Page 92 of Bratva's Intern

I wanted to tell the mayor to fuck off so I could continue talking to Wren.

But business…

“Let him in.”

The door swung open, and Mayor Calloway sheepishly ambled in. Archie followed closely, his face unreadable. Sometimes I wondered what went behind that calculating mind of his.

“Mayor Calloway.” I stood, imposing my full height on him. I needed him to feel small. I needed him to know that if he didn’t play my game, he would lose everything.

“Morozov, I don’t believe we’ve met before. What is the meaning of this?”

I gestured to the chair opposite my desk. “Please, have a seat. Then we can have a chat.”

He sank into the leather chair as if it were made of hot coals. I sat. Archie came over and stood next to my desk. Always my trusted right hand.

“I’d rather you dispel with the niceties, Morozov. What do you want?”

I tapped the computer keys a few times, bringing up the footage we’d just streamed, displaying the image of him snorting cocaine on the screen. His hands tightened on the arms of the chair, and his face went pale.

“I like a man who’s straightforward, Calloway, so I’ll get right to it. Millions of dollars in cryptocurrency stashed in untraceable wallets were detained at O’Hare underOperation Clean Sweep, a rather theatrical little sting aimed at ‘cleaning up the city.’ They were seized from my men.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, the way a fish might react when yanked out of water. “I… I don’t have anything to do with customs. That’s federal jurisdiction.”

Resting my elbows on the desk, I leaned forward, steepling my fingers. “I didn’t say you signed the order. I want those wallets released. And I want them released before four tomorrow.”

He blinked. “That’s impossible.”

I clicked again. The footage changed. This time, it showed him spread-legged on the velvet couch in VIP, face buried in that redhead’s chest, his fingers working beneath the hem of her dress.

Calloway jerked upright like he’d been electrocuted. “You son of a bitch. You set me up.”

“I gave you privacy,” I said smoothly. “You chose to violate your morals, your marriage vows, and several state laws. What happens in Power stays in Power… unless it interferes with my business.”

“You can’t threaten a sitting mayor?—”

“But here I am doing it anyway.” I stood and walked to the window, letting him see my back rather than my eyes. “If you don’t get those wallets released, I’ll be sending this footage to a popular blogger based in South Side. She’s got a hard-on for corrupt politicians and ten million followers who’ll happily devour every second of these videos.”

His chair creaked as he stood up. “You don’t understand how this works. I don’thavethat kind of power.”

I turned to face him, voice soft but threaded with steel. “I know you don’t. All you need is a little motivation to find someone who does.” I gestured at the screen. “Do I need to continue playing the footage?”

“I can’t justundoa federal operation.”

“Not undo. Redirect. Misfile a form. Pull the right strings. You’ve got until tomorrow. Make it happen.” I moved back behind the desk and sat, tilting my head. “And if you don’t… well, I think your daughter would be interested in knowing how her best friend and her daddy spend their nights.”

His face twisted with rage, but beneath it… there it was. Fear. He struggled to his feet, panting, his face red.

“You’re a fucking monster.”

I didn’t flinch. “I believe it’s pronounced businessman. And this is the cost of doing business inmycity. You’ll meet me here tomorrow between three and four. Don’t disappoint me, Calloway. No need to have your life implode over something so simple.”

“You’re gonna piss off the wrong people someday, Morozov.” He stormed toward the door without another word.

“Darius.”

He poked his head arount the door. “Yes, sir?”

“Get someone to keep tabs on the mayor for the next twenty-four hours. If he tries anything, I want to know about it. And if he alerts the authorities, execute him.”

---