California Fire And Life

74

Viktor Tratchev is one tres pissed gangster.

"Valeshin wanted to be a real estate developer," Tratchev says to his head enforcer, an obelisk of a human specimen known simply as Bear, "so he's a real estate developer. Fine. What does he think, that he can just stroll in when he feels like it and be the boss again?"

Bear shrugs. Bear may not know the term "rhetorical question" but he knows one when he hears one.

Tratchev's working himself up.

"What does he think?" Tratchev asks. "That I'm going to lie down and just take this shit? I'm supposed to lie down on my belly and let him fuck me?!"

This is pretty much exactly what he's supposed to do, actually, according to Dani and Lev, who drop by Tratchev's house that afternoon for a glass of tea and some browbeating.

"You've been shorting the pakhan on his share," Dani explains.

By about 100 percent, Dani's thinking.

"Bullshit," Tratchev says.

"Not bullshit," Dani insists. "What do you think, you're playing with children here?"

Dani holds up a hand to stop him. "Don't add insult to injury. Keep your lies inside your mouth. Listen, Viktor, between you and me, I'll admit that things have gotten pretty loose. So you take advantage. All right, you take advantage. Human nature. Maybe the fault then is on both sides.

"But I'm here to tell you today, Viktor Tratchev, that the free and easy days are over. The pakhan is the, pakhan again. From now on, until trust is restored, we will take the payments and give you your proper share. You will run a tighter operation that doesn't end up on the evening news. And Viktor Tratchev, if you cause any more problems, I will personally cut off your head and piss into your gasping mouth. Thank you for the tea."

They get up and leave and Tratchev is about to throw a rod.

"I'll kill him," he says.

"Dani?" Bear asks.

"Him too," Tratchev said.

Who he has in mind is Nicky.

He starts working the phones.