Honor Reclaimed (HORNET #2)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

“What do you mean the compound was attacked? Wasn’t that the plan?”

Cold as ever, Askar didn’t flinch from Siddiqui’s rage. He stood his ground and spoke as if he hadn’t destroyed a perfectly good afternoon with his report. “It was a team of six Americans, sir. I believe they were after the traitor.”

Muscles quivering, Siddiqui paced across the foyer of his home. Even though Zakir Rossoul hadn’t talked, he’d figured the man had ties to the Americans. And he’d known they’d probably come looking for their comrade, but how could they have found the compound so quickly?

Unless.

He stopped pacing. “Tehani. She must have told them where to look.”

“Makes sense,” Askar said.

Siddiqui whirled on him. “Find my wife. I’m sure she’s with that American whore journalist who has been snooping around. Find them both and bring them to me. They’re ruining my plans.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did the Americans get to Rossoul before you killed him?”

“I didn’t kill him,” Askar said without inflection. “I left him for the bombs to finish, but if they found him first, he wouldn’t have lived long enough to tell them anything.”

“Let’s hope not. Go clean up, then meet me in my office in five minutes. We have a meeting.”

He waited until Askar disappeared up the stairs, giving himself several minutes to calm down. Then, he walked to his office with a welcoming smile on his face. It was important that he didn’t appear ruffled or overeager.

“Mr. Zaryanko,” he said to his visitor in English. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person finally.”

The man standing in front of his desk offered a wolf-like smile. He wore a charcoal business suit, and his long, dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the back of his neck. “Please,” he said, his English heavy with a Russian accent. “Call me Nikolai.”

Siddiqui held out a hand. “Jahangir. Have a seat.”

Nikolai sat. “If it does not offend, I’d prefer to use your last name. Easier for my Russian tongue to pronounce.”

Siddiqui nodded and took the leather chair opposite Nikolai rather than put the space of a desk between them. A power move like that might offend a man such as Nikolai Zaryanko, and he needed to keep the man happy if his plans were to succeed.

“I apologize for my delay. One of my wives was giving me problems.”

“Ah, you Muslims. I cannot imagine. One wife is too many, and you have four.”

“A Russian wife, perhaps,” Siddiqui said, keeping his smile firmly in place despite the outrage roaring through him. “An Afghan wife knows her place.”

“That they do,” Nikolai agreed. “I’ve had several Afghan women in my brothels. They are always very popular with the customers. Very… hmm, how do you say? Accommodating. You train them well.”

Siddiqui relaxed into his chair. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk business.”

Nikolai waved a hand in an impertinent go-ahead gesture that turned Siddiqui’s stomach. Still, he continued to smile. He needed this man, but he wasn’t going to make that need known. That would only drive up the price.

His office door opened and Askar slid into the room, silent as a ghost. It would be so easy to give his personal attack dog the signal to kill and take what he wanted—except his window of opportunity was closing fast, and killing Nikolai would only delay the deal. As much as it pained him to pay the exorbitant price Nikolai was sure to ask, further delay would prove even more costly.

“All right, you have my ear.” He leaned forward in his seat and linked his hands between his knees. “What will it take to have The Suitcase in my possession by the end of the week?”

Nikolai flashed that wolfy smile again. The price he named was exorbitant.

Siddiqui sat back in his chair. “That’s robbery.”

“It’s the price of doing business.” Nikolai stood. “And, no, I will not negotiate. If you’re not willing to pay, I know plenty of others who are.”

Siddiqui watched him walk toward the door but didn’t move, expecting to call Nikolai’s bluff. But the Russian left the room.

He was serious. He really wasn’t willing to negotiate.

Fuck.

Siddiqui pushed out of his chair. “Bring him back,” he ordered Askar. A moment later, his soldier led an amused Nikolai through the door.

“Change your mind?”

“You have a deal,” Siddiqui said. “But we need to make this happen today.”