Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Charleigh

“Miss Gates, is it?” the Pakhan asks, getting right down to business.

“Yes,” I say politely, waiting for an invitation to sit.

Which I do, as soon as he gestures to the chair opposite him.

His office is kind of on the shabby side, surprising me, but I guess not all criminals care about fancy surroundings. Fluorescent lights glare overhead, the carpet is worn, and the huge conference table we are seated at is scratched and chipped. In another setting, its shabby look might be charming. But in a room that smells like a combination of dust and cigars, pretty much nothing is going to look nice.

Without waiting, I dive into telling the Pakhan everything that happened the day Dimitri nabbed me. I include more background than he probably wants about my family, as well as the low-down on the trouble my sister always gets herself into. Without interruption, he listens and nods.

He probably doesn’t speak to many ‘civilians,’ as the guys call me. I wonder if my relatively normal life seems as unusual to him as his does to me.

I round up my speech like I’m making the case in debate club or something. “You see, the man attacked and almost killed me to make a point to the Alekseev brothers. It had nothing to do with me, per se. I was just an easy target, someone who’s important to the guys.”

The Pakhan’s eyebrows rise. “Important? You’re important to the Alekseevs?” he asks.

Really? Is he fucking with me? Because if he is, I don’t think he’s very funny.

I shrug. “You could say we’re… friends.”

A smile grows across the Pakhan’s face, revealing stained and missing teeth. I do my best to hide my revulsion as a whiff of his breath floats across the table, stinging my nostrils.

After studying me for a moment, he leans onto the table, interlacing his fingers. “Miss Gates, I have sympathy for your situation, and I thank you for sharing your perspective with me.”

Is he kidding? That wasn’t my perspective, it was facts. All facts.

Has this whole thing just been an anxiety-inducing waste of time?

Fuck these people. All of them.

I start to stand, but the Pakhan waves me back down. I obey, because what the hell else can I do?

“I will have Dimitri Yegorov compensate you for your trouble.”

Huh?

“I… I don’t think I understand,” I say slowly.

“He will make restitution. To you and the Alekseevs,” he says, like our conversation is over.

Not so fast.

“Um, sir, I did not come here for money. I don’t want Dimitri’s money.”

He is perplexed. “Excuse me? Miss Gates, that is my decision—”

I cut him off. Probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. “I refuse to be monetarily compensated,” I say, my chin up.

His eyes narrow and his head shifts back on his neck, like he’s never had anyone, much less a woman, disagree with him.

Which is probably true.

“What is it you want, then?” he asks, amused.

Asshole.

I shrug. “It’s pretty simple. I want blood.”

His eyes widen, and he stifles a laugh. “Blood?” he says, smiling. “Miss Gates, do I need to remind you that Dimitri is worth more to this organization than you are?”

And there we have it. I’ll never be worth as much as a man in this world.

I grip the arms of my chair and repeat in my head the guys’ lecture on keeping my cool.

I will not lose my shit, I will not lose my shit…

I am not ready to give up. “How is Dimitri of value to anyone? All I hear about is what a drain he is,” I say calmly.

So far, so good. I’m under control. All is right with the world. We’re just discussing whether someone has the right to live or die. I’m pushing my luck but carefully. Very carefully.

The Pakhan drums his fingers, clearly tiring of me. “What you don’t know, Miss Gates, is that Dimitri’s father was an honorable man. That sort of respect is afforded to family members in our world. Even though his father is no longer with us, Dimitri is protected, to a degree. Additionally, he runs several businesses—”

“I don’t care,” I say, finally snapping. It was inevitable. “I’ll kill him myself. Try and stop me.”

I get to my feet. The Pakhan might not be done with our conversation, but I sure am. What a waste of fucking time.

He sighs. “Very well, Miss Gates. You have been warned. We have our ways of doing things, and I suggest you try to understand that. You can leave now. Please send in the Alekseev brothers,” he says, waving me out the door.

“But—” I start to say.

“Miss Gates, I am a patient man. It would do you some good to learn patience, yourself. Now listen to me carefully.” He approaches me, shaking a finger in my face.

Oh shit. I’ve done it now.

“I’m not used to women speaking to me the way you do. I know times are different, and that this is the way of the world now. Women say what is on their minds. They disagree. They ask for what they want. I’m not so old I don’t see that. I don’t like it, but I suppose I have to get used to it. Accept the new ways. After all, the world is always changing, is it not?” he asks, raising his hands.

Maybe he’s more evolved than I thought.

He moves closer still, and in a swift movement, too fast for me to move, he grabs the hair at the back of my head and yanks sideways.

“Wait—” I cry, stumbling in my uncomfortable position and high heels, wondering if I’m going down, and whether this man intends to hurt me and how badly.

“I will not accept disrespect from you, young lady.”

He tugs my hair, pulling me into a torturous sideways position.

“Please,” I beg, “I didn’t mean—”

“You meant every word you said, Miss Gates. Every word. I am no fool. I suggest you go back home and think about what I told you.”

With a final tug, he lets go. I straighten up and run for the door, wondering how close I was to losing my life.

* * *

The second waits just outside the Pakhan’s office, and when I appear, walks ahead of me down the hall. Because I apparently haven’t learned my lesson yet about following these strange men’s rules, I rush past him, dying to get to the guys. When I fly into the room where they’re waiting, they jump to their feet.

“What the hell?” Kir asks at my out of breath, disheveled appearance.

I point at the door I just passed through with the second close on my heels, as if I could actually get away from him in this rabbit warren of hallways and offices. “Guys. He wants to see you,” I say. “The Pakhan wants to see the three of you.”

As I say this, I realize that means I’ll be left alone with the second. I don’t know for how long, but to be honest, one second is more time than I want to spend with him.

“I’ll stay here with the lady,” he grouses. “End of the hall,” he says, opening the door for the brothers.

“Don’t worry, we know the way,” Vadik says.

And now I’m alone with the creep who eyes me like he’d love to keep me and eat me for dinner.

“Hey,” I say cheerfully, “your nose stopped bleeding.”

Talk about poking a bear.

He lunges at me and grabs my neck. But I’m fast too, and my stiletto knife is immediately against his crotch. I would love to use it. I really would.

I could take his dick or his balls. Or both.

And he realizes that.

His hands drop from my neck, and I back away, keeping the knife visible. He needs to remember I’m not afraid of him. Or at least believe that I’m not.

“You know,” I say, “I’ve learned the hard way to go nowhere without protection. I never used to, but after being beaten nearly to death, well, what choice does a girl have? I gotta stick up for myself, know what I mean? The guys say I’m not ready for a gun yet, so I came across this nice little stiletto knife. I’m dying to use it. I really am. Do you think I’ll get the chance to?” I ask with a sad pout.

Across the room, he paces like a caged animal, glaring at me in the disbelief that he was just bested by a woman.

I sigh. “I was hoping to try it out, maybe on you. But as long as you stay on the other side of the room, far away from me until the guys return, I won’t. And yeah, I know you have a gun and can put a bullet in my head anytime you want. But I also know you’ll end up with a bullet in your own head, as will every member of your family, if you do that.”

Good boy.