Read Online Until the End by London Miller - Free Book Online Page A

all seemed to be angled around a single man.
    Even Cameron could tell there was something different about him. He wasn’t dressed as lavishly as the others, and unlike the empty glasses in front of the others, his glass was full.
    Cameron wasn’t sure what to do when two men stood, refusing to let him pass. He looked to D, but he was leaning over to the man in the center, speaking rapidly in another language.
    Nodding, the man waved for them to let Cameron through. He tentatively stepped forward.
    “Please, sit.”
    Cameron took up the vacant seat, folding his hands in his lap. Sweat formed at the nape of his neck, his nerves getting the best of him as he became the subject of everyone’s attention.
    “My associate tells me you are in a predicament, yes?”
    When the man spoke, everyone stopped to listen. It sounded unbearably loud when Cameron cleared his throat.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “And you want this money to be a doctor?”
    Cameron nodded.
    Surprising them all, the man reached into his coat pocket, withdrawing a hefty envelope, tapping it against the table.
    “How do you expect to pay me back?”
    “I have a job,” he spoke up. “I can get you the money.”
    “You work at a supermarket to pay for your mother’s care. How long would that take, young Cameron Thompson?”
    Cameron was stunned speechless. He had never even given his name to anyone, yet they knew all this information about him. He should have known then that he was way over his head.
    “I’ll do anything,” he pleaded instead.
    D smirked, shaking his head as though he already knew what the man was going to do, but he frowned when the man slid the envelope across the table.
    “Do not worry about the money,” the man said, shocking everyone. “One day, your debt will come due, and on that day, you will answer to me. Do you agree to my terms.”
    Cameron stared down at the envelope, hesitating. For all he knew, the man could ask him to kill someone. Was he really willing to take that chance?
    As Cameron left that room, the envelope tucked safely into his back pocket, he would later regret ever doing business with the Russians in that back room.
    When he finished, Lauren couldn’t look at him. It was an impossible situation to understand. Her father’s desire to go to school by any means necessary was admirable, but how could he think that that was a good option.
    “You could have said no,” Lauren said quietly.
    “And he could have turned down the money,” Mikhail retorted. “I am a businessman. I do not care for sentiment. At the time, he was what I needed and he served his purpose.”
    Red, hot anger filled Lauren and she was close to saying something she knew she would regret.
    “I warned you that it would not be what you wanted to hear, you persisted, but ,”—he raised his hand when she meant to cut him off—“that does not mean I do not feel sorry for what he suffered. He was a good man in a world of thieves. He knew the risks. Know that Viktor paid for what he did and leave it at that.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    The same hotel room. The same day of the week. Yet despite the familiarity, there was a considerable difference charging the air around them. Mishca could see it on their faces as he entered, scanning his surroundings.
    What happened with Viktor—at least the reasons behind his execution—was unknown to the other members, but since his murder was broadcasted, his death was a well-known fact, and the way his body was found was a clear indicator to anyone in this room who had taken out the hit.
    Most of the members inside were respectful, not daring to even look like they thought of questioning Mishca, but others were bolder, blatantly looking to him for an explanation. What was the likelihood of Viktor’s death happening only a few months after he brought Lauren around, especially with his attitude towards her?
    Ignoring the looks, Mishca took the seat to the right of Mikhail’s chair,