Diana had pulled off a miracle. He would make sure that she received extra on her bonus this year. He didn’t know how the woman did what she did, but not only had she booked the meeting with Tabakov, she sent a helicopter with a mini wardrobe for him to have decent business attire for his meeting. Now that he knew Charlee was secure, he could concentrate. This meeting with the Ruslanovich pakhan would be one of the most important meetings of his life.

Tabakov was a shrewd businessman, but West wasn’t worried. He knew that he too was a hard businessman, and he could handle the likes of Tabakov. He refused to leave this meeting without his demands being met. The contract would be removed from Charlee’s head.

He shifted in his seat as the pilot announced through their headphones that they would be coming upon their destination soon. They would be meeting Tabakov at his office in the city of Khabarovsk. It was one of the larger cities in Far East Russia, and just so happened to be less than twenty miles from the Chinese border.

West glanced out the window as they flew over the Amur River. The sun was slowly making its way down, drifting past the horizon. West wished he could have shared this moment with Charlee. Once they had reached the suite earlier, it was decided it would be best to move her. His thoughts turned to her concerned eyes as the black sedan carried her away.

He’d had to keep from jumping in the car with her. Her trusting eyes had gazed up at him with love before she got in the car. His tiger paced beneath his skin even now at the memory. She’d put her trust fully into him, and he would not let her down. Once he returned to her, he would let her know his true feelings. The entire world would come to know how Weston Rogavac felt about Dr. Charlee Black.

Now that they knew there was an official hit out on her, the sanctuary would not be safe. This trip to Far East Russia was well-publicized, and anyone with a smartphone would know how to locate her. Hit men would be coming out of the woodwork. So they moved her to a safe house deep in a shifter town, known as Sukhan.

Humans would be fools to attempt to harm her there. A few of his cousins and distant relatives lived in the town, and he trusted that they would protect her. Shifters tended to band together. Even though Charlee was not a shifter, the fact that he’d laid claim to her when making arrangements was good enough. No one would dare think twice about laying a hand on her while she was there. His family was royalty amongst the shifter world for everything that they had done for not only tigers, but other shifter groups around the world.

Claim her.

Just the thought of officially claiming her stirred his cock. His tiger too. His tiger ached to mark her as his. And he would. The minute he returned to her, she would receive his claiming mark and would be his forever. Now that the cat was literally out the bag, he would explain the claiming, and that they were meant to be together, forever. He knew that she had feelings for him, and he could admit that he was head over heels for her as well.

“Please prepare for descent.” The pilot’s words broke through West’s thoughts. He glanced around and met the fierce gazes of Luka and Drago. He nodded to each, knowing that they were ready to walk straight into the belly of the beast with him.

The helicopter began to make its descent down to the landing pad in the small airport. West watched as a dark sedan drove up to wait for him. The whirl sounds of the blades filled the air as the pilot gently put the copter on the ground.

They quickly exited the helicopter and made their way over to the dark sedan. The driver stood by the opened back passenger door. West nodded to the driver as he entered the vehicle. It was time to go meet with the head of the Ruslanovich Bratva.

They had arrived. West’s tiger growled as they entered the ancient building in what was known as the downtown of Khabarovsk. Three large human security guards in black suits stood from behind their security posts to greet them.

“Mr. Danilovich has been expecting you, Mr. Rogavac,” the first guard announced in Russian as he walked from behind the desk.

West’s animal was instantly on alert. He glanced around the lobby of the building, taking in the old rustic decor that was updated, yet still held an old-world charm to the building. It was nothing like the modern office building that Tabakov owned in Moscow that stretched high up into the clouds.

“I’m glad to know that Tabakov is sending down a welcome committee,” West stated, speaking in his native tongue.

“But of course,” the second guard stated. “For safety reasons. Hope you do not mind.” The guard waved the security wands in front of him.

West’s tiger growled low, but he knew that neither of them had weapons on them. But if it made the humans feels safe, so be it. He kept his cool about him as they walked around them, waving the wands around their bodies to check for anything metal. He didn’t shy away from the humans as they made sure that no weapons would enter into the Russian business establishment.

“Thank you for your patience,” the first guard said. West didn’t like the tone in the man’s voice, but he would let it slide for now. He was not who West needed to see, and he had more pressing things to worry about than knocking the smirk off the guard’s face.

They were then escorted over to the elevators. The six of them were a little too close for comfort in the elevator. Drago ensured that he was directly behind Luka and West as they rode up the elevator in an uncomfortable silence, up to the fourth floor.

Once the doors opened, West relaxed slightly as they silently walked down a hallway toward a reception desk. West took note that there were no other humans around. Granted, it was after hours, but he found it weird that there weren’t even signs of a cleaning service.

“Mr. Rogavac is here to see, Mr. Danilovich,” the first guard announced as they reached the desk. She motioned for them to have a seat while she picked up the phone. She was a slightly older woman, with blonde hair painfully pulled back into a bun. Her suit looked sharp and fresh. Neither West, Luka, or Drago moved to have a seat. They would stand. She briefly spoke into the phone, announcing their arrival.

“He will be with you shortly,” she informed them before going back to typing on her computer. West glanced around at Luka and Drago, who had yet to take their eyes off the guards. The guards were not making any excuses for openly staring at them. They may have checked them for weapons, but West was certain that each of the human guards had at least one weapon on them. Not that West, Luka, or Drago had anything to worry about. The human bullets would do little to nothing to a shifter.

It didn’t take long before the phone next to the receptionist rang. She promptly answered it, listened, and hung up before turning her sharp features toward West.

“Mr. Danilovich will see you now, Mr. Rogavac,” she stated as she turned back to her computer.

“Please, this way.” The guard waved his hand, indicating for West to follow him.

“Only Mr. Rogavac may enter the office, gentlemen,” the second guard announced as he and the third guard blocked Luka and Drago’s path. West shook his head at them. He would not need them in the room for what he had to discuss with Tabakov.

“I’ll be fine,” West assured them, with a hand raised in the air to stop Drago’s protest. He knew that if he really needed them, there wasn’t a person in the room who could hold back two ferocious tigers. He followed the guard toward a solid oak door. He held it open for West to allow him entrance.

West entered the office and found its decor dark and masculine. The sound of the door closing behind him caused him to turn. The guard did not enter, but West was sure that he was standing outside the door. The wall to wall windows gave a breathtaking view of the town. West looked around and found himself to be alone. He took his time walking over to the window to admire the view.

The muffled sound of a toilet flushing filled the air, followed by the sound of running water. West’s shifter hearing picked up on movement in the bathroom before the door opened. He turned and found Tabakov Danilovich striding toward him. He was of medium height for a human, with an athletic build. His blond hair held a touch of gray on the sides. He offered a smile that West was sure he thought was warm and welcoming, but West saw immediately through the pakhan’s facade.

“Weston, how have you been? Beautiful view, isn’t it?” Tabakov asked, his hand outstretched. West gripped his hand in a tight, firm handshake, grateful that the mafia boss had decided to wash his hands before exiting the facilities. “Wow, strong grip you have there.”

“I’m fine. How have you been?” West asked in Russian as he followed Tabakov over to his desk. He took a seat in the plush leather chair across from Tabakov’s desk while the pakhan settled into his chair.

“Business is going well,” he said. “I was a little surprised to see that you were requesting a meeting with me. It’s been too long since we last spoke, but I would be interested in any business proposal that Rogavac Industries would be willing to present.”

“I’m not here on official Rogavac Industries business,” West announced, trying to tame his tiger. His animal paced, not liking the too smooth front that the pakhan was presenting. He was a snake in the grass, just waiting to strike.

“Oh, no?” Tabakov tried to appear shocked, but West knew that it was a front.

“Cut the bullshit,” West snapped, calling his bluff. “I know that the Ruslanovich Bratva has been keeping an eye on what’s going on over in Siberia at the Panthera National Park, and I know that your Bratva has a hand in the poaching business.”

“What do you want me to say?” Tabakov asked, the smile vanishing from his face. A cold, hard mask swept across the pakhan’s features. “I am a businessman, and there is much money to be had in that business. There are plenty of private collectors who are willing to pay top dollar for the merchandise that my organization can offer them. And yes, I knew that you and your little SPAT organization was running around the Far East, trying to save your precious tigers.”

“You’re talking about a business that would wipe out an entire species,” West growled. His tiger was restless, begging to be let out, but West pushed him down.

Not now.

“You Rogavac’s waste too much money trying to save the world and your precious animals. There is so much more that you could do with your money,” Tabakov stated, leaning back in his chair.

“What we do with our money is none of your concern,” West snapped, irritation lining his voice. “I also know that you have put a hit out on Dr. Charlee Black.”

Tabakov’s eyes widened, the disgust at the mention of Charlee’s name was apparent on his face.

“Don’t worry about Dr. Black. She’s a dime a dozen, and there will be someone else soon.”

Charlee, a dime a dozen?

Not hardly. She was priceless. Irreplaceable.

She was his.

“Tabakov, it’s time that a Rogavac claimed the favor that was promised by your grandfather to mine.”

“What?” Tabakov sputtered, his face flushing red.

Anger spewed from his eyes, but West didn’t care. He knew that the Russian would have to honor it. The Ruslanovich Bratva was like any other brotherhood. Honor was a code that they lived by. It would bring dishonor to his family if he did not abide by the promise that was made from his grandfather.

Whenever a Rogavac calls on a Ruslanovich, they would honor any requests.