And what do you want?”The Voice. Snarling, filled with anger, incredulity that anyone should dare to challenge him.“You don’t need to know. What do we want? The folding stuff, of course.”“You’re not Circle, I know that. They’ve all filled their beaks from me.”I laughed, making the sneer evident. Nothing annoys a pakhan, a big man, more than thinking someone would have the temerity to fuck them over, think they could get away with it. The big man becomes angry, and that means reckless. Then you have him.“Times change. People get hungry, prices go up.”“Not when I make a deal.”“Who said you’d made a deal with us?” I asked.Silence on the other end of the phone.“Think about what you’ve got. Think about how much you’re prepared to lose. Not just containers stuffed with questionable goods, but staff, bodyguards. Once they think you’re losing control, they’re out the door and you’re all alone. Keeping that has to be worth something, don’t you think? So think; we’ll be in touch.”Saltanat looked across at me as I switched off the phone.
