The Negotiator (Professionals 7)

“He knows what I want,” Atanas said, eyes going steely as they slipped to me. I had to grit my teeth to keep from snapping at him.

“Yes, I’ve heard. Everything,” she said, rolling her eyes a bit, gaining his attention once again. “Surely, Mr. Chernev, you remember when you were a little boy and you wanted everything in the sweets store. But those older and wiser than you advised you that gluttony was not a virtue.”

“You’re calling me a kid in a candy store?” Chernev shot back, making me tense.

“Well, aren’t we all, Atanas, when we really want something?” Miller asked, shooting him an almost sultry smile that made most of the tension leave his shoulders.

“Eh, that’s fair,” he agreed.

“So, Greece is the candy store. I am asking you to pick out the top three things you want most?”

“Mykonos. Athens. Santorini.”

“And if I told you Santorini was out of stock, Atanas? Would you have a back-up in mind?”

“No.”

“That isn’t wise now, is it? Greece has many fine cities to choose from. Most of them, as you can imagine, are tourist attractions. Plenty of people to offer your services to.”

“Santorini is non-negotiable.”

“We will take that under advisement,” she said, making my brows furrow. Since I had been pretty explicit about Santorini being off the table. “Before we go on, though, Atanas,” she continued, voice going honey-sweet. “Would it be possible for me to see the boy?” she asked. “I’m sure you understand how this works,” she added, shrugging, like this was a pesky formality instead of an imperative.

“Of course, of course,” he agreed, turning the camera on the tablet he was using to scan the room, settling on a figure strapped to a chair, a gag in his mouth.

Alexander looked exhausted, worried, younger than I remembered, but otherwise healthy.

“Perfect. Thanks, Atanas. If you don’t mind, would it be alright if I called you back in the morning?” she asked, making my head snap in her direction once again.

“The morning?”

“Well,” she said, sighing, shaking her head. I’m sure you understand who I am working with here,” she said, utter disgust slipping into her voice. “He’s… is there a nice way to say ‘bull-headed’?” she asked, making Atanas let out a humorless laugh. “He wants his cake and to eat it too. It is going to take me a little while to convince him that this is going to be the best situation for us all.”

“You get three hours,” he said, abruptly ending the call.

“What the fuck was that?” I exploded as the screen went dark.

She ignored me, though, as she moved over to the screen, ending the recording.

“Miller, I am going to need an explanation. We had an agreement,” I added, getting closer, getting louder, because she seemed to be completely ignoring me. “This was not the fucking plan,” I growled.

“If you’re done puffing your chest,” she said, rolling her eyes at me even as her lips tipped up a bit as she brought up the video footage, fast forwarding a bit. “I need to show you something.”

“What am I looking at? I saw this,” I added as she played the video from where Atanas panned away from himself and toward my brother.

“Yes, but were you paying attention?” she asked, shaking her head as she rewound it again, hitting play.

“Tell me what you see,” I demanded, hearing a plea in my voice.

“This,” she said, running her hand over the headboard on the bed, the art above it, the sliding doors draped in tacky light blue curtains.

“Miller…” I pleaded when I simply couldn’t figure it out.

“I’ve stayed in a room just like this,” she told me. “Exactly like this,” she added. When I was on a job in Mykonos. In the Grand Princess Hotel. The suites have this exact decor. And here,” she added, pausing the screen on my brother, making a gut-punch of guilt steal my breath. “Clearly, he’s been beaten and bound and drugged—”

“Drugged?”

“See his eyes? He’s out of it. I, unfortunately, know that feeling quite well.”

“Okay. I am sensing a but…”

“But look at his hands,” she said, pointing. “Four fingers on one hand. The other five. I would imagine he was trying to send the only message he can. Room number forty-five.”

I wasn’t sure what else she may have said. Because as soon as those words were out of her mouth, I was rushing out of the room, barking out orders to the guards.”

“Mr. Adamos,” Miller called, following behind me as I talked to my men. “Mr. Adamos, you can’t just go right now,” she insisted. “Christopher!” she yelled, grabbing my arm, yanking me to a halt.

“What?” I asked, barely able to think straight with my swirling thoughts of getting my brother out of there.

“You can’t go right now.”

“I am going right now.”

“Be reasonable. Niko,” she called, getting his attention immediately. “How long does it take to get from here to Mykonos?”