Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
A faint crease forms between his brows. “I’ve had to redirect cargo a couple of times this year because of it.”
“Same on my side,” I reply, holding his gaze. “We’re costing each other money.”
“It can’t continue.” His eyes narrow slightly. “If it does, it will lead to fighting among the lower levels and eventually war between us.”
“It’s the reason I’m here in person. I’d rather make money than shed blood.”
Petkov’s features ease a little as he nods. “Then let's come up with a deal that works for both parties.” He shifts back slightly, one hand brushing over his jaw before settling on his thigh.
I glance between Raya and Petkov. “Anything moving into your regions gets handled through your network the moment it arrives, and the same if anything moves into my territories. Our men stay out of each other’s regions.”
He nods in agreement. “We each keep our existing contacts.”
“Yes. No parallel buyers, no secondary arrangements.”
Petkov’s eyes flick to Raya, and for a moment, there’s a flash of interest.
“There are areas where neither side has been consistent,” Raya mentions while pulling her phone out of her handbag to look at the notes she made. “I’ve worked closely with our hacker to prepare a list of ports, cities, and possible routes. We just need to decide who handles what.”
She’s worked her ass off the past six months to get all the information for this meeting. The list is the golden egg that’s going to seal the deal. Instead of me taking control of all those areas, I’m willing to share them with Petkov, which means more money in his pocket.
When Petkov lifts an impressed eyebrow at my sister, I feel a surge of pride.
Raya leans forward, her voice calm and steady. “I’ll sit with both sides and map out who’s moving what and through which ports and routes. I’ll also make sure nothing overlaps before we decide who gets which area on the list. It will be a fair split.”
Petkov’s full attention settles on my sister, his expression unreadable for a beat before shifting into something more focused. “You’d handle that directly?”
“Yes,” she answers without hesitation.
“We’re here for two weeks,” I say to bring his attention back to me. “The Cosa Nostra wants this alliance with you, so Raya will work with both sides to make sure nothing overlaps on the ground and holds once we leave.”
He stares at me for a moment before nodding. “This is a much better deal than I expected.” Relaxing slightly, one arm resting along the back of the couch, the corner of his mouth lifts. “What about margins?”
“Stay aligned with your market,” I reply. “No sudden changes.”
“And your pricing adjusts when product moves into my regions.” It’s not a question.
“Yes.” I keep my gaze locked with his. “And the same counts for you.”
“Volume stays in line with what the ground can carry,” he says.
“Of course. Too much movement creates attention neither of us needs,” I reply.
He shifts again, hard lines cutting into his features and a dangerous light igniting in his dark eyes. “I have a separate issue. Boris Pavlov.”
The name has me lifting an eyebrow. The fucker has been trying to sell AK47s on the West Coast. “I’m aware of him.”
“He’s been a problem since before I took over as head of the organization, and he refuses to fall in line. I’ve heard he’s started sending small shipments to the US. I’m dealing with it.” His jaw tightens before he continues. “Just know, if you come into contact with him, he’s not authorized by me at all.”
Well, that answers the question before I could ask it.
“Then anything tied to him doesn’t move through our routes,” I state.
Raya shifts beside me. “I’ll flag his known contacts and routes while I’m mapping everything. If anything links back to him, I’ll isolate it so we can get men to patrol the routes and shut down shipments that aren’t ours.”
Atanas studies her for a moment, then gives a firm nod. “Good. That keeps it contained. I don’t want Boris affecting anything we’re trying to put in place here.”
“He won’t,” I say, holding his gaze.
Something in Petkov’s expression eases, just slightly. “Good.”
He leans forward and pours three tumblers of whiskey. Helping himself to a glass, he gestures to the other two while saying, “Here’s to a prosperous alliance between us.”
“To growth and more money,” I toast before taking a sip, while Raya ignores the third glass. My sister has never liked the taste of alcohol.
Petkov looks at her again, and his dark gaze softens a fraction. “Would you like wine, Raya?”
She shakes her head, and giving him a nervous smile that makes me frown, she asks, “Do you have sparkling water?”
Petkov glances at the door where Santino is standing near one of the guards. “Have Ms. Nikolova bring sparkling water for Miss Torrisi.”