Attending my brother’s wedding is tedious as fuck.
It was a hassle to convince the attendees that there was a slight change of the groom. Despite my spectacularly charming delivery of the news, I’m not sure everyone believes the tale.
Igor, the Pakhan, and I have to be present during the ceremony to show that we support this union and that Igor and I are still building a partnership.
Only one thing is worth this hassle—Yulia’s contorting face. It looks as if she’s constipated at best and having a stroke at worst.
She attempted to speak to Konstantin, probably to dissuade him. I heard her saying, “You could have someone much better than that devil’s leftovers.” The devil in this equation is me, by the way.
Konstantin actually got angry at her. No. He yelled at her for the first time in…well, forever. My brother might hate his mother’s methods, but he usually tries to voice his disagreements diplomatically.
Not today. He looked that joke of a mother in the eye and pointed at the door. “Kristina is the only wife I will have. If you can’t accept that, leave!”
Of course, she didn’t. The sole purpose of her existence seems to be everything Konstantin. She’d rather be eaten by sharks than miss his wedding.
Now, I must point out that it was slightly comical to watch him get married with a bruised nose from when Alexei attempted to rearrange his features. Lucky for him, we share blood and I didn’t allow for him to be hurt more than necessary.
The other person I share blood with—not Yulia, she doesn’t count—teared up after Konstantin and Kristina were pronounced husband and wife.
Let’s say Karina was actually the most giddy about this turn of events. Probably because she got to hold on to my arm during the entire ceremony and didn’t experience any panic attacks. She seems to have forgotten her slight animosity toward me about Sasha’s departure.
Since my sister has the attention span of a goldfish, she’ll probably go back to her favorite hating game once we’re home.
Once the wedding is over, she takes off like a bullet and hugs our brother. “Congrats, Kosta!”
He ruffles her hair. “Thanks, little Kara.”
She grins and shakes Kristina’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’ll show you all the things.”
“Thank you,” Kristina says quietly, shyly even. So many emotions from the robot in one day is starting to feel like an overdose.
“You’re like the perfect couple!” Karina holds both their hands in hers, excitement emanating off her in waves.
I stroll to her side and adjust my glasses. “Is it just me or did you not sound this happy when I announced my marriage, Kara?”
She smiles awkwardly and links her arm with mine. “Of course I was!”
“Try again without the subpar acting skills.”
“Well…I just didn’t think Kristina was for you.” She smiles at her new sister-in-law. “No offense. I do believe in you and Kosta.”
Interesting. Karina and I happen to share the same sentiment.
I look at the newlyweds, who are wearing the rings I chose—or more like, Viktor did. I told him to get Konstantin’s size, not mine, because I saw this scene long before it happened.
The only difference was that I was so close to pitying the sorry fuck for liking a robot. Turns out, she’s not a robot around him. Which is all that matters, I suppose.
“Congratulations are in order,” I say in my cool tone.
“Thank you,” Kristina says. “I owe you.”
“You sure as fuck do. I’ll hold you accountable to that.”
“Hold me accountable instead.” Konstantin interlinks his fingers with hers, but he’s not looking me in the eye.
“You’ll both be. Make her pregnant as soon as possible or else I won’t be able to defend you if Igor finds out the only reason he allowed this to happen is a sham.”
Karina squeezes my arm. “Can you stop ordering people around, especially on their wedding day?”
“I decline,” I say absentmindedly while checking my watch.
There’s a text from Maksim.
Fucking finally.
There were some complications, Boss. I’m going to need to stay in hiding for a while. I’ll speak to you when I have better capacity. I’m safe.
I know he said he’s safe, but the fact that he has to stay in hiding and isn’t returning immediately like I asked him to is derailing me from the initial plan.
He didn’t even mention if the mission was a success.
Everyone heads out to the wedding reception that’s been held at my house. I’d like to bail on this soul-sucking reception, but that’s impossible, considering that the highlight of the day will happen during the event.
The afternoon weather is beautiful with a clear sky and a slight chill in the air. The reception is set up in the garden and around the pool with an enormous buffet section. Classical music echoes in the air, played by some famous quartet the wedding planner found somewhere. The guests chat and drink their hearts out, or more like gossip about the dramatic groom swap.
Brothers, no less.
As is customary, Kristina takes the heat since she’s the ‘whore’ who got between brothers. I hear Rai putting anyone she hears saying such rubbish in their place.
“You should add Adrian to the list since she was engaged to him a long time ago,” Rai tells someone. “It’s not her fault she’s popular and you can’t have her.”
God forbid anyone speak ill of any woman in front of Rai. She’ll skin them alive and wear it as fur.
Konstantin and Kristina, who are the main topic of discussion, seem to have checked out. Over the past hour, they’ve been either dancing or kissing like some hormonal teenagers.
I expected Karina to hide in her room, but she appointed herself as Kristina’s nonexistent bridesmaid. She’s spent most of the time either adjusting the bride’s hair, makeup, dress, or all of the above. She’s taken a thousand pictures of them, too, and made me pose in a few of them—including some selfies of the four of us.
I’m just waiting for the day to be over already. Rai and Vladimir have been glaring at me nonstop, Adrian has shaken his head at me more than once, and Mikhail seems more confused than a virgin on her wedding night. Damien has misread the whole fucking atmosphere, and, I kid you not, he thinks the fact that I’m not married means we can fight.
How he came up with that correlation is a mystery, but I’m not going to ask. In fact, I’m ready to punch him to the next planet, except for the small fact that I need him today.
Finally, the Pakhan calls for a closed meeting in my office. No guards are allowed inside. It’s just the leaders of the Bratva.
I linger in front of my office where all the senior guards are gathered and whisper to Viktor, “Keep trying to reach Maksim.”
He nods. Apparently, Viktor got a similar text from Maksim—again, with no specifics as to whether or not the mission was a success or if he’s really safe.
“And find Yuri. Tell him to pump himself with medication and get his ass here.”
He nods again.
My expression is cool and collected as I walk into my office. The Pakhan sits behind my desk, and Mikhail and Igor are settled on the two chairs opposite him.
Vladimir stands to his right and Adrian to his left, leaning against the bookshelves, legs crossed at the ankles.
Rai and her husband Kyle sit on the sofa, both cradling her very pregnant belly.
Damien, on the other hand, is opening and closing, then throwing down books that his illiterate mind doesn’t understand. I’m going to bet that he was looking for some images and is personally offended when he finds none.
The moment I close the door behind me, Damien chucks the book in his hand to the floor. “Fucking finally. Let’s get this over with, Pakhan. I have shit to do.”
Sergei stands with difficulty, his attention on me. I smile back so charmingly, I trigger a snarl on Vladimir’s face.
I can tell Sergei isn’t one hundred percent down for this option, but he, Igor, and even Adrian know that I’m the best choice for the leading position. Damien and Mikhail are too volatile. Adrian and Vladimir are anti-leadership. Igor works best when he’s in a support position. Rai is a woman. Kyle is a new addition who has a long way to go to prove his loyalty.
I’m the most balanced and lucrative of the bunch, and that’s a fact.
Sergei addresses everyone in the room, “As I announced at the beginning of this year, I’ll be stepping down as Pakhan due to illness. It’s time to bring new blood into the brotherhood, and while I planned to reserve this position for my son-in-law, my daughter went and married some lawyer who doesn’t belong in our world. As a result, I nominate Kirill as the next Pakhan.”
“You can’t be serious!” Rai stands up with Kyle’s help. “He’s too manipulative to lead, Granduncle.”
“Manipulative or not doesn’t matter. Kirill brings in the most deals, money, and success to the Bratva, and he’s managed to do that in only a few years since his return from the military. Not to mention his pure Russian ties who have been in the brotherhood for generations. I believe he’s the organization’s best option for survival, but I won’t make a final decision on this until a vote is taken.” He pauses for effect. “Those in favor of Kirill becoming the next Pakhan, raise your hand.”
Sergei is the first one who does so, followed by Igor. Mikhail watches the other two, then focuses on me. He’s always been a follower of Igor and Sergei, but at the same time, he’s suspicious. However, I did promise him a hefty reward, so he puts his hand up.
It’s still three to five, though.
I stare at Adrian. His poker face remains the same, and while he wasn’t a fan of this idea, he’s smart enough to slowly raise his hand.
Four to four.
“Damien?” I pin him down as he throws another one of my books aside.
This asshole has been promised more than anyone else, including any war he’s in the mood for.
I didn’t bother with Rai, because she’d never approve. Her husband is of the same opinion. Vladimir is a gray area that I would rather not count on.
So my only other option is this unpredictable motherfucker.
“I don’t give a fuck that you’re the Pakhan,” he says as he raises his hand. “You’ll fight me.”
I think the vote is over, but then Vladimir raises his hand. I’d say that’s a surprise, but it’s not, not really. Vladimir might be this giant bearded mule, but he’s logical enough to realize I’m the best choice.
Or, after Damien cast the deciding vote, he realized his side was losing and he jumped ship so as not to be cast aside by the new Pakhan.
Six to two. Seven, if we’re counting mine.
Rai purses her lips and glares at me. I smile back, showing my teeth.
“Please join me in welcoming the new Pakhan,” Sergei says. “Kirill.”
It’s all going according to plan.
By the time the meeting ends, I’m in the mood to kick everyone out, but I don’t. One, I’ll have to get used to them being in my space, considering that my house will be the base for all future meetings.
Sergei will go on a family trip with his daughter and son-in-law and is fully retiring. Adrian stays behind to fill me in on the special meetings he always has with the Pakhan, all while trying to convince me to step down before it’s too late.
Damien is asking for a fight right after the inauguration.
Vladimir grunts but does fill me in on the security detail since he’s the one in charge of that.
Rai wants to call me names but knows she can’t. She no longer has her granduncle’s support and, therefore, if I decide to prosecute her for the insolence, no one will stop me.
Me? I want to celebrate with my wife.
None of these people matter and their faces aren’t the ones I want to look at while I’m sipping champagne.
I told Sasha she had to wait six months until I was more comfortable in my position and then I could bring her back without anyone intervening, but maybe that’s too long.
In the beginning, I had only a fifty percent chance of making this work, mainly because there were too many variables in the equation.
Now that the situation has changed, three months should be enough. At this point, I don’t give a fuck if they find out Aleksandra is the Aleksander they’ve known for years. I’m just not sure she does.
Which is why I sent Maksim to Russia to take care of the last thread that’s holding her back.
The fact that I still have no news of him is the only hitch in the plan.
After everyone leaves the office, Viktor barges inside, his face tight and his eyes dark.
“Anything from Maksim?” I ask.
“No, but I received unsettling news about one of our properties.”
“I don’t give a fuck about our properties. Get in touch with Maksim. And where the fuck is Yuri?”
“Kirill.” He steps forward.
I pause.
Viktor rarely calls me by my name and only when shit is hitting the fan.
“What is it?”
“It’s about the property you asked me for the keys to about a week ago.”
My spine jerks upright and a buzzing rings in my ears.
I’ve always been the type who relies on his intuition to not only determine the next course of action, but to actually survive. Today was going perfectly well until Maksim’s text, and I’ve had a horrible feeling since then.
I just didn’t know how bad it was until now.
“What about it?” I don’t recognize how calm my voice sounds despite the buzzing in my ears.
“I received a text showing the bombing of the cottage and then the remains being set on fire.”
Every single win I had today comes tumbling to the ground at those words.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck!
Only one thought fills my head—I need to find Sasha.
