Page 81 of Poisoned Pawn
Akim is nodding as I speak. “Lev was smart. He kept the circle to those who don’t mix with his father. And he used Graham as the go-between between himself and the buyer.”
“Which is?” I ask, not mentioning that Lev wasn’t too smart as Perry Graham was skimming off the top.
“He doesn’t know. Which is where you come in. Pavel sent me to you that day wanting to know what Lev had told you, but he wanted you to take out Mark Swanson the CEO of Medi Labs.”
“Swanson is still breathing, so I’m guessing he changed his mind?”
“He’s gone into hiding. No one has seen or heard from him since Perry’s death.”
I tap my fingers on the table. “And Kir?”
This time Akim’s sigh is full of sorrow and resignation. “I’ve not heard from him since the shooting at Gambino’s.”
I gloss over that as it’s clear Akim thinks his brother is dead. “And what do you know about the guns and where they were going?”
Akim’s lips tighten, and it seems the lines of communication are closed. He’s not going to share anything more with me. But I don’t need him to.
“Very well. We’re done here.” I go to get up only for Akim to stop me.
“Lev told Pavel that there is another shipment due to be collected by the buyer tomorrow night.”
Or maybe I do. That explains where Lev is; being held by his father.
“You told me you don’t know who the buyer is, so how the fuck is Lev organising a drop with his go between dead and no idea who the buyer is?” I say, sitting forward and leaning across the table, making sure that Akim knows I’m getting pissed.
“We don’t. But the buyer knows who Lev is.”
“Well, that’s fucking interesting,” I muse, and now I’m even more convinced that something isn’t right with this whole situation.
The buyer has to be someone from Lev’s inner circle or have someone on the inside of it feeding back information to him.
“You know where the drop is happening?” I know what Akim is going to say before he even opens his mouth.
“No.”
“Bullshit!” I yell, getting to my feet. I rest my hands on the table and look Akim in the eye. “What is it, huh? Pavel tell you to only give me enough so I’d agree to be his fucking minion, or you don’t want me to know because there is more you aren’t telling me?”
He holds his position, jaw tight, staring back at me like he wants to smash his fist in my face.
“Neither. He wants you to put in a good word for him,” he grounds out reluctantly.
“Good word with…” The penny drops as Akim’s eyes flash over my shoulder to Zak, who has remained quiet. But with the realisation that Pavel wants an in with Kavanagh, Zak finally speaks.
“Yeah, that ain’t going to happen,” he says with a laugh. “Pavel has been stringing Aidan along since we stepped foot in Manchester. If he had a chance, he already blew it.”
“I hear he hasn’t been very helpful. Not how you want to play it if you’re looking to make a deal with anyone,” I say, pushing to my full height and done with this conversation.
I open the door and come face to face with Priscilla Queens.
“Ah, Carter. I knew you’d be back. But I didn’t know you’d be bringing a friend,” she drawls looking at Zak behind me. Her eyes light and she licks her red coated lips like she’s just seen her next meal.
I’d like to say she was wearing something, but as is usual with Priscilla, it leaves little to the imagination. Black fishnet stockings with a suspender belt, a barely there thong consisting of thins straps and a well-placed bow, much like the bra with no other material but matching bows over her nipples. Her long dark hair is pinned in a messy pile on her head that somehow looks perfect with a few strands falling freely around her face. In one hand she’s holding a crop, and she flips it against the palm of her other hand as she stands there, her hip cocked to the side in heels that place her at almost the same height as me.
“I’m always down for a little DP, especially with two of the finest specimens to come through my door.”
“That’s not fucking hard given the shit you let in yourdoor. We’re just leaving. I’ve had my fill of cunts tonight,” I throw the words over my shoulder because if the shoe fucking fits.
She backs up against the wall as though to let me through, but as soon as I move forward, her leg comes up, placing her heeled foot on the opposite wall and blocking my path.