The Russian's Greed, Cap Daniels [free children's online books txt] 📗

but negotiate the price. Fivepercent is reasonable, but first, ask for ten percent off.”

“I will not getcaught. This is for certain.”

Viktor smiled. “Eventhe best get caught sooner or later, my angel. Take the money. Wecannot afford to have you discovered. Diamonds in the city are asmall community, and that community talks incessantly. This is atemporary game at best. Knowing when to get out is the key, butbefore that time comes, you and I will make a fortune together.”

Anya slid the cash intoher purse and separated the stones in the order of the shops shewould visit. “Speaking of making a fortune together, we have notdiscussed my percentage.”

Viktor lowered hischin. “You agreed to a set rate of five thousand dollars per week.”

Anya handed her purseto him. “You are correct. This was our agreement, so I will go backinside office and continue matching stones. This is what we agreed.”

Volkov waggled afinger. “I should’ve known. You’re a shrewd one. What is yourproposal?”

Anya reclaimed herpurse and counted ninety thousand dollars in banded bills inside. “Iwill bring to you six diamonds at end of day, and I will keep money.If I have to make purchase, I will keep nothing.”

“No one can exchangesix diamonds in the same day without getting caught at least once.There’s no chance of you keeping that money, but I’ll agree toyour terms just to teach you a lesson.”

The more courteousdriver held the door for her, and Viktor gave her a peck on the cheekfor good luck. “I will see you in a few hours. Oh, and just in caseyou get any ideas about running off with my diamonds and my cash,don’t forget how accidents can happen. Poor Veronique.”

The longing to breakhis neck was almost impossible to resist, but instead, she bowed herhead in submission and slid onto the rear seat of the Bentley.

The warehouse dooropened, allowing them to pull onto the street before it quicklyclosed behind them.

“If you wouldn’tmind,” Anya said, “I must go to my apartment before you take meto Diamond District. I have small medical condition, and I did nottake medicine this morning. I was so excited for today.”

The driver looked up inthe mirror and sighed. “Mr. Volkov made it clear that I was to dropyou at Forty-Seventh and Sixth and nowhere else.”

“Then we must go backinside so I can explain to him about my heart condition.”

The driver checked hiswatch. “You’re just going to run straight up, grab the meds, andright back down, right?”

“Yes, I promise Iwill only be a minute.”

He wiped a bead ofsweat from his forehead. “If he finds out, we’re both dead, sodon’t hang me out to dry.”

“I will not, Ipromise.

“Me neither, but youcan’t tell the boss. Oh, and how ’bout you leave your purse inthe car? You know, just for a little insurance for me.”

She gave him the smileshe’d practiced endlessly in the woods outside Moscow when shelearned to turn her body into the bait no man could resist.

Traffic was heavy, butthey made the drive to Times Square in fifteen minutes. Anya didn’twait for him to open the door. She bolted from the back seat and upthe stairs with her purse tucked beneath her arm.

The driver rolled downthe window and yelled, “Hey! The purse!”

She ignored him andcontinued through the door and into the elevator. When she returnedto the car, she slid onto the seat. “I am sorry. It is habit for meto always keep purse under my arm in city.”

“It’s okay,” hesaid, “but only ’cause you’re back. I just wanted a littleinsurance policy to make sure you weren’t going to rabbit on me.It’s all good now. Did you get your medicine?”

“Yes, I did. Thankyou.”

“Yeah, my sister’sgot a heart thing, too. Vitribu-something or another. I don’t know.But she takes a pill every day.”

“Same for me. Thankyou again for making the stop.”

She stepped from thecar at Forty-Seventh and Sixth with everything she needed tuckedbeneath her arm. When she walked into the first shop, she did adouble take when she saw Special Agent Johnathon Johnny-Mac McIntyreleaning against the counter and talking with one of the brokers. Heimmediately looked away from the leggy blonde wearing the skirt shethought would get the attention she deserved.

She spotted thegentleman who’d shown her the eighty-thousand-dollar diamond twodays before and gave him a little wave.

He blushed and held upa hand. “I see you’ve come back. Your stone is still available,but a couple came in here last night and fell in love with it. It maynot be here much longer if you don’t grab it today.”

Anya pulled a chair tothe glass case. “Let me take one more look at it, please.”

Instead of pulling theentire tray, the man plucked the stone with his tweezers and offeredit to her. She reached up, took the tweezers from his hand, andstared at the broker.

“Ah, forgive me,”he said. “I almost forgot. Here’s a loupe.” He handed her themagnifier and waited patiently for her to examine the stone.

As she studied thefacets, Johnny-Mac dropped the loupe he’d been using. As it bouncedacross the top of the glass case, he made a show of dropping thetweezers and diamond. This gave Anya the diversion she needed to makeher first exchange. The trade happened too fast for even the securitycameras to catch, and she handed the lab-created stone back to thebroker as she pocketed the authentic, natural diamond.

“How much did you sayit cost? I am sorry, but I cannot remember.”

He gave the stone alook through his loupe. “It is a beautiful diamond. I’m sure youknow quality when you see it. Since there is other interest in thestone, it’s risky for me to discount it for you.”

She laid a hand acrosshis wrist. “But I saw it first.”

“Yes, you did, sobecause of that, it’s sixty-five for you. But only today. If youwalk away, I have to rescind the offer.”

She smiled. “It’s afifty-five-thousand-dollar diamond, and I have cash.”

He recoiled. “I’msorry, but sixty-five is the best I can do.”

She shrugged, stood,and walked from the shop. The pen camera protruding from Johnny-Mac’spocket captured a barely perceptible wink and nod from the Russian.

Five more shops yieldednearly identical results with Johnny-Mac present for the