Page 132 of Beguiled

His eyes opened wide, his face immediately reddening.

“I’m a fair man, Davit. I’m going to make you a deal including protection of your family. But you must promise to be cooperative. Now, if I release my hold, can I have your promise that you’ll be a good boy?”

He nodded, his expression reflecting the terror I wanted him to feel.

“Good.” I backed away, allowing a soldier to open the door so I could guide Davit inside.

The room wasn’t anything but soundproofed and easy to clean.

“Here’s how we’re going to play this, Davit. You’re going to confirm you’re working with Vardan as eyes and ears within our organization. And you’re going to admit that you had a hand in Tawny Gaines’ murder.”

He was genuinely shocked by the last statement. “Tawny is dead?”

“Tossed off a building.”

His startled sigh was nothing I cared about except it told me that Mikhail had lost control and her death had never been part of the plan. Good to know.

“You were her… boyfriend for a few months, pretending to be Brian. Just another all-American boy. Too bad you were abusive to her. But we’ll consider that water under the bridge. So answer my question. Vardan is your employer. Yes?”

He nodded. “And his damn father as well.”

“Ah. Very good.” I’d suspected a family affair. With what the Chertov boys had in mind, the entire family would be handled by the current Armenian mob leader. He still held all the power.

I whipped out my weapon, taking a moment to screw on the silencer. I wasn’t interested in ruining anyone’s evening, soundproof or not.

“Please. I didn’t tell them much. Comings and goings.”

“Habits. That’s what you shared. Habits that are both very telling and highly dangerous. That stops today. Because you’ve provided some needed confirmation, I’ll ensure your family has a nice severance package. But I’m afraid I can’t allow you to walk free. You see, no one fucks with the Chertov family.”

Pop! Pop!

There was no need for additional conversation. We were moving around chess pieces on the great big chessboard of life. Nearing the end.

Nearing checkmate.

* * *

Kazimir was eager and hungry for the nightmare to come to a conclusion. As Pakhan, he certainly held more weight with other syndicate leaders. His charming methods were becoming legendary.

First the Italians. Then other Russians.

That was before coming to America.

The current Armenian mob leader was a savvy yet dangerous man. He’d lived through much in his life, including the tail end of the five families being in control of New York.

Which he hadn’t had a part of.

Maybe that was the reason he’d survived. Given the political climate and at our encouragement, he’d chosen to meet with us in a different location than the restaurant that catered to the wrong party.

I sensed he knew it. He wasn’t a stupid man, just caught in a new generation where his people were looking for a different way of moving forward.

That’s why sitting in Central Park created an understanding he knew he was facing the end of his authority whether he chose to accept it or not.

“Did you know some of the best deals and alliances of the last three decades were made right here in this park?” Kazmik was thoughtful, perhaps even more reflective than I’d been.

Kazimir laughed. “We had such a park in Moscow. My father used to tell me how deals were created in the wild.”

“Your father’s reputation, much like yours, Kazimir, precedes you. He would be proud of what you’ve accomplished. New York can be a tough beast.”