Gavriil (Stepanov Mafia)

“Actually,” I said, straightening my suit jacket and sitting up. “Let her in. My afternoon is wide open, anyway.”

Yuri nodded, disappeared, and then reappeared, this time pushing the door open far enough that I could see a beautiful blonde woman walking in behind him. She gave him a small smile when he held the door open for her and then gave the same smile to me. It was polite but nervous.

Her hair fell in waves down to her breasts, which were hidden beneath a thick white sweater. Her legs, however, were on full display. Her blue jeans were tight, showcasing her long, lean legs. A pair of knee-high leather boots complemented the look. I didn’t know the woman, but I imagined myself unzipping them slowly, slipping the boots from her legs and peeling her out of her jeans.

“You are Gavril Stepanov?” she asked.

I nodded. “I am. And you are?”

The woman took a deep breath, her pouty pink lips parting. “My name is Samantha. Conway.”

It took me a moment to make the connection, but only a moment. “Devin’s sister.”

She looked down at the floor, ashamed as she should have been, and nodded. “I am.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

She didn’t respond to that.

“I came to talk with you,” she said. “Negotiate, really. My brother is having a hard time coming up with the money you asked for within the time frame. I know that you have a… business to run, but I had to come here and ask whether there is any way you could give him more time or lower the price.”

I held up a hand to stop her, and she bit her lower lip, cutting off her speech immediately.

“Did your brother send you here? Did he think I would be enraptured by your beauty and let him off easy?”

Her cheeks turned pink, and she shook her head. “He doesn’t know I’m here.”

“And why are you here?”

She opened her mouth and then closed it again, her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Well, I’m here to ask you—”

I shook my head. “I suppose the question I meant to ask was: why are you here on behalf of your idiot brother? Why do you believe he deserves your intercession?”

“He doesn’t,” she said honestly, her shoulders straight.

She was trying to be brave. If it hadn’t been so annoying, I would have found it admirable.

“Then you are wasting my time. Goodbye.”

She inhaled sharply. “Wait. I just meant—”

“If your brother is not worth your time, then he is not worth my time. I have lost enough to him, and I will not sacrifice anything more. Goodbye.”

Yuri opened the door to let her out, but Samantha didn’t move.

“He may not be worth your time, but I believe I am. I have struggled my entire life. My mother is sick, and I am her sole provider. I spend every day caring for her, making it impossible for me to work. If my brother is killed, we will be destitute. My mother will die.”

“And then you will be free,” I said.

The woman’s eyes narrowed, and I saw the realization cross her face. At that moment, she clearly realized that I was far worse than she ever could have imagined. The thought warmed me. I loved being underestimated.

“I do not wish to be free,” she said. “I wish to make things right.”

“That is not your job,” I said quickly, turning my attention back to my computer. “Your brother stole from me. Only he can make it right.”

She stepped forward and placed a hand over the top of my desktop, covering the screen. I looked up at her, one eyebrow raised. She stared back. I could see the fear in her eyes, but also the determination. She wouldn’t leave without being forced.

“He will work for you,” she said. “He will do whatever you need until your need for vengeance is satisfied. Let him work off his debts.”

I laughed, and the woman jumped. “Get out.”

Her eyes widened, and I repeated it, pointing towards the door.

“Get out and say goodbye to your brother. He has one day left to pay me what he owes, or I kill him.”

She shook her head, her blonde hair tumbling around her heart-shaped face. “No, he has three days. You gave him ten, and it has only been seven.”

I smiled at her. “I’ve taken off two days for your stupidity. I suggest you arrange a funeral. May I recommend a closed casket?”

“What did I do?” she asked, shocked.

“Do you really believe I would let a man who stole from me come and work in my business?” I asked, standing up, my chair slamming against the wall behind me. “How stupid do I look? He fooled me once, but it won’t happen again.”

I nodded to Yuri, and he stepped forward and wrapped his hand around the woman’s arm.

“Wait,” she said, trying to pull free from Yuri’s grip, but he held strong. “Wait.”