Page 43 of No Reason to Trust

The men glanced around at each other. “Will wait until Alexei arrives,” one man finally said.

Jake set the coffee coupons on the table. “The manager gave me these for free coffee. He wants to encourage meetings in his restaurant.”

The man who’d spoken looked at the stack of coupons and frowned, as if free coffees were a foreign concept. “Go ahead and get some coffees,” Jake said. “I already did.”

The men looked at each other and spoke what Jake was certain was Russian. Then they all walked up to the counter and got their free coffees. A couple of them bought breakfast food.

Jake wanted to glance at Livvy and see what she thought, but he didn’t dare turn around. Finally, all the men returned with coffee and food, and they slid into chairs at the table. Jake sat in the middle chair on his side, and he noticed that the Bratva members left the chair opposite him open. For Alexei? Probably. Livvy should have a clear view of the leader.

No one said a word. They all poured sugar into their coffee, and the men who’d bought food began to eat it. Finally, about ten minutes after ten, the door opened and Alexei walked in.

He spotted Jake immediately and went around the table to shake his hand. “Welcome, Mr. Dunbar,” he said. “I’m Alexei. I’m hoping we can do business today.”

“That’s why I’m here, Alexei.” He nodded at the remaining coffee coupons on the table. “The manager gave us those. Why don’t you get yourself a coffee?”

Alexei stared at the coupons as if they were a snake that might bite him, but he eventually picked one up and took it to the counter. The rest of his men were restless, clearly unsure what to do now that their careful plans had been derailed.

Eventually, Alexei returned to the table with coffee and slid into the chair across from Jake.

As he sipped, Jake felt as if the entire table held its breath. Waiting for Alexei to make the first move? Probably. He knew Livvy had eyes on the table, so he waited to hear from her.

It didn’t take long. She spoke quietly, but he could hear every word she said. “Alexei has a gun in his lap. Aimed at you. His finger is already on the trigger. I’d confront him about it now.”

Jake sat up straight. “Alexei, I’d like to see your hands on the table, please. My nose tells me you’re holding a gun beneath the table, and I find that disturbing. You’re not thinking of disrupting this fine establishment by causing a scene in here, are you?”

Alexei frowned at him. “Why would I do that?”

“I have no idea. But I’d like you and all your men to put your hands on the table and keep them there.”

Alexei’s men looked at him, and he finally nodded, one sharp jerk of his head. Everyone’s hands landed on the table.

Jake nodded. “Thank you. Anyone’s hands slip beneath the table? I’d take that as a hostile gesture and respond accordingly. I tell you now because I’d hate for there to be any misunderstandings.” He stared at Alexei, who gave him a short, hostile nod.

“Good. Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way, what can Nelson and I do for you?”

Alexei looked down at the table, as if he wanted to grab his gun and begin shooting. But he was smart enough to know that was a very bad idea. Jake saw the impulse in his eye and leaned toward him. “Alexei, just so you know,” he said, “I, too, have a gun beneath the table. Aimed at you. At your gut. If you or any of your men take your hands off the table, I’m gonna shoot you.” He lifted his gun above the edge of the table for a brief moment, then put it back on his lap.

“It’ll be a gut shot. Excruciatingly painful. And if you survive, you’ll be wearing a bag for the rest of your life.” Jake shook his head. “I don’t want that for you, Alexei. So hands on the table. And make sure all your men do the same thing.”

Alexei looked at his men. Muttered something in Russian. All of them slapped their hands on the table.

“Good,” Jake said. “A much better look. Now why don’t you tell me what you’d like Nelson and me to do for you?”

All the men looked at each other, then at Alexei. Finally Alexei said, “We need to have Nelson continue to let us know about the cargo coming in on the ships. Name of ship, when it’s due, what the cargo is. That is very useful information for us to have.”

“I’ll let Nelson know,” Jake said. “What else do you need from Nelson?”

The men all looked at one another, and Jake had no trouble seeing their desire to kill him in their eyes. “We will let him know what we require,” Alexei finally said.

“Very good,” Jake said. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?” Jake asked.

Alexei let his gaze touch every one of his men at the table. Jake didn’t see any signals, although there could have been a few. Finally Alexei said, “Would you like to see our operations? We’d be happy to show you.”

“And I’d like to see it,” Jake said, his voice smooth. Easy. “But it’ll have to be next time I’m in town. I’m running late today. I need to get back to Washington D.C. for a meeting.”

“Very well,” Alexei said. “Give my regards to Nelson.”

“I’ll do that.” Jake looked around the table. “Nice meeting all of you. Nelson will be happy to hear how well our meeting went. I’ll give him your regards.”

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