King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

382

Sephie

“We have it on very good authority that two of your police chiefs are loyal to the mayor,” Adrik said. We both saw Henry’s face fall.

“Do you know which ones?” he asked.

Adrik nodded his head. Ivan got up and put two files down on Adrik’s desk in front of Henry. “They both met with the mayor. After you met with all of them to discuss taking down the mayor. We only have confirmation on these two, but I wouldn’t trust any of them at this point,” Adrik said. Henry looked stunned. “How much have you told them about the mayor? Or about Ricardo?”

“Nothing about Ricardo. I’m sitting on that one. I’ve been after that guy so long that I don’t want to risk messing it up. But they have everything I have on the mayor so far,” Henry said.

Adrik looked to Viktor, saying in Russian, “we definitely need to hurry that journalist up.”

Viktor responded, still in Russian, saying, “I contacted him earlier. I’ll check when this is over to see if he responded.”

Adrik nodded, then looked back to Henry. “We’re working to gather more information on the mayor, but it takes time. Until we get more on him, be very careful what you tell the other police chiefs.”

“Agreed. Let me know when you get something definitive on the mayor. Until then, I don’t think we should do this again,” Henry said. He suddenly looked worried, like he was nervous. I glanced to Andrei, who caught it as well. We both focused back on Henry, trying to figure out the reason for his

nervousness.

“We have other places we can meet the next time, if you’re nervous about coming here,” Adrik said. He had also picked up on his nervousness.

studied Henry. The first time we’d met with him, I got the feeling that he was a good man, trying to do the right thing.

stood up to leave, once again shaking Adrik’s hand. When he did, I saw Adrik stiffen ever so slightly. That’s new. I glanced to Andrei, who clearly had seen something as well. Stephen’s phone beeped as Viktor was walking Henry back to the elevator. “Dinner’s here. Be right back,” he said, jogging out of the office to catch

close, I walked to Adrik. “What happened when you shook his hand

you feel it?”

head no. “I didn’t feel anything, but I saw you tense.

Game Master, it

Vitaliy. “That escalated quickly,” I said, raising my

you feel it when he first came into the office?”

while he was in here. He made some decision while he was here

Adrik has it. But we should wait for Stephen. Somehow

could go to the penthouse, where we knew wo could speak freely. When the doors opened and we were all standing there, Viktor and Stephen both

hungry?”

finish the discussion we started. And we needed your insight and Viktor’s sleuthing skills. We were saving time.”

make you his Director of Operations. Logistics, efficiency, systems, you’ve got it all handled. His army

of Operations does have a nice ring to it. I’m not opposed to

us up,” Stephen said as we started

something different when he shook Henry’s hand at the end. He didn’t feel it when he walked in. Andrei said something changed while Henry was in the office, like he made a decision while he was in there and things are different

in more in a bit with Misha. What I did get, however, was that it was related to power. Henry wants it. He doesn’t like that Adrik already has it.” I looked to Adrik. “Do you remember when we first met with him – how

power for one man. He was worried I was going to become a

started to speak, but Ivan said, “he wants to

a decision to come after Boss now. I don’t think he’s st upid enough to try it right away, but if we keep the plan of