sooner we can end this.”
“Then let’s get to it. You tell me what you know about Krustas’ grandson and how you came about your information.”
Gavrill tore his eyes from Bart over to Faith for a moment then slid them back. “I got the news about Krustas the morning after it happened.”
Bart noticed that his words were almost identical to Miguel’s, but he remained quiet.
Gavrill held Bart’s gaze as though daring him to look away first, but neither man gave in. Dark eyes narrowing, he continued, “My second came to tell me.”
“Why would your second in command wake you up with this news?”
“Anything to do with my…competitors would be of interest to me.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t understand why a personal matter of Mr. Krustas would have been that necessary to you,” Faith interjected softly.
Gavrill’s gaze went back to hers and stared for a long moment. “We may be competitors, but we come from the same homeland. What affects one of my countrymen, affects me as well.”
“But you’re not from the same homeland, are you?” Bart asked, drawing a hiss from Gavrill.
“I see you’ve done your homework.” With a sneer, he added, “Yes, I’m in fact from Croatia while Krustas is from,” he chuckled derisively, “Mother Russia.”
“So in light of that, why would you have been so interested, Mr. Volkov?” Faith asked again. She peered deeply into his eyes, watching them dart around as he tapped his hands on the table.
“Krustas is old. His time of ruling his businesses is almost over. Since his nephew, Sergio, is now out of the picture, then it shouldn’t be too hard to move in. Take advantage.” His eyes landed back on hers, “It cannot possibly be a surprise to you that this is a ruthless business. I’d be a fool to not take advantage of every opportunity afforded.” His eyes moved back to Bart’s as he added, “And I assure you that I am no fool.”
“And the news? Besides making a business decision, what did you feel when you learned that a child had been taken?” Faith asked.
Gavrill’s head turned slowly as his gaze landed on hers. And stayed. Not moving. He blinked several times as though trying to discern her purpose. Finally, he answered, “Feel? You don’t feel anything when making a business decision.”
“But besides being a businessman, you’re also a man,” she stated, knowing she was treading into dangerous waters. “You have children, perhaps? Or friends with children?”
“What game are you playing at?” he growled, eliciting the slightest response from Bart, who stiffened at the tone.
Faith shrugged her shoulders delicately. “No game, I assure you. I’m just trying to see the man behind the business.” She felt no softness. Nor peace. Nor sadness. The temperature of the room seemed to drop the longer it took him to answer.
“I am the business,” was his answer, each word punctuated succinctly.
Bart moved in to question more. “How well do you know Sergio? After all, when he was going against Ivan’s wishes, he must have been seen as a very profitable ally.”
Gavrill’s expression flashed life before going back to being hard and cold. He sat stoically for a moment, appearing to weigh his words carefully. “When Sergio was arrested, there was no link between the two of us. Why do you think that would be different now that he’s behind bars?”
“So you’ve had no contact with Sergio since he’s been in?”
Gavrill’s stone face held for a moment before he growled, “I won’t repeat my answers.”
“You didn’t actually answer my question the first time around,” Bart pointed out. Asshole! “You answered with a question of your own, so I’ll repeat—do you have a relationship with Sergio?”
“No,” came the curt response.
He’s lying, Bart thought.
Faith considered Gavrill intently, He’s lying.
Faith lifted her eyes to the men standing behind Gavrill, but they held nothing but cold. Black cold. The two men
“Then let’s get to it. You tell me what you know about Krustas’ grandson and how you came about your information.”
Gavrill tore his eyes from Bart over to Faith for a moment then slid them back. “I got the news about Krustas the morning after it happened.”
Bart noticed that his words were almost identical to Miguel’s, but he remained quiet.
Gavrill held Bart’s gaze as though daring him to look away first, but neither man gave in. Dark eyes narrowing, he continued, “My second came to tell me.”
“Why would your second in command wake you up with this news?”
“Anything to do with my…competitors would be of interest to me.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t understand why a personal matter of Mr. Krustas would have been that necessary to you,” Faith interjected softly.
Gavrill’s gaze went back to hers and stared for a long moment. “We may be competitors, but we come from the same homeland. What affects one of my countrymen, affects me as well.”
“But you’re not from the same homeland, are you?” Bart asked, drawing a hiss from Gavrill.
“I see you’ve done your homework.” With a sneer, he added, “Yes, I’m in fact from Croatia while Krustas is from,” he chuckled derisively, “Mother Russia.”
“So in light of that, why would you have been so interested, Mr. Volkov?” Faith asked again. She peered deeply into his eyes, watching them dart around as he tapped his hands on the table.
“Krustas is old. His time of ruling his businesses is almost over. Since his nephew, Sergio, is now out of the picture, then it shouldn’t be too hard to move in. Take advantage.” His eyes landed back on hers, “It cannot possibly be a surprise to you that this is a ruthless business. I’d be a fool to not take advantage of every opportunity afforded.” His eyes moved back to Bart’s as he added, “And I assure you that I am no fool.”
“And the news? Besides making a business decision, what did you feel when you learned that a child had been taken?” Faith asked.
Gavrill’s head turned slowly as his gaze landed on hers. And stayed. Not moving. He blinked several times as though trying to discern her purpose. Finally, he answered, “Feel? You don’t feel anything when making a business decision.”
“But besides being a businessman, you’re also a man,” she stated, knowing she was treading into dangerous waters. “You have children, perhaps? Or friends with children?”
“What game are you playing at?” he growled, eliciting the slightest response from Bart, who stiffened at the tone.
Faith shrugged her shoulders delicately. “No game, I assure you. I’m just trying to see the man behind the business.” She felt no softness. Nor peace. Nor sadness. The temperature of the room seemed to drop the longer it took him to answer.
“I am the business,” was his answer, each word punctuated succinctly.
Bart moved in to question more. “How well do you know Sergio? After all, when he was going against Ivan’s wishes, he must have been seen as a very profitable ally.”
Gavrill’s expression flashed life before going back to being hard and cold. He sat stoically for a moment, appearing to weigh his words carefully. “When Sergio was arrested, there was no link between the two of us. Why do you think that would be different now that he’s behind bars?”
“So you’ve had no contact with Sergio since he’s been in?”
Gavrill’s stone face held for a moment before he growled, “I won’t repeat my answers.”
“You didn’t actually answer my question the first time around,” Bart pointed out. Asshole! “You answered with a question of your own, so I’ll repeat—do you have a relationship with Sergio?”
“No,” came the curt response.
He’s lying, Bart thought.
Faith considered Gavrill intently, He’s lying.
Faith lifted her eyes to the men standing behind Gavrill, but they held nothing but cold. Black cold. The two men
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