I swallow. Lowering the bottle, I eye him. Even though no one’s nearby to overhear, Ludmil doesn’tbring up business in public. He knows better.
“This isn’t the time,” I say curtly.
Ludmil nods. Waits. He knows better than to argue. Has already said what he wanted to. Now hiswords are working away at me.
“Attacking the Skull Kings is not ‘letting my guard down,’” I add with finality.
Ludmil plunges on, “The old Gavril was a stickler for control. Wouldn’t have let this alleged SkullKing new leader just slide.”
I take another long drink, never taking my eyes off him. This has gone on too far. “Nor would he havetolerated disrespect.”
Ludmil’s eyes lower. “Boss, I don’t mean any disrespect. But when we met and you decided to takeme on, you told me straight-up that you did
