Page 4 of The Pakhan's Sold Bride

“The men been tailing him?”

“Yeah, you know this whole thing with giving him two hours was a waste of time.”

“It’s okay, it’s only his time we wasted.”

“True.”

Roan punches the elevator button, then once inside, punches a code into the security panel. The elevator has access to every floor of the building, but the top floor requires a key code that very few people know.

He stands with his arms folded over his chest.

I glance over him. He’s a bulky, solid man—someone very few people are stupid enough to mess with.

“You can tell the security guards to let Anton up as soon as he arrives. Do we know what actually happened that cost us so much money?” I ask.

“We tested the product. He cut it. I don’t know what he did with the other part, but he diluted the product he delivered with powdered sugar of all shit.”

“Fucking idiot. That’s embarrassing. And the Black Hats—they obviously test on delivery. He knows this. Why would he be so stupid?”

“Exactly. Purity was down fifteen percent,” Roan says, with a look of disapproval on his face.

“Fifteen percent of ten million dollars. That’s a good amount of money Anton was trying to slice away for himself. Did he say what he was going to do with it?” I huff, agitated.

“I didn’t ask. Probably clearing his ever-growing list of debts. Who the fuck cares? I say we end his miserable existence.” Roan taps the gun at his hip.

“It does seem like the most likely outcome today. Did you set up a meeting with Igor for me?” Igor is the man who was supposed to receive the product that Anton messed with. I’ll have to make things right with him.

“Yeah, Igor is a good ally. I made sure he understands that Anton was not working on our instructions and that he will be dealt with internally. But obviously, a face-to-face and offer of peace from you will go a long way.”

“Good.” The elevator comes to a stop and quietly slides open. We step out and walk into a massive open space, modern and bright, surrounded by two walls of windows that run the entire perimeter of the building. I like open spaces. It lets me think more clearly. It’s why I love San Francisco and living next to the ocean. I never feel crowded the same way I do when I’m inland. I can breathe easier knowing there is open space next to me, instead of more buildings and more people, scurrying around like ants infesting the city.

On our right is the receptionist, a mousy girl who answers calls, fetches coffee, and minds her own business. I still don’tknow why she’s here. I’d rather have the space to myself. Roan says it gives the office a more convincingly above-the-board vibe.

I nod in greeting at her, and she nods back. I can never remember her name. We’ve hardly spoken. Roan is the one who deals with her.

Walking towards my desk, in the far corner at the meeting point of the two windowed walls, Roan’s phone pings. He pulls it out of his pocket. “He’s here.”

I sneer. I don’t want to be dealing with Anton today, but here I am, forced into this position because again, he fucked up.

“Perfect timing,” I answer.

I take my gun out of the holster resting against the small of my back and shrug the black suit jacket off my shoulders.

“Send him up,” I say, putting the gun down on my mahogany desk.

“You should just let me meet him downstairs and end this.”

“No, we’ll do this the right way. We gave him two hours. Let’s see what he came up with in that time.”

“I’ll tell you what he came up with. Nothing,” Roan groans.

I smirk. “Most likely.”

Chapter 2 - Lara

Lifting the piece of paper, I sigh loudly and place it on the already too-high pile of unpaid bills that I somehow need to find the money to cover. It’s another reminder from the hospital of what we owe.

What I owe.

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