Stepan
Marina has been quiet for a few days, more than four, actually, and I'm not happy about it.
It's made me agitated and defensive. I've told Kazimir off twice and Timur asked me if I'm alright.
I just can't stand that she rejected me and even after meeting up at my safehouse to have sex one night, she is still acting strangely.
I've called her a few times each day, and when she does answer she won't agree to meet me. She keeps giving excuses about her father or that jerk she's supposed to marry, and I'm beginning to think she's trying to avoid me.
This time, however, she answers, and before she even speaks, I hear the background noise. She is almost whispering when she finally greets me.
"I can't talk right now," she says in hushed tones.
"You haven't been able to talk for three days, Marina." I'm upset, though I try to not let it show too much in my tone. I don't want her thinking I’m angry with her.
"My father's been watching me. Maksim's here for dinner.
I have maybe two minutes before someone notices I'm gone.
" My heart squeezes uncomfortably. I don’t want her getting in trouble over this, which would only limit our time more.
Who knows what her father would do if he knew she was sneaking away at times?
Still, I don't know if what she's telling me is true.
I don't know if Maksim is really sitting at her dinner table or if she's pulling away from me for reasons she won't say, and not knowing is eating a hole through my patience.
I look up at Roman's front door, where I'm supposed to be right now, and decide it's not worth picking a fight over right now.
But I have to see her. I'm going insane not knowing what's going on in her head.
"I want to meet you tonight, Rina." I use her pet name because I know it tugs at her heartstrings. "I'll come get you, one block east of your father's house," I say. "The intersection past the bakery. I'll be parked there at midnight."
"Stepan, I don't know if I can—"
"Look" I say, cutting her off, "if you want me in your life at all, you have to give me at least five minutes. Tonight. Okay?" I hear her huff and sigh. "Please, Marina. I need to see you."
"Fine," she mumbles, "but I can't stay out all night. And you have to understand that I'm getting married to Maksim."
I grit my teeth and bite back my nasty comment I want to say about how much of a douche Maksim Orlov is, but I respond with, "Yeah, I know," and hang up.
I know she's reminding me because it's the truth, but sometimes it feels like she's trying to prove a point to herself too.
I wish I knew whether pushing her harder would work or whether I'm going to have to take those drastic measures, but there's no way to rush this. Only time will tell.
Climbing out of the car, I turn my collar up against the stiff spring breeze and walk to the door.
Yegor lets me in and points me toward the office where Roman's expecting me, and the fact that Yegor doesn't say much tells me the mood inside isn't good.
I walk through the foyer and into the study at the back of the house where Roman's standing behind his desk with his jaw set tight.
There's a glass of vodka on the table and the bottle sits next to it open.
"Sit down," he orders, and I obey like a well-trained dog.
I have no clue what this is about. I've done my jobs well, and other than not breaking up the alliance, things are going smoothly.
Maybe he's pissed that I've slept with Marina and not yet managed to drive the wedge between her father and Maksim, but usually, Roman's pretty chill about those things.
So when he opens his mouth to talk and his voice is more of a growl than a conversation, I know this is going to go badly.
"I heard what you and Kazimir are cooking up, and before you say anything, I've already told him off," he says.
My chest clenches and I don't even blink.
My eyes are locked on him reverently as I sit wondering how on earth he heard about Kazimir's stupid idea to off Orlov without telling him. The only thing that makes sense is that Timur was watching that sparring match we had, or that someone else was in the gym we didn’t see.
Finally, I dip my head and rub the back of my neck as I respond. "Yeah, Kaz said something about offing Orlov. He thinks if we make it look like one of his customers or enemies did a hit, we can get away with it clean. It stops the alliance and—"
"And you entertained this." He leans over his desk and glares at me, which isn't as bad as the reaction I figured he'd have.
I thought if he heard I even considered the idea, he'd have me in a choke hold or on the first ship to Iceland.
He doesn't tolerate anyone going against his morals at any time and sees himself as the god of this organization.
He rightly is, which is why I told Kaz it was a horrible idea.
"I didn't have a choice but to listen, Ro.
We were sparring and he threw it out there.
It doesn't mean I'm going to act on it." My heart is drilling into my ribs, but I know Roman's a sensible man.
He's angry but he's not hasty. Besides, he doesn't know I actually considered this on my own.
I've put thought into it, and the only way to get Marina out of this without hurting her or someone she loves might very well be to end Orlov.
"You didn't shut it down, either." Roman straightens up and folds his arms across his chest. "We don't kill men because it's convenient, Stepan.
We kill men when there's no other way forward, and we are nowhere near that point.
Killing Maksim Orlov right now starts a war with his family that we are not ready to fight.
We're six months into a gun operation with new crews that haven't been tested under pressure. This is not the time to add enemies."
"I agree," I tell him, sitting a big straighter.
He's not being unreasonable, but after having thought this through, he also isn't seeing the big picture.
If we let Orlov and Belova continue merging things, it won't matter whether that wedding even goes through.
Sergei and Maksim will rule the city and we won't have a chance.
"Okay, then why are we bringing it up?" He picks up the glass of vodka and downs it, then pulls his chair out and sinks into it. He's not going to keep shouting at me, but he's not happy. I can tell that much.
"Ro, you know Kaz doesn't think with his brain half the time. He's good at what he does, but he's impulsive. If I were going to do that, it would've been done already."
Romans scowls but he leans back in his chair and straightens his tie.
It isn't often I see him get that worked up, and when I do, it's always because someone has gone outside his authority over something. Now I’m not stupid enough to do that, but I might be just brazen enough to challenge his choice when I think things could go a different way.
"Where are we with the girl?" he asks. "And don't tell me nowhere. You've been at this two months. It should’ve been done. My sources say the wedding is planned for August. That's four months away and we have nothing to show for your plan."
"That's what I need to talk to you about."
"The original plan was to get close enough to make the relationship visible, let Orlov find out, let his pride do the rest. Where does that stand?" Ro's dark eyes are fixed intently on me and after his angry outburst a few minutes ago, I have to tiptoe to make sure he doesn’t flip out.
I lean forward in the chair, my forearms on my knees.
"I can't do it." I lean forward and rub both hands over my face.
As much as I want to be that ruthless son of a bitch that Kazimir is, I just can't. "I can't blow her life up, Roman.
I made that plan when she was just a name on a briefing, but she's not just a name anymore. "
He gives me that look that says, "I told you so", and I try not to wince. He already gave me permission to try to flip her, hoping Orlov would disappear and Belova would side with us, but that's not going to happen either.
"You know I'm not a fan of hurting anyone if it can be avoided. It's not what my grandfather would've wanted when he started this organization." And that's exactly what I’m hoping for—Roman to hold true to his values.
"I know, and here's what I'm thinking." I run a hand across my head and sit back, sucking in a breath to bolster the courage.
"Look, if we bring proof that Marina has been unfaithful, Orlov will blow up.
It'll drag her through the mud, destroy her reputation, and yes, destroy the alliance.
Or so we hope. There's every chance it will just destroy her in the process and the alliance may still go through. "
"But…?" he leads, lifting a skeptical eyebrow.
"But if we end Orlov—our largest competition, Belova will be helpless.
He will scramble for aid, and no one will come running.
And if Marina is free from Orlov's influence, she will likely turn right to my arms and come to me.
And her father will have no choice but to support her.
" My pulse is racing, my palms sweaty. If he disregards my plea, I don't know what I'll do.
His eyes search me and darken as they see how desperate I am. I can't hide it. I refuse to let her slip into the hands of a man who will treat her poorly. The obsession hit me so hard and so fast, I couldn't do anything about it, and now I’m consumed. I must have her.
Roman purses his lips and his nostrils flare, then he shakes his head and turns to look out the dark window.
"Give it six weeks… You wait until it's the only option left.
Do you understand me?" When his steel gaze meets mine again, I know he's serious.
"If killing Orlov is the only way to end this alliance, we'll make it look internal.
We can't get wrapped up in a murder investigation, by his men or the authorities. "
I am already rising, ready to move to the door and go to the spot I told Marina to meet me, still hours early. His answer has given me hope.
"I understand."
"And if this goes sideways, it's on you. I'll wash my hands of it, Stepan."
"Yes, sir," I grunt, moving toward the door.
I have Roman's consent to kill Maksim Orlov if need be, and something about that makes me feel giddy. Whether she likes it or not, she's mine. And I'm not going to tell her my plan, but I'm going to try to make myself as irresistible as possible.