The Darkness Within

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

The café where we meet Sergei's potential business partner is quaint, and incredibly public. I suspect that's a strategic move—it's far less likely for a gunfight to break out when there are dozens of bystanders that would become problematic collateral.

Sergei has six bodyguards with him, a few of which I'm realizing are his personal team who flank him everywhere, Igor among them.

The potential business candidate—Collin—looks to be in his fifties, far more seasoned that Sergei, yet I can tell he's intimidated. He has no particularly discernible features—he's of average height and weight, with the only memorable feature being a Roman nose, crooked from being broken many times. He's good at concealing his feelings, but I'm near positive both Sergei and I catch the undertone of tension.

Fortunately, there appears to be no undercurrent of hostility. With Collin, or his four guards. I suspect that he's simply too afraid of Sergei to try anything violent.

Sergei and I arrived fifteen minutes ago, and got seated at a table in the back of the bustling café. Collin arrived five minutes ago. Sergei exchanged a brief greeting, translated by me, and they've spent the last several minutes simply staring at each other.

It strikes me as a competition—whoever looks away first loses. I've followed Sergei's lead, staring at Collin with a blank expression. As the minutes have trickled by, he's grown steadily more nervous, starting to subtly fidget in his seat.

Finally, he breaks, looking away from Sergei and to me. I've already introduced myself as translator, but beyond that haven't spoken.

"Your name?" he asks me in Greek.

"Kira," I respond, pronouncing the name as Greek's would.

Collin inclines his head. "There have been rumors that the great Novikov boss has taken a woman. Most don't think it's true."

Sergei slides his gaze to mine, silently requesting a translation. I convey it word for word.

Last night I pondered the possibility of trying to tamper with the business deal, undermine Sergei in some way, but decided the risk wasn't worth taking. I also discarded the idea of asking for help to escape, even though it would be in my best interest, because the longer I spend in Sergei's company, the more inclined I am to like him. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll find escape in a highly-monitored meeting.

Sergei looks back to Collin as he speaks.

"We're not here to discuss my personal matters. We're here to negotiate. My price is eighty thousand for a shipment of 500 M4's," he says, his fingers drumming on the white tablecloth.

When I convey his words to Collin, Collin's ears turn red. "Eighty thousand?" he demands.

Sergei doesn't need my translation to catch Collin's outrage. His lips break into a slow smile that manages to both drip with danger and make his already stunning features more beautiful.

"Fifty thousand," Collin barters.

When I translate to Sergei, his only response is a widening of his smile, and a weighted silence that conveys displeasure.

Collin, shrinking into himself under the weight of Sergei's gaze, amends, "Sixty thousand."

Sergei's eyes meet mine when I convey the offer. "What do you think, Kira?"

I'm surprised at him caring enough to ask my opinion, but answer regardless. Knowing that Collin can't understand, I tell him in Russian, "I think you overinflated the initial price with the knowledge that you'd end up bargaining down.