Possess(The Syndicate: Crime and Passion 1)(10)

I listened to his impassioned plea, saw how very much he believed it, and knew that not giving him responsibility for the Syndicate’s European operations had been the right decision.

“You may well have done all of those things, but what you think you deserve in life and what you get are seldom related. You aren’t ready,” I said.

“The fu—” He cut off quickly and then paused before he began again. “I’m ready, Maxim,” he said.

I said nothing, and he frowned. He still wanted to argue the point; I could see that clearly, but instead he murmured, “When will I be ready?”

“When I decide,” I said.

Sergei’s frown deepened, the argument still clear in his expression. He held his tongue, though, displaying discipline I was never entirely sure he was capable of. “But you let an outsider come in and take my spot?” he said a moment later, his voice again under control.

“We finally get to the truth. Your pride is wounded,” I said.

Which I had expected but hadn’t let influence me when I’d made my decision.

“Wouldn’t yours be?” he asked, his expression skeptical.

I shook my head. “No. Pride is a dangerous emotion. It clouds people’s logic.” I paused, met Sergei’s eyes again. “And I would have killed someone who insulted me,” I said.

“Are you trying to make me go nuts, Maxim?”

“What makes you think I would waste the effort?” I said.

Sergei smiled, despite himself I suspected. “You’re pretty much telling me I need to kill you, or that Priest guy you gave Europe to,” he said.

“I’m not telling you anything. I’m just responding to your question. What you do is totally up to you, though I wouldn’t suggest going after Priest, and certainly not me. Be patient, Sergei,” I said.

“Were you patient?” he asked.

It was as close as Sergei had come to asking me about my own path, and I was feeling uncommonly in the mood to share.

“Incredibly so,” I said. “Do you know how long I’ve been a part of the Syndicate?”

He shook his head.

“Since I was eleven years old,” I replied. “Long before it was what it is now. They found me a half-starved orphan, took me in.”

“And made you what you are?” Sergei said.

“No. I was that before I ever met anyone in the Syndicate. But they shaped me. Gave me tools I didn’t have. I learned all I could. I was patient, and when I had the skills to make my move, I did. When you’re ready, you’ll get the responsibility you want, will maybe make a move of your own. Until then, don’t question me again,” I said.

Sergei didn’t look completely satisfied, but he nodded.

“Besides,” I said, “you might find you don’t want so much responsibility.”

Sergei shook his head. “No. I was made for this, Maxim. I can’t do anything else,” he said.

“I know. That’s why I keep you around,” I said, expressing a rarely given compliment. If nothing else, I’d never doubted his suitability for this way of life. The only question was whether his still-impetuous nature would be his undoing.

Sergei smiled. “And here I thought it was because of my shining personality,” he said.

I didn’t dignify that with a response but instead said, “Be patient. Your time will come, probably sooner than you think.”

He nodded. “Going to trust you, though I suppose I have no choice.” He paused and then continued. “So this guy, Priest, the one you gave my job?” he said with a smile.

“What about him?” I asked.

“You let him back in. I’ve never seen you do that before. You trust him,” Sergei said.

“To the extent I can. He was with the Syndicate for many years and was a valuable asset when he was on his own,” I said. A simplistic explanation of the nature of Priest’s and my history, but the things that had transpired between us before were of no consequence. He was again proving his worth, and I valued his presence.

“And you let him come back?”

“Yes,” I said. I had, and doing so had been an easy decision. Priest’s value far outweighed any raised eyebrows his presence might have caused.

“So you’re not worried that he might try something?” Sergei asked.

“Perhaps, though our interests are aligned, so he won’t,” I said.

“You sound confident,” Sergei said.

“I am,” I said.

“What about Santo?” Sergei asked, his expression darkening to reflect the anger I felt.

“I’m less certain what he will do, but it’s time to handle unfinished business,” I said.