Page 60 of Pistols and Plush Toys

Was this–was he–?

“Because you’remine,”Mattia hissed, the words dripping like poison from his tongue.“And you always will be.”

Thoughts tried to convalesce and then crumbled. There was no space left in Elliot for anything. Mattia was bearing down on him, crushing him into nothingness.

Darkness spread at the edge of Elliot’s vision, and he tried to make any sound, but couldn’t. He was at Mattia’s mercy, but it didn’t seem like he had any mercy left for Elliot.

Then there was only darkness.

Chapter 12: Nikolai

Vicki Vitale had chosen their meeting place, which just so happened to be one of her clubs. When Nikolai arrived it was late, well after three in the morning, and the club was empty.

One of the closing staff let Nikolai and Alex in, and showed Nikolai to a table in front of the stage. He took a seat, tense and ready as Alex lurked in the background. Nikolai wasn’t wearing a wire but Alex was, with Gerard on the other end and close by with reinforcements, ready to intervene if shit went sideways.

Nikolai was hoping this wasn’t going to come to that.

The stage curtain moved.

The woman who stepped out from behind it was small. Even in towering pink heels, Nikolai guessed she’d only come up to his shoulders. She was wearing a sparkly pink halter dress and heart sunglasses, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and she was indoors. Her dark curls were piled up on top of her head in a messy but stylish way.

Is this Vicki?Nikolai wondered as she clicked down the steps. A messenger? Certainly Nikolai shouldn’t be judging on appearance, but in previous interactions with the Vitales, he’d been met with suits and smart dresses.

Still, the woman walked with smooth confidence, self-assured and most likely dangerous. Even if this was just a messenger, Nikolai needed to be on guard.

The woman plopped herself down into the chair opposite of Nikolai and pushed her heart sunglasses up into her hair.

“Vicki Vitale,” she said, in that Italian-English accent the Vitale family was known for. She snapped her gum as she offered a pink manicured hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Nikolai Tkachenko.”

“Is nice to meet you.” Nikolai shook her hand. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

Vicki wrinkled her nose when she sat back against the chair. “Yeah well, you do good business and we have a common… problem.” Her expression was sharp, calculating, but not aggressive. “You took my cousin’s boyfriend, and now he’s having a very public tantrum.”

Nikolai leveled a steady gaze back at her. “Your cousin is wanting to bring drugs and girls into the city. He steps on my business to wash his money. Is not our agreement.”

“I’m aware,” Vicki said, sounding disgruntled. She tapped her nails on the tabletop.

Nikolai waited.

Finally Vicki said, “I’m also aware that Mattia is causing trouble for more than just you. And most of the family is not happy about it.”

That was actually good news, to get confirmation that other Vitales didn’t appreciate Mattia’s methods. “Most?”

“His parents are being stubborn,” Vicki said, with a twist of her mouth.

Nikolai allowed himself his own frown. “I’m not wanting a war. But this is my city. I won’t let him ruin it. What I built here, I will not let go easy.”

Vicki snapped her gum again, tilting her head. Then she waved two fingers.

The employees that had been nearby tidying up stepped away, disappearing from the main floor.

Vicki looked at Alex, then to Nikolai. “Do you mind?”

Nikolai weighed it for a moment. Gerard would kill him later, but so far Vicki seemed… agreeable. And Nikolai wanted this meeting to go well.

“Alex,” he said, not taking his eyes off Vicki. “Outside.”

“Or,” Vicki gestured over her shoulder, pointing toward the back. “If you’re hungry, Jesse can turn the fryer on.”

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