Chapter 24 · Hired

"Sign it or walk out there and let Sorokin's men put you in the ground." Levi slid the pen across the iron table like he was passing salt. "Your call, Volkov."

I looked at the paper instead of him. Three pages. My name at the bottom, waiting.

"You had me on a leash for six months," I said. "Now you want it in writing."

"I want it legal." He tapped the last line. "Verbal deals get people killed. Paper doesn't."

"Funny. I remember you telling Sorokin's crew paper doesn't stop bullets either."

Levi's mouth did something close to a smile. Not warm. Just sharp at the edges. "That's why you're the bullet now, not the paper."

Two of his men stood by the door, arms crossed, not looking at either of us. That was the tell. When Levi wanted witnesses, he used them for weight. When he wanted this private, he made them stare at the floor.

I picked up the pen. My hand didn't shake. I made sure of that.

"Before I sign — what's the first job."

"Me," Levi said. "You work close. You don't leave my side for the next two weeks.