Fair Trade

Sei couldn’t turn around. Guilio, lowering his hand with the gun, pushed away Romano, who was blocking his way, and then turned the gun over.

“I certainly said no.”

She could hear his voice right behind her. She felt a strange rage rising within her. It wasn’t her resentment or obstinacy that hardened her whole body, but that strange rage.

“All you can do is put pressure on and scare a weak woman?”

“Of all the organs, the best thing I can do is blow your head off without missing.”

“Then why don’t you do what you’re best at? Instead of being bullied like this, I should have asked you to kill me that day.” Sei’s eyes, as she turned around while reciting softly, changed. She took a step closer to Guilio, who looked down at her. Then, as her eyes widened, he grabbed Sei’s neck roughly.

But just before his grip could increase, her lips opened first. “If one more time… If you touch my body or strangle me… you won’t be able to call my name ever again. I will kill myself.”

While Guilio flinched, Romano, who ran, separated him from Sei. Then, he kept nitpicking, asking why they were doing this when they had so many things to deal with right away.

“Shit! Shut up!” shouting, he thrust his fist into Romano’s face, staggered and disappeared to the second floor.

“Everyone is really sensitive right now, Rose. Don’t be emotional either. Pick up your luggage and go back up. It is for your own safety,” Romano said. Then after patting her back, he received a phone call and made his way into the kitchen. Sei made eye contact with Yuri, who was still leaning against the railing.

As she tumbled up the stairs, dragging her bag now that her strength was depleted, Yuri approached her as expected.

“Sei. ”

“A lot of people are looking at us right now.”

But Yuri continued to speak without hesitation. “I didn’t know that I would be tested by you.”

“I never tested you.”

“No. You shook me up today… in many ways.”

“Is that so?” Sei put her hand on the doorknob and stopped before the door. “What would I gain from shaking you up?”

“You were scared.”

He raised his hand and stroked her ear. Blood was forming on her skin, which had been slightly grazed by the bullet.

Yuri rolled up his fingers that were caressing the pinna of her ear, one by one. She could feel his fists trembling and the cracks in his voice as he pretended to be calm.

“I promise. Four days later… No one will ever touch you.”

To what extent is this true, or is it all a lie?

Sei forced a smile, removed his hand, sighed deeply, and opened the door. “Yuri, we’re not in a relationship except in regard to a contract. So there’s no need to make such a promise. Don’t put yourself at risk.”

As she entered the room, she turned her head to see the man still standing motionless.

“I’m really sorry for deluding myself before. Now that this has happened, please make a quick deposit.”

Even though the door was closed, the corners of her lips trembled as she stared at him intently.

Sei could only hope that she had misunderstood. Because he had a sad smile on his face that didn’t fit that of a monster.

*  *  *

“We succeeded. We’ve arrived safely. We will move the item to the container and contact the carrier.”

It was a call from a member of the organization who had arrived in the Gulf of Mexico. The route that had been bothering him for the past six months had finally been opened. After finishing the call, Guilio cut the end of the cigar and lit it. Then he fixed his gaze on Yuri, who was sitting across from him.

“You’re quite good.”

Yuri leaned forward, his hands clasped together, at his insincere tone. Then he rubbed his eyes with a tired expression.

“The security system of the DEA appears to have been upgraded to the next level. Let’s just say we struck gold this time.”

“Is that so? I don’t believe in luck. It’s all about skills.” Guilio said, tilting his head to the back of the sofa and puffing out a long smoke.

“Did you say you were being chased by the Red Mafia?”

“Yes.”

“What exactly are they looking for?” Isn’t the only thing a low-life like you can steal a rich man’s Ferrari? Have you ever even attempted to steal a real car?”

“I didn’t steal anything. What they’re looking for is a gun. I know it is something of Yuri Petrov’s.”

Guilio’s expression changed when he heard the name Yuri. He straightened his back, stared intently at Yuri’s face, and inhaled the smoke in rapid succession while holding the cigar in his mouth.

“They wouldn’t be after you for no reason.”

“I have seen Yuri Petrov’s face.”

“You have?”

“Yes. I first saw him at David Meyer’s event in Hong Kong five years ago. I accidentally bumped into a man, causing him to drop a gun from his arms. It was dreadful. That’s when I discovered what the Petrov family tattoo looked like. I thought it was Camille’s, but three years later I discovered it was Yuri Petrov’s.”

“If it was two years ago, it must have been when Camille Petrov took over the East.”

“Yes. Camille Petrov on TV looked nothing like the person I saw. But I had no idea why he thought I had taken the gun. Had he been robbed? What that gun meant… I haven’t been able to figure it out yet.”

Giulio raised his brows obliquely as he rubbed the shortened cigar on the table. Camille Petrov grew the Petrov family at an unusually rapid pace. Many forces switched sides because they all had flaws, and the majority of the cartels were eventually absorbed by Petrov.

“Hmm, so the Red Mafia is trying to kill you.”

Seeing Guilio smiling cruelly, Yuri lowered his head as if afraid.

“The events organized by David Meyer are not for everyone. Were you invited?”

“I was lucky.”

“In four days, the old man will hold an event in Milan. I have some other business to attend to, so you should accompany me. Maybe the old man knows Petrov’s face. It’s going to be fun… It would be worth watching.”

Yuri raised his head and stared intently at Guilio. Then Romano approached from the back, and grabbed his arm and raised it.

“Bring Rose too. Get ready, Romano.”

“Guilio.”

“She will like it. Milan is…  It’s very flashy.”