He could ask, but Snoe wasn’t telling. Snoe gave Dimitri a smile, setting his cup down. The coffee was rich, and he’d missed it in his time away from luxury, but after the meeting he could bask in it.
“There are a few things that I require in order to continue with this meeting,” Snoe said.
Dimitri seemed unfazed by Snoe’s words; he waved his hand for Snoe to go ahead and list his demands. Snoe was glad he’d kept the Huntsman shifters alive; it was going to pay off.
“I value discretion above all else.”
“As do I,” Dimitri said.
Snoe nodded. “Yes, it’s why I went with you and not the Lulmen’s coven.”
The mention of Dimitri’s direct competitor in the servant industry only added to Snoe’s credibility; it showed Dimitri he wasn’t stupid and knew he had options. Dimitri tugged on his suit.
“Well, I’m sure whatever your demands, they can be easily met.”
Good. Snoe sat up. “I think we will work wonderfully together. I need a corporation in my name. I don’t care what it involves; I have no need to see anything but—”
“You need a front for the money,” Dimitri supplied.
“Yes, I plan for a lot of unmarked transactions, and I want them to stay out of the limelight,” Snoe said.
“Easy enough, but if I am to work with you, Mr. Whyte, then there needs to be an established amount of trust.”
Snoe figured it would come up, but he didn’t have enough backing him just yet. Dimitri would as soon as toss Snoe in front of a bus to save his own life than protect him. But if Snoe could offer him something that made the risk worth it, then he would have Dimitri’s loyalty.
“If you’re asking me to remove my mask, it won’t happen on this visit. I need to see that you’re trustworthy first,” Snoe said. He raised his hand, cutting off anything Dimitri had to say. “I am bringing you business and money. For now, that is where our relationship will begin. I can promise you, Dimitri, that this will be well worth it.” Snoe stood. “But if this is too difficult, I’m sure someone else will take the opportunity.”
Dimitri stood and watched Snoe with a keen eye before sticking out his hand. “Very well. I shall take this gamble, but don’t get the wrong idea. This is a mutual interest, but once I see that this ship is sinking, I will jump.”
Snoe’s lip quirked up. “Now, how much are you giving me for the shifters?”
Dimitri dropped his hand to his side, his dark eyebrow furrowed. He bent over and picked up the tablet with the shifters still visible on the screen.
“I can offer two hundred thousand,” Dimitri said.
“Each,” Snoe replied.
Dimitri’s mouth dipped in the corners.
“No one else can say they have members of the Huntsman pack.” Snoe looked at the man on the floor, who was panting but hadn’t gotten up although the spell had fizzled out. “More than one at least.”
Dimitri studied the screen a bit longer. “I can give you two hundred thousand for each of the Huntsman member, but the other shifter—”
“Will be the same price,” Snoe said, interrupting him.
Snoe knew he had to play Dimitri’s game and let him lead, but as soon as he agreed to Snoe’s terms, the leadership had changed. Snoe didn’t so much as back down, even as the awkward silence stretched. He stood there unbothered by it and as if he had all the time in the world.
Dimitri’s shoulders sagged. “Very well. When can I have them delivered?”
Snoe mentally did a happy dance. “I will give you the number to contact in order to set up a dropoff.”
Dimitri nodded. “But I can’t in good faith give you the money until I see the shifters in person.”
Of course not.
Snoe sat down. “Then you should call now, and while we’re waiting; might as well set everything up.” Snoe wrote down Maximus’s number and the code that Dimitri’s secretary would need to say in order to get through.
“You don’t mind sitting here alone while I go and handle the business of getting an account set up for you?” Dimitri asked.
Snoe shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at his men.
“I have plenty of entertainment,” Snoe said.
A raspy chuckle left Dimitri as he walked out of the room. Half of his guards left with him, which meant Snoe was semi-trusted. Good enough.
“Master?” Dox called.
Snoe gave him a reassuring smile. He was sure Dox didn’t believe it by the way he took a step closer to Snoe, but it was going to have to do. They weren’t behind closed doors, and any sign of weakness would be taken advantage of.
It was Nyght who found his way next to Snoe, his dark eyes solely focused on Snoe. He surprised Snoe as he knelt to the floor and placed his head on Snoe’s lap. The weight of the man’s head on his lap was comforting. Snoe didn’t ask Nyght to get up, and soon he ran his fingers through Nyght’s hair, the motion relaxing and a balm to Snoe’s nerves. The tension between his shoulder blades eased with every minute that ticked by.
Snoe had no idea how much time had passed, but Dimitri walked back into the room with a broad smile plastered on his face.
“They are in perfect condition. A little rowdy, but what can you expect from animals?” Dimitri asked.
Snoe continued to play with Nyght’s hair.
“Yes, I have no doubt in my mind you will be able to break them,” Snoe said.
The compliment made Dimitri grin even more.
“It is what I specialize in.”
“Then everything is settled?” Snoe asked.
Dimitri snapped his fingers, and a woman came in with an envelope. She handed it to Snoe, and he opened it, finding documents on his small corporation. Just the name “Whyte” was used. It was perfect. There was also cash and a phone.
“The phone has all the digital cards connected to the company. The cash is for the next few days. There is also a hotel key in there while you stay in New Spark. Everything should be finalized in the next week or so.”
Snoe finally let Nyght’s hair go. Once he did, Nyght stood to his full height. Snoe stood and passed the envelope over to Dox.
“Then I shall be in touch,” Snoe said.
Dimitri nodded. “Yes, if you come upon any more interesting items, I hope you keep me in mind.”
Snoe would. He turned and left the room. He pushed more magic into the elevator and rode it down. By the time they hit the bottom, Snoe was tapped the fuck out. Dox wrapped his arm around Snoe’s waist and held him up.
“Are we staying here?” Wolly asked.
They were. He hoped the regular elevators didn’t require magic because Snoe didn’t think he had it in him. They made their way to them, and when the sliding doors opened, Snoe breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of regular numbers. They pressed the button for the penthouse floor. The trip was quick, but Snoe leaned heavily against Dox to the point he was no longer holding himself up.
“Enough,” Blade said in a clipped tone.
He picked Snoe up before Snoe could say anything. What about cameras? But as Snoe’s head started to hurt and his vision blurred, he gave in to the man. He pressed his head to Blade’s neck.
“You are too weak for this,” Blade said.