Sin of Silence (Sinner's Empire #1) - Nikita Slater Page 0,45

make him suffer, but he’d been rescued and was now resuming his place. By showing his hand, he was saying that his injury was insignificant, and he hadn’t forgotten what they’d done to him.

“I recognize you,” Krystoff said bluntly, his gaze landing on the leader. “You were running point when I was grabbed. You held me while another cut my finger off.”

The man dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I hope you know I was only following orders. It was nothing personal.”

Krystoff stared at the man, his gaze glacial. “Life is personal, and you took several days of mine.” He let that sink in before continuing, “What are you doing here?”

The man shuffled his feet and glanced sideways at Jozef, who was the most intimidating of the Koba syndicate. Everyone had heard of the Koba guard dog. “Mr. Stanovich is deeply regretful over your recent misunderstanding. He would like to make amends by opening discussions with you regarding a truce and perhaps some trade options.”

Krystoff laughed, his voice a deep boom throughout the club. Anyone who knew him, knew they should retreat rapidly from that sound. It usually preceded violence. Krystoff moved his gaze to Jozef and nodded. Jozef strode past the three men, who watched him warily as he dragged a velvet curtain around the VIP area they were sitting in, closing them off from view of the club. It was the Koba family private club with an extremely limited and vetted guest list. Anyone who entered knew the price if they repeated anything that went down at the club. Still, they didn’t need to be direct witnesses to what was about to happen.

“So… Vasiliy wants to do business with me after attempting to use me as leverage,” Krystoff mused. “He thinks to force my hand by mutilating my hand.” His cold gaze rose to the men lined up in front of him. “He has underestimated me.”

The leader looked decidedly nervous and glanced repeatedly at the closed velvet curtain and Jozef who now stood behind them, his arms loose at his sides. While the men talked, Jozef took his leather gloves from his jacket pocket and tugged them on.

“H-he wants to express his condolences and hopes that you might consider doing business with him in the future. Perhaps we can offer reparations for your suffering,” the man spoke quickly, his hand straying to his jacket. His gun would have been checked in by club security, but Jozef knew men like this probably carried hidden weapons. His razor-sharp gaze followed their every movement.

“Business is certainly out of the question,” Krystoff said coldly. “I do not do business with men who breach my trust. But reparations… yes, we can put those on the table.”

The guy swallowed nervously and tried to shuffle back but ran into Jozef who stood behind him, unmoving. Jozef’s gaze met his uncle’s, but Krystoff gave a slight shake to his head.

“You can give me one thing,” Krystoff drawled.

“Anything.” Vasiliy’s man agreed desperately, seizing on the opportunity to curry favour with the crime boss.

“Tell me who the Phantom is.”

Jozef frowned, remembering his uncle saying the word after he was rescued. He hadn’t given it another thought, but it clearly weighed on Krystoff’s mind.

“He’s no one,” the guy said quickly. “One of Vasiliy’s contacts.”

Krystoff tapped the fingers of his good hand against the table. “One of you idiots mentioned he was responsible for my abduction, which makes sense, since Vasiliy didn’t seem to know what to do with me. I’m thinking my kidnapping was a botched a job for a third party, yeah?”

The guy looked distinctly green as he withstood Krystoff’s glare. Jozef and Havel glanced at each other. Who was the Phantom? If they were a player in the European or Russian Underworlds, shouldn’t one of them have heard of him?

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His eyes darted around the room as he sweated profusely. “Vasiliy orchestrated the kidnapping so he could negotiate a relationship with your organization, that’s all.”

“You see,” Krystoff drawled. “This makes no sense to me. In what scenario would any sane person think that kidnapping and torturing a rival is the key to forging an alliance?” When the man didn’t answer, Krystoff continued, “The answer is, no one would think that. Which leads me to another conclusion. Either Vasiliy wanted me for some other unknown reason, or he was working under another’s orders. Someone who doesn’t have the resources to take me into custody.”

Krystoff leaned against the table, giving the sweating man