Page 67 of Blinded By Loyalty
“I have a big dick, for your information. Just ask Anya.” A fist met Conrad’s jaw, knocking him back. Blood sprayed out his mouth onto my white shirt.
“You son of a bitch!” I yelled, but before I could get a piece of the asshole who hit my brother, York stepped in front of me.
“Stand the fuck down.” York shoved me back.
I huffed out a frustrated breath and nodded.
“I’m okay,” Conrad muttered, covering his mouth.
The Russians had their hands under the blazers. Presumably on their handguns. Fuck. I had a bad feeling about this. They escorted us through a side door and patted us down, removing our guns and my knife.
“Is this necessary, motherfucker?” I was so over these dudes treating us like crap. My remark got me a punch in the gut. I bent over, gasping for air. If I could just get my hands on one of them…
“Shut up and follow.”
“Say pretty please and maybe we will.” Conrad snorted.
The towering Russian whirled on him with his fist in the air. My brother squeaked and cowered like a pussy. Jesus this kid embarrassed the shit out of me. The Russian laughed and so did the others.
I elbowed Conrad, glaring at him like I had many times to shut his trap. He better if he knew what was good for him. If he screwed this up because he ran his mouth, I would kill him myself.
Not long after we were led into a dark office, Abram Morosov arrived. The stocky Russian sat, surrounded by four massive Russians with guns. I stared at him the entire time he discussed the situation with Mr. St. James.
I was still pissed about them taking our weapons. We’d be toast if these men decided to pull theirs on us.
But it sounded like Abram Morosov could be bought for the sum of ten million dollars, and my brother could go free if…
“Get Leon to accept my daughter so the merger can happen, and we have a deal.”
What a jackass. Who the hell did he think he was, God? Or did he believe Mr. St. James was God and could persuade Antonov to continue merging their families together?
Mr. St. James sat stoically with his eyes locked on Abram. “No.”
“No? You wish to not save the boy’s life?”
I turned toward my brother. His leg was shaking faster than my heart was thudding in my chest.
“I said I’d give you ten million for his life. Your daughter knew she was betrothed to Antonov’s son. She slept with Conrad anyway.” He sipped his brandy as Abram growled. Simone’s dad didn’t appear worried at all. Either he wasn’t, or he had a damn good poker face and was as scared as me. “Conrad is innocent. You’re lucky I’m offering so much.”
Oh shit.
“You disrespect me in my own casino!” Abram’s hand slammed onto the table.
I noticed Conrad flinch out of the corner of my eye. York and his Bratva connection had stone-cold expressions. I wasn’t usually unnerved so easily, but I also never had so much to lose.
“Abram, we can’t always control our children. We want what’s best for them or, selfishly, what we want for ourselves. I understand. I have a daughter too. She loves who she loves. I must accept it.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing or that he’d pay so much to save my brother. Or just maybe it was to save my life because he genuinely cared about Simone’s happiness. This was a side to Mr. St. James that I had never seen before. Then again, he did do everything he could to help Will with Miranda last fall. No matter what his reasoning was, I would be indebted to him.
Abram’s brother whispered in his ear. My throat constricted as we waited for a reply. Sweat beading in my hairline.
Would Abram give the order to have us all gun downed for disrespecting him?
Would my brother be dragged away and I’d never see him again?
What was the brother whispering in Abram’s ear?
“We accept the deal. On one condition.” Abram leaned forward, clasping his hands together on the desk. He glared at Conrad, then cut his beady eyes to mine. “He is never to step foot in any of my casinos or in Atlantic City. If we catch him here, he’s dead on the spot.”