Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“I need you to do something for me,” I tell him.
Mischa doesn’t look at me. He’s distracted by a brunette with huge tits hanging off the arm of an avtoritet who outranks him by several decades.
“She looks familiar,” he says.
“Hey, zadrota, did you hear me?”
He reluctantly drags his attention to me and nods. “Sure, Kolyan. Whatever you need.”
For a moment, I doubt myself. Admitting my intentions to anyone is a risk, even Mischa. A Vor should never appear vulnerable, and without solid proof against my father, this could backfire spectacularly if he discovers what I’m doing.
“What is it, bratan?” Mischa slaps me on the shoulder. “You can trust me, yes?”
When I meet his eyes, I know that I can. He is my oldest friend, and I trust him with my life.
“I need you to do some digging around,” I say. “Quietly. And by quietly, I mean if anyone ever finds out, I will cut your nuts off.”
Mischa smiles. “You know I’m rather fond of my nuts. Wouldn’t do a thing to jeopardize them.”
“At least we can rely on that.”
“So what is it?” he asks.
I’m not prepared to say her name aloud. I have made a point not to utter it since the day she walked out on us. To do so now would feel like a betrayal to my father, myself, and the Vory brotherhood. If what I’ve been told is true, she abandoned us. She deserves no more of my time or my thoughts. But regardless, she has them.
I remove the scrap of paper from my shirt pocket and hand it to Mischa. One glance at the name, and it’s evident he knows.
“What would you like me to look for?” he asks quietly.
“I want to know who she ran off with. Names. Addresses. Dates. I want to know what she ate for breakfast last week.”
He nods. “I’ll see what I can do.”
We both drain our glasses, and I gesture to the bartender for a refill.
“Does this have something to do with Manuel Valentini’s daughter?” Mischa asks.
I reach for a smoke and meet his gaze. He never saw Nakya at my house, and I don’t like that he knows about her at all. “How did you hear about her?”
“Word is getting around.” He shrugs. “Manuel has sent his men to hit our clubs, and Viktor is not happy.”
This is news to me. I wouldn’t have expected such foolish behavior from Manuel when his daughter is in our possession. He should know that Viktor won’t tolerate it, and his carelessness presents a new problem. In the wake of these new developments, Viktor could easily decide Nakya is no longer worth the hassle. In the grand scheme of things, my agenda is unimportant when compared to the greater good of the Vory. And Viktor will always do what he deems best for the brotherhood.
“You might want to consider alternative options,” Mischa says, “before Viktor suggests them himself. A man in your shoes, I am certain he would expect you to take the initiative.”
In any other circumstance, what he’s suggesting would make sense. Tanaka is more of a headache to the brotherhood than she’s worth. Manuel’s debt could be taken from his own flesh and blood, and the problem would be solved. But I didn’t take the girl just to kill her and be done with it. I had grand intentions of making her suffer the same way I suspect my mother suffered at the hands of her father. But the thought of doing so now makes me sick. I have tasted her. I still hunger for her. And whether I want to admit it or not, she’s inside me, infecting me with her poison.
“I’ll consider it,” I tell Mischa. A lie, probably, but an effective end to the conversation.
“Kosmos.” He has his attention on the brunette again. “That’s where I know her from. I fucked her in the ass while I ate out her sister.”
“You would be wise not to say that too loud,” I suggest. “The avtoritet appears to be quite fond of her.”
Mischa shrugs. “That’s what happens when you fall in love with a stripper. She has been sampled by everyone else before you.”
“What difference does it make?” I ask. “It wouldn’t hurt you to keep your dick in your pants from time to time.”
He laughs. “You are one to talk. Before you took the Valentini girl, I recall you visiting the club quite often.”
His implication is not lost on me, but I choose not to acknowledge it. The pakhan is heading our way with his daughter in tow, and this is not the sort of conversation he would want her to hear.
“Kol’ka,” Viktor greets me. “I would like a word with you in private.”
Mischa nods and gives the birthday girl his well wishes before making a quick exit. Once he’s gone, I turn to Ana myself. Viktor’s daughter is a pretty girl. Young and wide-eyed and unblemished by the outside dangers of this world. Much like Tanaka, she has been sheltered to preserve our culture and her safety. But now that she is blossoming into a young woman, and her appearances at social events are becoming more commonplace, she is sought after by many of the Vory. I can think of at least ten men who would like to secure her hand in marriage, along with the inevitable rise in rank that would come with it. It’s good to be in the pakhan’s favor.