Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Grabbing her cheeks with both hands, I turn her slightly and brush my lips against her temple. I’m well aware of the onlookers, just like earlier when we danced. They’re all shocked by how close I am to Lia tonight compared to all of the other gatherings. Damien and Kirill even asked me about the sudden change.
It’s simple.
I’m done treating my wife like a stranger when she’s always been the only person who mattered in a room full of people.
The only person I see.
I reluctantly release her and go to Sergei’s side. He’s been watching me, too, though he’s remained quiet about it.
After making sure Lia is in Yan’s direct view, I stop beside our Vor. “A word, Pakhan.”
“Why?”
“It’s of interest to you.” I stare at Vladimir who’s been observing me all night, no doubt waiting for me to slip up. “You, too.”
Kirill slides to our side with quiet steps and readjusts his glasses. “What about me?”
“Me, too.” Damien jumps in with less finesse. “Why does everyone leave me out?”
“Not today.” I motion at Kirill with a tilt of my head, and he thankfully takes the hint and drags a protesting Damien away.
Vladimir and I follow Sergei into his office while Igor, Mikhail, and even Lazlo and his men stare at us.
Actually, Lazlo’s attention is on me. I ignored him as much as possible the past week, and if I don’t do something about it, he’ll do things his way.
But I need to take care of my own before extending it to outsiders.
At soon as we’re in the office, Sergei sits in the lounge area and Vladimir and I join him.
“What is it?” The Pakhan leans on his fist. “I assume it has to do with the wife, whom you once mentioned means nothing?”
“Yes. There’s something about her you should know.”
“What, pray tell, might that be?”
“She’s Lazlo Luciano’s daughter.”
“What?”
“What the fuck?” Vladimir says at the same time as Sergei.
The Vor straightens but doesn’t release his fist. “Is this a distasteful joke, Volkov?”
“No, Pakhan. In fact, she’s the reason Lazlo Luciano demanded to only work with me. I’m his son-in-law.”
“What is this insolence?” Sergei’s voice hardens. “You’ve been playing me for fool all along?”
“No.”
“Then do you deny knowing who she was before you married her?” Vladimir asks.
“No. I knew since the beginning. Lazlo and Lia, however, found out only recently.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Sergei hisses.
“I have no interest in lying to you. If I did, I would’ve kept this a secret.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Unlike what you think, I dislike keeping secrets from you, Pakhan.”
“You don’t seem to when it comes to your precious wife.”
“I did that to protect her from this life. Until recently, she didn’t even know how tightly she’s related to our world.”
Silence fills the office, but it’s neither uncomfortable nor stifling. Vladimir is deep in thought, probably considering ways to finish me off, while Sergei continues sizing me up before he speaks. “When did you figure out her connection to Lazlo?”
“Before I married her. I intended to use her against him.”
“Let me guess, you changed your mind?”
“No. I still intend to use Lazlo for the brotherhood’s benefit. He has a knack with the South American cartels and that will help us in the long run. My loyalty lies with the Bratva, not him.”
“But he’s your father-in-law.”
“That makes him an ally, not the boss of me.”
“Killing Richard doesn’t support your theory,” Vladimir grunts.
“I already told you why I did that. Stop nagging like an old woman, Vladimir.”
He glares. “And now what? You expect us to let this go, too?”
“That’s what I hoped for.” I meet Sergei’s gaze.
“Pakhan,” Vladimir tightens his hand into a fist. “You can’t possibly forgive the bastard for his disrespect two times in a row.”
Sergei remains silent but doesn’t break eye contact with me. I’m fully aware that he doesn’t want to lose me, and while I haven’t revealed my in-law relations with the Lucianos to not involve Lia, Sergei—and even the fucker, Vladimir—know that it would benefit the brotherhood. Especially with how closed off Lazlo and his people can be.
However, Sergei is old-fashioned, and Vladimir is closed off. They wouldn’t let me off the hook, no matter how valuable I am, for the sole reason that they don’t want to set a precedent.
Countless men were killed for lesser than this and if I’m forgiven easily, it’d reflect badly on Sergei’s power and the brotherhood’s codes of honor.
It seems that the Pakhan needs an incentive, so I say, “All you have to do is turn a blind eye to it like I’m turning a blind eye to the fact that your daughter embezzled money from V Corp and fled.”
Both Sergei and Vladimir stare at me with wide eyes. The way they underestimate me is somewhat insulting. Did they really think I wouldn’t figure out that Sergei’s soft daughter, Anastasia, isn’t, in fact, continuing her studies in Russia like they lied about to everyone?