Page 156 of Dominance

“Sure you are not Russian? Your jokes are terrible.”

“Nothing compares to the look on your face just now. What do you want me to do? Had to be certain that you weren’t trying to get the drop on me.”

“So you get dropped on me instead?”

“Drop. Not dropped.” Huh. Now I know how Ero feels. “So. What do you got for me?”

“File is below. You come.”

“Oh goody. That’s not totally a trap,” I mutter, skipping down the old cheese grater stairs. Even stepping as softly as I can, we’re clanging a racket, echoing into the darkness. “But seriously. No traps, please.”

Stealth is not my friend today.

“You have good flight? How long you in Moscow?”

“Seriously? Small talk?”

“What is this? ‘Small talk’? Is there big talk, as well?”

“Definitely. But it’s pronounced ‘big cock.’ Say it really slowly.”

Nikolai smirks, looking back at me as we reach the center of the circle of weak light from the hanging bulb.

Hm. Definitely getting anI’m about to get murderedvibe.

Should have invited Nikolai out for drinks. Gotten drunk, become best friends.

But I’ve been a little uneasy lately. Maybe it’s because I haven’t heard from Adriano in weeks. Ever since he went back to the States to get married.

“Dammit, Niko. I just said no traps!”

“What? No trap, I swearing.”

“Uh, fuck off.Perhot’ podzalupnaya!” I shout.

Nikolai cocks his head. “You using this wrong.”

“No. I was talking to that guy right over there. Yeah, I see you, Dimitri.”

“Heh. You got me.” The giant man steps out.

Followed by ten more.

All six-foot-shit and two hundred and fifty-fuck-my-life pounds.

“Wow. That’s a lot of Dimitris.”

“Hey, that is racist.”

“Shut up, Dimitri.” Nikolai frowns, clearly upset that I spoiled his ambush.

“Oh shit! I called it,” I snort.

“Honestly, those five are really called Dimitri.” Nikolai shrugs.

“If the other five are called Ivan I’m giving up, I don’t think I could take that kind of blatant humor.”

“Only two of them are.”

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