Page 77 of Scarred Ruin

I leaned over the table, placing my fists on the surface. They knew better than to dare defy me in any way.

Hassan was out of his chair first, pocketing the certification. “I appreciate you looking out for us, Pakhan. It will be remembered.”

I offered a nod of respect when I felt nothing of the kind. They were at the door when I finished the conversation and one I hoped wouldn’t be necessary to repeat as there would be an entirely different outcome.

“Remember my father’s motto, Hassan. It’s something I live by and cherish. I would hate for our working relationship to be… severed.”

They didn’t respond, walking out and slamming the door behind them.

“And that is the way you handle business,” Roman said, laughing as he did.

“Yes, well, they don’t know how close they came to being the cargo.” I was furious with the entire situation, but at least it had been handled.

“They will remember, Pakhan, but not necessarily in the positive way you might hope,” Sergei offered.

My laugh was full of contempt. “Then I will handle their poor attitudes appropriately.”

Sergei shook his head. “As you see fit.”

“Do I understand you’re taking Mina out for Halloween and have a date to boot?” my brother asked.

Roman was still laughing, enjoying the hell out of teasing me. “She also has a new puppy. You should drop by sometime so he can eat your leg off.”

He moved closer but waited until Sergei and Kristoff walked out.

“What?” I wasn’t in the mood to be challenged more than I already had.

“I was just going to say welcome back to the land of the living.”

“I’m not certain I’ll ever be back.”

“You’re going trick or treating. Right?” He was still grinning.

“Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

I yanked out my phone. “I need to make certain her costume is ready. My little girl would never let me forget it if it’s not ready.”

“Neither would I.”

As I dialed Isabel’s number, I thought about how perfectly normal this was.

And how very dangerous.

CHAPTER 16

Isabel

“Put this on.” I handed Maxsim a mask, or I should say I tried to hand him the mask I’d purchased knowing he would refuse to dress up even for a spooky holiday.

“I’m not putting on a mask, Isabel.” He was already gritting his teeth, his body language suggesting he would prefer being driven straight to hell instead of being around a group of children.

Or a swarm depending on how one would calculate the numbers. Between the warm weather and the perfect starlit night, the crowd in historic Charleston was huge.

“I’m wearing a costume.” I did a little twirl for him in case he hadn’t paid any attention.

His jaw clenched even more than before, but he was looking. Lusting. “Yes, you are. I’d prefer you hadn’t.”