Chapter 9

The next morning I sat in my office, staring at Petter's number in my phone with my thumb hovering over it. I only wanted to talk to him about business, but I was as nervous as a kid calling for his first date. It was ridiculous. I was a grown man, almost thirty-one, and I'd been staring at my phone for an hour, too anxious to press the call button in case he didn't want to talk to me. Damn me all to hell.

I dragged a hand through my hair and closed my eyes for a moment. The door opened and Stefan came in. "Davor, can I talk to you?"

I jumped and glared. "What have I told you about knocking? What's so important you have to barge in here like you own the place?" I snarled.

"Whoa, I'm sorry!" Stefan took a step back, hands raised. "I'll, um, I'll come back later."

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"I, um, well, I want some, um, some more responsibility," he stammered. "I always used to get the good jobs. Why is Christian getting to do everything all of a sudden? He's only been here a few months. I'm practically your brother. What's going on?"

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Seriously? You're jealous of Christian? How old are you, Stefan? Because you're acting like a little kid. Get back to the restaurant. I'll tell you when I have a job for you. And close the door on your way out!"

He backed out of the room, red-faced, and closed the door.

"Shit," I muttered. "Shit!" I ran my hand through my hair again, then got up and checked myself in the mirror behind the desk to make sure I didn't look a mess. While I was up, I poured myself a large Scotch from the bottle in the corner cupboard. I'd teased Petter about needing Dutch courage. I chuckled and sat down again. I drank the whiskey and picked up my phone. This time I selected his number and pressed the call button before I could find another stupid reason not to.

"Yeah," he answered on the second ring. "Hold on." I waited a minute, listening to heavy boots stomping around and a door slamming. "Davor?"

"Yes. We need to set up a meeting."

"Okay." He cleared his throat. "Best not do that at your place, then."

"No. What about that house in the woods where we met last time?"

"Could do. Are you bringing the others?"

"I should. Zvonomir at least. If I do this alone, they'll want to know why."

"Sure."

"Do you have a second yet?" I asked him.

"Not officially, but I was thinking of picking Adam. Most of them expect that anyway. You've probably seen him before."

"Okay. When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon?" he suggested.

"Fine. Three o'clock."

"Right. Good."

There was a long silence. I could hear him breathing. I held my breath, willing my brain to find something else to say, but it failed me.

"Davor? You still there?"

"Yes. Let's get this meeting out of the way. Business should stay separate from, um, anything else."

"Right."

"I'll see you, then." I ended the call and wiped my sweaty palms on my suit trousers. Then I summoned Christian and informed him he would be driving us to the meeting the next day. Stefan would hate that, but screw him. I didn't respond to demands. Unless maybe Petter was making them when we were naked. I smirked to myself.

The next afternoon, Christian drove Zvonomir and me to the place where we'd met Petter and Ulrik before. Petter's silver truck was already there. Christian parked behind it.

"Stay here," Zvonomir instructed him. I knew Christian would follow us to learn what he could. That's what he did. He just didn't know I knew and I intended to keep it that way until I could use it to my advantage.

I led the way into the room where Petter waited, another Mobster who I vaguely recognised standing a little behind him. I assumed this was Adam.

"Davor," Petter greeted sternly.

"Afternoon."

"This is Adam," he introduced.

I nodded at Adam and introduced Zvonomir. After that, I talked, Petter responded a couple of times with as few words as possible, and the others listened. We agreed that Petter would arrange a meeting with their Turkish trafficker, which Majmun and I would attend. The Mimicas and the Mobsters would go halves on a vast quantity of heroin, much bigger than what the Mobsters could import on their own.

The meeting was over within fifteen minutes. "So, we're agreed. Call me when you have the meeting set up." I offered Petter my hand. He reached out to shake it. A quick glance at Zvonomir told me he was looking at the window with a frown on his face. Adam followed his gaze. I squeezed Petter's hand firmly and gave him the briefest smile. Then I let go. "Zvonomir?"

He was at the window now. "I thought I heard something."

"Probably some sort of animal." I shrugged. It was probably Christian, but if he was listening he'd know the meeting had wrapped up and would be back at the car in seconds. I turned and walked out the door, not trusting myself to look at Petter again, now Zvonomir's attention was back on me.

"Everything okay?" Christian asked as we climbed into the car. He looked like he hadn't moved from the seat.

"As expected." I nodded. "Take us home."

I hoped to get a chance to see Petter again in the next couple of days, preferably out of his leathers on my bed, but it didn't work out that way. He called me the next evening to let me know his contact in Turkey was flying over in two days' time. Monica had arranged a hotel room for her, and we were to meet there an hour after she arrived. It was moving much faster than I anticipated. As tempted as I was to ask him to see me the day after the meeting, I kept my mouth shut. I knew if I had the anticipation of getting together with him on my mind, I wouldn't be concentrating enough on business. But apparently Petter was thinking about it, too, and chose not to wait.

"What about after?" he asked slowly.

"After what?"

"The meeting."

I sighed. "What do you mean?"

There was a silence. "Nothing. Forget it." He hung up.

"Shit," I muttered, and banged my clenched fist onto the desk. I hadn't meant for this thing with him to be anything. I'd thought initially that one time would be enough for me. It wasn't, and after the second time it was clear it wasn't for him either. Now, I felt the unwelcome need to reassure him that I still wanted him. I called him back. He didn't answer right away and after the phone rang nine times I was about to end the call. Then he answered.

"What, Davor?"

"I want to see you," I said quickly. "Just, when business is taken care of."

"Okay. Good." He hung up again.

I shook my head as I put the phone back into my pocket. At least it was only Majmun who was attending the meeting with me. If I wasn't quite myself, I doubted he'd notice. He wasn't the most observant of men. Zvonomir on the other hand, would pick up on the slightest thing.