and trusts. She wants to be open in the new
location in eight to ten weeks."

Yuri shrugged. "I've seen much bigger builds
completed quicker than that. She should be fine." He picked up his
phone and dialed the line for his car. When he had that arranged,
Yuri added, "Tell her not to worry about our contract. We'll work
it out once the dust settles."

Dimitri knew this was a point of much concern
for Benny. "She feels like you're overpaying her by agreeing to
honor the original price. She has a point, Yuri. The building is
gone."

"I was going to have it razed. It's the lot
that's important to me." He slashed his hand through the air. "Just
tell her to worry about getting her fire insurance to payout so she
can start over in her new location. I'm happy with the deal we
agreed to before the fire. When her end is settled, we'll draw up a
new contract for the lot and move forward."

Dimitri wanted to thank Yuri for being
reasonable but didn't. Yuri didn't need to be told what he already
knew.

"Are you all still coming over tonight?" Ivan
leaned back against the door. "You know how Erin likes having these
dinner parties." He shot Yuri a knowing smile. "Lena will be
there."

"Why should I care if she's there?" Yuri's gaze
dropped to his desk as he made a big scene of gathering together
his things. "I can't stay long. I'm flying to London
tonight."

Dimitri, Ivan and Nikolai exchanged glances but
they let it go. He suspected Yuri's feelings toward Lena were as
complicated as his had once been toward Benny. He didn't envy his
friend for being in that position.

He caught Nikolai's eye again. "And
you?"

Nikolai nodded and reached for his suit jacket.
"I have to stop by the house and change first."

Yuri frowned. "Why? I wasn't aware there was a
dress code. Ivan, I thought you were throwing steaks on the
grill."

"I am."

Nikolai reluctantly admitted, "It's that damn
cigarette. If Vivi catches one whiff of it on my shirt, she'll ride
my ass for the rest of the week."

"My God!" Yuri guffawed. "She's worse than a
wife!"

Dimitri watched Nikolai's mask slip into place.
In their tight-knit group, Yuri was the only one brave enough to
make that kind of remark. Ivan shifted uncomfortably but Nikolai
played it off with a nonchalant shrug.

"I'm happy to let her practice on me. Someday
she'll make a nice man a very good wife."