Alexei

December 23

Alexei’s POV

I rubbed my gloved covered hands together. The -6° weather outside was a norm for me. I was born in Moscow, Russia, and cold weather was something I grew up with. In winter times Moscow temperatures could lower to -15° and cause an annoying amount of struggle.

The cold air left my lungs as I entered the bar. Me, being over 6’5ft tall, dark-haired, and intimidating caused most people to look at me the moment I entered the place. I stood out not only because of my height but because most Russian men had blond hair but I was gifted my mother’s blacker than night hair. I was used to it when women looked at me like I was a piece of meat. Unfortunately, when I was on business, my mind couldn’t even be bothered to care.

Kamchatka was one of the top 10 Bars in Moscow, it was cozy, casual, and had great cocktails. It was also my go-to bar for business and pleasure. I took a seat at the bar and ordered my usual, a Medovukha. A Medovukha is an old alcoholic beverage made from honey, yeast, sugar, and water. It was something you drank when you didn’t plan on getting wasted.

Glancing around the room I spot my target. Xenia Onatopp was a newish arms dealer in Moscow. He was either going to be my friend or my enemy. He would also be the one deciding that. I took the drink in my hand and walked over to him.

There was a waiter dropping off his drink. When she saw me she nodded her head, whispered "Mr. Volkov." and fled back to the office behind the bar. Xenia looked up at me with an emotionless face. Which didn’t do much for him as I could read a person no matter how hard they tried to hide what they were feeling. I copied him and sat in the chair next to him. He glanced over to where the waiter had run before turning his gaze on me.

"Mr. Volkov, how nice to meet you." I raised my eyebrow only slightly before feeling a smirk slip its way onto my face. "Mr. Onatopp, I hope to say the same." Taking another sip from the beverage in my glass I glanced at my watch.

"Xenia, as you may know, time is money. So let us talk business. I want you to sell to me and only me. Stay off the roads and leave my clients."

Xenia chuckled and smirked. "Now-now... Why would I do something like that? I could get more money from your clients. Straight from the buyer is always best."

My smirk slimmed from my face and I glared at him. "Let me tell you something. My clients are my worries because they would never trust you. Secondly, do you see any waiters in the bar?" He looked around and his grin started slipping from his face. "Do you see all the casually dining men looking at us?" With each statement that I spoke, his grin got smaller and smaller. "Do you see them all reaching under their jackets for what you know are their guns?"

With his grin completely gone I smirked again and said. "If not, I'll kill you. It’s as simple as that. I have you in a bar without anyone to protect you." He gulped knowing he was outmanned and there was no way out of this situation with his life if he didn’t agree.

"If I agree, you'll let me go?" I took the last sip in my glass and nodded. “Of course. I’m a man of my word.

Xenia stood up and I followed. He glanced at my hand and once more around the room before nodding. I stretched out my hand and he shook it.

"Pleasure doing business with you," I said with a mocking smile. He nodded once more before leaving the bar. I pulled my phone from my suit jacket and called Xenia the second he got in his car when one of my men nodded at me. "Hello?"

Copyright © 2020 by Grace Write

“It’s a pretty sweet car you’re driving. Don't forget our deal. My people are watching you. It would be a shame to blow up such an excellent vehicle." I ended the call before he could answer.