Nikolai stayed silent for a moment, weighing his next move. Then he pressed down on the thug's broken hand. The man let out a sharp cry.
"Ahhh—!"
"How about you work for me instead?" Nikolai said calmly.
The thug blinked up at him, confusion and disbelief written all over his face.
"I mean it," Nikolai continued. "Look at where you are. You've seen what I can do, but that's not even the main point. Look at how your boss treats you."
The man's breathing was uneven, but he didn't answer.
"In fact," Nikolai said, voice low and firm, "I promise you won't live long if you go back today. Think about it. After all your loyalty, after showing up ready to work for him, what did he do? You got your finger cut off. He ignored your injuries. Then he sent three injured men, you included, to capture someone who already beat you when you were healthy. Even a kid could see what's happening here. He doesn't care if you live or die."
Nikolai let the words sink in, then leaned closer. "And don't forget, you just shared information with me about his shipments, his bribes, everything. You think you'll be safe after losing again and running your mouth?"
The thug's face changed slightly. Doubt crept in. His fear of his boss didn't vanish, but it mixed now with a clear understanding of how disposable he really was.
Nikolai could see it. He had shaken him, but not fully. Fear alone wasn't enough to make him switch sides. The man still hesitated, still clung to what little security the boss offered.
Nikolai's mind moved quickly. He'd broken the first layer, now he needed to offer something to pull him the rest of the way.
Manipulating people was never easy. But it became a lot easier when someone was already desperate and afraid. This man was both.
The best way to pull him in wasn't with threats alone, it was to offer something his current life couldn't give. A way out. A promise that things could be better.
Nikolai's voice turned calm and deliberate. "From what I see, your boss is trying to move up. Shipments. Bribes. He's aiming for bigger business. But look at your position in all of that."
The thug stayed quiet, breathing heavy but listening.
"You don't bring money. You don't bring skills he respects. You're muscle, and not even trusted muscle. If he gets serious with whatever he's importing, do you think he'll rely on the same three guys who just lost to one man? You think you're going to eat when the bigger money comes? No. You'll be the first ones thrown away."
The man's face twitched slightly; the words hit where Nikolai expected.
"Now," Nikolai continued, leaning in a little, "I have a plan. A big one. Not small street loans. I'm thinking bigger than this dock game he's playing. Smuggling is petty. I'm talking international contacts, jobs that pay real money. I know how to move and how to build something that lasts. And if you stick with me now, while I'm starting, you won't just be muscle. You'll have a seat at the table when things grow."
The thug swallowed, eyes flicking up uncertainly.
"You want stability? You want real cash? You want to stop being the expendable one?" Nikolai asked quietly. "Work for me. I don't throw away what's mine. You'll earn more than scraps, and when things scale, you'll be inside, not outside looking in."
The man's breathing slowed. He didn't speak yet, but his stare changed. Fear was still there, but so was a flicker of hope, the first hook Nikolai needed.
But this thug wasn't as stupid as most. Fear had cracked him, but it hadn't blinded him. Instead of agreeing right away, he started asking questions.
Nikolai didn't mind. He even smiled a little. The fact that the man was talking meant he was thinking, weighing options.
If he were set on running back to his boss, he would have shut down completely or tried to fight again. Questions meant possibility.
Most people who double-crossed needed two things before they could commit. The first was protection, safety from the one they were betraying.
The second was proof that the new deal was worth it, that they weren't trading one hopeless life for another.
Nikolai leaned back slightly and let him speak, patient and watchful. This was the moment to push without rushing, to build the idea that switching sides wasn't suicide but survival.
The man swallowed hard and shifted under Nikolai's weight. His good hand twitched like he was debating whether to risk the question. Finally, his voice came out unsteady but clear enough.
"…How?" he asked. "How you gonna keep me safe? You think the boss won't find out if I switch?"
He hesitated, then added, "You say you're going bigger, but bigger how? You don't got men. You don't got anything. Why should I believe you?"
Nikolai didn't react with anger. Instead, he gave a small, slow smile.
That was exactly what he wanted, doubt turning into curiosity.
Nikolai looked down at the man's ruined hand and then met his eyes. His voice stayed calm, almost casual.
"You can go back to your boss and act like this never happened," he said. "Tell him whatever story keeps you alive."
The man's face twitched, unsure where this was going.
"But give me a month," Nikolai continued. "One month. Watch. If you don't see a change, if I'm still nothing, if there's no reason to believe I'm worth backing, then you can run to your boss, blab everything, get whatever reward you think he'll give you."
He leaned a little closer. "But if you're smart, you'll wait. Because by then, you'll know if I'm going somewhere or not."
The thug hesitated, breathing fast but silent. Nikolai could see the calculation, it was a safe deal. Nothing to risk right now but time.
"Your choice," Nikolai said quietly.