Page 86 of Anton

Konstantin goes first, the rest of us following behind him until we reach the study at the end. He knocks once.

“Come on in.” Harlan’s Southern drawl carries through the door.

Konstantin opens it, and we step inside.

Oh, look. The whole Whitlock gang is here. How wonderful.

Thora isn’t, though, which is the only small blessing I’ve been granted today.

Harlan stands near the center of the large room, silver at his temples, his four sons flanking him. Greer sits in the armchair nearest the door with one leg crossed over the other, arms folded as she watches us come in, and I’d bet good money she’s also imagining herself skinning us alive.

Harlan steps forward and extends his palm. “Gentlemen. Nice to see you all.”

Konstantin takes it first, then Kirill, while Aleksei only stares at Harlan’s hand until Konstantin cuts him a look that makes him begrudgingly reach out and shake it. Harlan’s eyes move to me briefly, and I give him a nod from where I’m standing, which he accepts without comment.

Smart man.

“Please.” He gestures toward the sofas. “Sit down. May I offer you some of our fine whiskey?”

“No.” Konstantin takes the first seat, with Aleksei and Kirill following his lead while I remain standing behind them, assessing the room.

It has two exits: the door we came through and another one behind Harlan’s desk that probably leads deeper into the house. Even though I’m sure they have guards somewhere we can’t see, they’re far enough away that it would take at least ten seconds to reach us.

Plenty of time.

I’d kill Cole first. He’s the hothead and acts before he thinks. I’d slit his throat, put a bullet through Jace’s head, and then take down Nash and Theo before either had the chance to reach for a weapon.

That would leave Harlan and Greer. They wouldn’t be much of a fight.

I put my hands in my pockets and wait for Konstantin to speak.

“So…” Harlan looks between us, taking his spot at his desk. “I assume you wanted another meeting to discuss the two new clients we’ve acquired. But as I told you last time, once you have your product again, we can back away. Until then, there is no conversation to be had, I’m afraid.”

“You will back away now.” Konstantin leans back, his stare hard enough to cut through the room. “I’m done being patient.”

Harlan sighs, and a muscle in Konstantin’s neck jerks.

“Look, I’m sorry we’re all in this position.” Harlan lifts a hand. “I’d prefer a peaceful coexistence, but I’m a businessman first, Mr. Marinov, and this is money on the table. Without your product, you’re useless to your clients. All we’re doing is giving them what they want until you can.”

“How gracious of you,” Aleksei mutters.

Cole leans forward, giving Aleksei a death stare that almost makes me laugh.

He reminds me of the dogs I used to fight: too angry and eager, convinced all that rage makes him more dangerous than he really is. One wrong move, and I could make him disappear before anyone in this room had time to stop me.

“Ah,” Konstantin says, his tone flat. “Your bulldog. How I’ve missed him.”

Cole’s chair scrapes half an inch against the floor as he starts to rise, a curse already forming on his mouth, but Nash’s hand comes down on his shoulder hard enough to stop him.

“Sit the fuck down.” He pushes Cole back into his seat.

Cole barely relaxes, his teeth clenched, glare still locked on Aleksei, whose grin only widens.

Harlan’s attention shifts from Aleksei to Konstantin, his expression too calm. “As I said the last time we spoke, I have a lot of respect for your family, but we made our position clear then, and it hasn’t changed. We’re not stealing anything. Your clients came to us because they needed product you couldn’t provide, and we have plenty.”

Konstantin sighs. “We wanted to give you another chance to reconsider, but that clearly will not happen. Thank you for the meeting.”

He starts to rise.