Page 104 of Scarlet Secrets

He sits, grabs his glass, and drains it.

“You forget yourself, Demyan. I’m a powerful man, too. If I run into someone, someone I’m helping you with, then you shouldn’t poke me. After all, you made me a promise.”

“Contingent on good intel.”

“It’s been good.”

“It’s been worth shit.” I curl my lip. “I could have gotten what you gave me—nothing—on my own.”

“I’m helping you. It’s not my problem if you don’t know what to do with what I’ve given you.”

“It’s no help,” I say, shifting the glass away from him as the bartender refills it.

“Yes, it is. After all, I’m helping, and have given you help, in exchange for marrying Stefina.”

I laugh and shake my head. “For good intel, perhaps. But you’ve voided that agreement by meeting with Niko behind my back.”

“Last night? I told you, I ran into him.”

“Last night you were cozy buddies,” I say, leaning in. “But I’m talking about Friday and three other times I can give you times and dates for. And every single one of those you were drinking, smoking cigars, and being buddies with the scum.”

“Bullshit. You can’t prove it.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out the envelope and smack it on the bar. “Photographic proof.”

Sergio doesn’t move.

“Look,” I say. And I pull out the photos myself, slapping them on the bar. I point at the third one. “That’s my favorite. The two of you laughing over very expensive rum.”

He grits his teeth. “You’ve got it all wrong. I’m doing exactly what you asked of me. Getting close to Niko to bring him down. I want my piece of it all, too. You know that.”

I study him.

He could be lying. He could be telling the truth. Niko is the kind to slide out of exits and change his plans to protect himself. Sergio’s the kind to play both sides.

In times like this, I trust my gut. And my gut instinct says this man is full of shit.

So I leave the photos and turn, walking out.

Sergio calls out after me, “You’re making a big mistake. You backing out of our agreement will bring dire consequences down on you.”

I reach the car and it takes another minute for Pavel to join me.

“Fuck,” I mutter as the driver starts the engine. I look at Pavel “Anything interesting after I left?”

He shrugs. “The man yelled a lot, then placated his patrons, but he was stopped making a call by the goon who flashed the gun. They made me, finally. Amateurs.”

We head back, Ilya’s car with the backup taking position a few cars behind us.

He likes to play overkill, I know. But this time, I think I agree.

“Tomorrow, can you get out there and see what you can learn from wherever and whatever?”

“Sir?” Pavel leans forward and looks out the window and then over at me. “I think we should play dirty. Start spreading these two are not to be trusted. That Niko broke certain rules by shooting up the wedding, killing a civilian.”

“Who was marrying my sister.”

“But they weren’t married yet. It’s a minor point, but…” He shrugs again.

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