Page 50 of Violent Possession
Alexei relaxes. He was thinking I’d curse him like an animal, wasn’t he? The urge to throw the wine glass in his face is overwhelming.
Vania continues, “And the Volkovs? Did they treat you well? Was the pay good?”
Volkov?
I’ve heard that name. Stories from New York. A Russian family, I think, owners of the underworld on that side, but what the hell do they have to do with me?
Just to make Alexei tense again, I think about telling Vania to go fuck himself with these delusions, but Alexei’s calm voice interrupts me. He senses the shit I’m about to say.
“Let’s say Griffin’s loyalty wasn’t being properly rewarded,” Alexei says as a waiter leaves Vania’s drink on the table, leaving as quickly as possible. “We simply made a more convincing counter-offer.”
I take advantage of Vania’s thirst and grab Alexei’s glass. I drain it. The wine goes down all at once and, honestly, I need something stronger.
Across the table, Vania growls like an animal. He looks from the empty glass that was Alexei’s to me as if I had just spit in someone’s face.
“You insolent bastard,” he says, starting to get up from the chair, with a clenched fist.
Only then do I understand. This guy is territorial. He’s really pissed because I touched Alexei’s wine glass.
Before he can do anything, it’s the man himself who calls him.
“Vania.”
Just his name. Said without raising his voice, casual. But it’s enough.
“Sit down.”
Vania stares at him. He looks like he’s going to explode. But then, slowly, he sits down, still burning in my direction trying to set me on fire. Alexei’s voice in that tone makes anyone obey him, really.
I can’t help a tug at my lips, something that must look like a smile. Alexei isn’t angry with me. He doesn’t even seem irritated. He’s enjoying himself. It’s obvious beneath that strange social mask he’s wearing. He’s a son of a bitch.
He’d love it, wouldn’t he? To have a real leash around my neck. One he could pull hard every time I did something stupid like this, forcing me to my knees beside his chair.
I’m going to ignore the unnecessary warmth that gives me.
I really need another drink.
Alexei adjusts the napkin on his lap; this son of a bitch folds the white linen into a Japanese origami shape and smiles condescendingly at me.
“You have to forgive him, cousin. Griffin doesn’t bother with formalities. He’s an eccentric man.”
This Vania guy is the cousin.
Cousin.
Cousin?
The man who sent the assassin to my hotel.
I look at Alexei and back at Vania, waiting for some sign that this is a trick. I only see raw hatred. The cousin. It’s this guy.
I almost choke on my own saliva, covering my mouth. It’s ridiculous, but I can’t hold it back.
Then,pats. Light, rhythmic. It’sAlexei, with a fucking carefree smile for his fucking cousin.It’s okay, the little animal just got scared, I have everything under control.
Vania looks at the whole scene with pure disgust. “I need some air,” he growls. “I can’t be in the same room as these people.”
He shoves the chair back with such force that it scrapes the marble floor.
