Chapter 3
N ikon’s pinky ring clinked against his whiskey tumbler in a steady rhythm as his three brothers filed into the sleek conference room of Alexei’s newest acquisition; a gleaming fifty-story office tower in the financial district.
The choice of venue was typical of his diplomatic brother; neutral ground draped in corporate legitimacy. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, neighboring steel and glass towers stretched toward the slate-grey sky, their reflections dancing across the dark wood conference table.
Nikon lifted the glass to his lips without drinking, using the motion to study Andrey’s muted reflection in the window.
Strange. His youngest brother typically strutted into these meetings, ready to challenge every decision.
“Dmitrii Miroslav’s network has expanded by thirty percent in the last quarter.” At the name, Nikon’s finger paused, its rhythmic tapping against the glass, a moment’s hesitation before resuming its steady beat. Alexei’s crisp voice continued as he distributed tablets, showing detailed analytics. “He’s been specifically targeting our high-value clients.”
A muscle twitched in Nikon’s jaw. The argument with Reuben yesterday still burned under his skin, making it harder to maintain his usual iron control. “Show me the numbers.”
“Here.” Alexei’s finger swept across his screen, projecting figures onto the wall. “Three of our whale clients have already jumped ship. James Donovan being the most recent.”
Ah. That explained Donovan’s particular interest in Reuben last night. The thought of that man’s eyes on what was his made Nikon’s grip tighten on his glass.
“According to your security feed, your boy, Reuben, caught Donovan’s attention.” Grigorii’s gravelly voice carried a note of warning. He tapped the tablet in front of him, bringing up time-stamped footage from the previous night.
“My security feed?” Nikon’s voice dropped several degrees. “Since when do you have access to my poker room surveillance?”
“Since your casino security man flagged unusual activity from a known Miroslav associate.” Grigorii’s expression remained impassive. “Miroslav’s getting bold, sending his men to scout talent right under our roof.”
“Reuben handled it.” The words came out sharper than intended.
“Did he?” Grigorii leaned forward, battle-scarred hands clasped on the table. His eyes flickered to another segment of footage showing Nikon’s intervention. “Or did you handle it for him? Because from what I see here, you swooped in the moment Donovan started asking questions.”
The implied criticism scraped against Nikon’s nerves. “You have something to say about how I manage my people, Grigorii?”
“Your people ?” A bitter laugh from Andrey. “Is that what we’re calling him now?”
“Enough.” Alexei shot his twin a quelling look before turning back to Nikon. “The point is, Miroslav’s making moves. Strategic ones. He’s not just stealing clients, he’s identifying our vulnerabilities.”
The word ‘vulnerabilities’ broke through Nikon’s careful mask. He tapped the sharp edge of the bottom of his glass against the table.
“So, Miroslav thinks he can use Reuben to get to me?” The observation came out cold, clinical, as he lifted the glass back up to his lips. “Let him try.”
Grigorii eased back into his chair with a sigh. “You need to stop keeping Reuben on the fringes.” Grigorii’s eyes locked onto Nikon’s. “He more than proved himself at the port job.”
Nikon’s glass hit the table hard enough to slosh whiskey onto the polished wood. “He was almost killed.”
“It was mere grandstanding.” Grigorii waved a scarred hand. “The Cartel boys were putting on a show. None of them were going to pull those triggers and you know it.”
“You keep him dealing cards, wasting away in those rooms of yours.” Alexei’s words cut through the tension between the two eldest Matvei brothers. “When was the last time you let him actually help the business?”
“He’s not made for the violent side of what we do.” Nikon’s voice hardened.
Alexei raised an eyebrow. “Does Reuben agree with that?”
Nikon said nothing, focusing on his finger as it traced the rim of his glass.
“We could use this.” Alexei leaned forward, his tone sharpening with interest. “Have Reuben scout one of Dmitrii’s poker rooms. Maybe just the periphery. Gather some basic intel.”
The muscle in Nikon’s jaw twitched. “No.”
“Think about it.” Grigorii’s hands spread across the polished table. “Dmitrii’s already shown his hand. He’s interested in Reuben. That probably makes Reuben our best shot at understanding his operation.”
“I said no.” Nikon’s voice turned cold.
“Not as a recruit,” Alexei added quickly. “Just reconnaissance. Let him feel things out under the guise of considering Dmitrii’s offer. His ability to read people—”
“Is exactly why he stays where he is.” Nikon’s fingers tightened around his glass.
“Nikon.” Grigorii’s voice carried decades of shared history, of watching each other’s backs in countless fights. “You can’t let emotions cloud your judgment like this. Not with what’s at stake.”
Emotions. As if that’s all this was.
Reuben was the most valuable addition to their organization in years. His ability to read people was worth more than all of Donovan’s accounts combined. As if Nikon’s need to keep him close, keep him safe, wasn’t as much about protecting their interests as it was about...
No. He wouldn’t think about that now.
“Walk me through Miroslav’s pattern.” Nikon directed his attention to Alexei, his jaw tightening at the sight of Grigorii’s frown—that same expression his older brother had worn through every crisis since they were children. “Every detail.”
Alexei tapped his tablet, bringing up a new set of projections. “He’s systematic. First, he identifies key players in our operation. Then Dmitrii studies them, learning their routines, their weaknesses.”
Nikon’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Some habits never change.” When Grigorii raised an eyebrow, Nikon elaborated, “Dmitrii always did prefer playing with other people’s toys. Even back when he was nothing but a face in the crowd at certain private establishments.”
Alexei shrugged off the interruption as he continued, his fingers tracing patterns on his tablet. “By the time he makes contact, he already knows exactly what buttons to push.”
“Like poetry,” Andrey muttered, slouching deeper into his chair. “The man’s an artist.”
Nikon’s gaze snapped to his youngest brother. There was something off in Andrey’s tone, something that set off warning bells in the back of his mind. But before he could probe deeper, Alexei continued.
“He’s particularly interested in your casino rooms.” Alexei’s eyes met Nikon’s. “Specifically, the private games Reuben deals.”
Ice crystallized in Nikon’s veins. The memory of Reuben’s hands moving across green-felt flashed through his mind. Those same hands on his skin this morning, demanding and desperate...
“Our security is solid.” Nikon’s words came out rough.
“Security isn’t the issue.” Alexei set his tablet down, choosing his next words carefully. “Miroslav likely sees Reuben as a coveted recruit. Someone who could be persuaded to switch sides.”
Images from a long ago past flickered through Nikon’s mind: smoke-filled rooms at Club Midnight , the way Dmitrii would appear at the bar next to whichever man had just left Nikon’s bed. How he’d lean in close, whisper something that made them laugh. The glass in Nikon’s hand caught the light as he lifted it, remembering other glasses, other nights when he’d watched from across dimly lit rooms while pretending not to notice.
But Reuben wasn’t some passing distraction in a private club. The thought of Dmitrii’s hands anywhere near him made him want to cut out Dmitrii’s tongue.
“Reuben’s loyal.” Nikon’s fingertip returned to tracing the rim of his glass, remembering how Reuben’s lips had brushed the same spot on his fingertip this morning.
“He has proved his loyalty to our family, sure.” Grigorii regarded Nikon from across the table. “But to you?”
The mere questioning of Reuben and Nikon’s relationship made Nikon’s knuckles whiten against the armrest of his chair. “What the hell are you getting at?”
“I think you’re too close to see clearly.” Grigorii’s face held no judgment. “Miroslav doesn’t just take what he wants... he makes people want to give it to him. That’s what makes him dangerous.”
The words hit too close to the conversation with Reuben earlier. The frustration in those green eyes, the barely contained desire for more independence, more trust, more...
“Fine. We use it against him.” Nikon’s decision crystallized, sharp and clear as a blade. “Let him think Reuben’s vulnerable to persuasion.”
Alexei straightened, interest sparking. “So, you’ll send Reuben in?”
“It’s risky,” Grigorii warned. “If Miroslav suspects—”
“He won’t.” The certainty in Nikon’s voice brooked no argument. “Reuben’s better at this game than any of you realize.”
Andrey snorted. “Better at some games than others, I’m sure.”
Nikon’s head turned slowly, fixing his youngest brother with a look that had made harder men flinch. “Something you want to share with the family, Andrey?”
Andrey stretched, a lazy smile playing at his lips. “From what I hear,” Andrey drawled, “your boy’s getting restless. Maybe Dmitrii will know how to handle him better than you do.”
“Then we’ll find out.” Nikon’s voice dropped to a dangerous tone. “Reuben goes in. Gets close.” His eyes locked on Alexei. “But only as close as he needs to be.”
A smirk spread across Andrey’s face as he stood. “Of course.” The dismissive wave of his hand as he stood seemed to carry more challenge than any direct threat.
Nikon’s fingers twitched against his armrest. But Andrey was already strolling toward the door, that infuriating smile still in place.
The meeting dispersed. But Nikon remained seated, watching his brothers file out, noting how Grigorii’s hand clamped down on Andrey’s shoulder; whether in warning or support, he couldn’t tell. Only Alexei hung back, perching on the edge of the conference table with studied casualness.
Alexei’s fingers drummed against the hardwood surface. “You know I’m right about using Reuben. He doesn’t need to get close to Dmitrii. Just close enough.”
Nikon’s jaw tightened as he watched Alexei, refusing to break first.
“Just one game.” Nikon’s words came out like ground glass. “He scouts one poker game. Nothing more.”
“That’s not enough.” Alexei straightened. “Dmitrii’s too careful. We need Reuben to get close enough to see behind the curtain. Use his skills to read what Dmitrii’s really planning.”
Nikon’s knuckles whitened against the armrest. The thought of Reuben anywhere near Dmitrii made his skin crawl, but Alexei’s logic was undeniable. Still, the risk...
“If it makes you feel any better, I think you’re finally making the right move.” Alexei’s lips curved in a half-smile. “But probably not for the reasons you think.”
That earned him a sharp glance. “Meaning?”
“Meaning Dmitrii doesn’t just take what’s yours.” Alexei scratched the side of his chin for a moment before continuing. “He moves pieces so subtly that by the time you realize you’re in check, you’ve already lost the queen. That’s his real talent.”
“Reuben isn’t a chess piece to be moved.”
“No.” Alexei’s voice softened. “He’s not. But Dmitrii won’t see that. He sees what everyone else sees.” A pause. “Your blind spot.”
Heat crawled up Nikon’s spine. “Get to the point.”
“The point is, you trust Reuben. I get that. But does Reuben trust you enough to do what needs to be done?” Alexei straightened, his usual diplomatic mask slipping to reveal genuine concern. “Because Dmitrii will try to break that trust. He’ll dig into every crack, every moment of doubt between you.”
The words hit too close. Reuben’s voice echoing in his head: “You know I’m yours. But I’m not your property.”
“Leave it.” Nikon’s voice carried an edge.
“You know I respect what you two have.” Alexei moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. “But Dmitrii... he’s different from our usual enemies.” Alexei’s eyes met his brother’s. “And he’s always wanted what you have, Nikon.”
Moments later, the meeting room door clicked shut behind Alexei, leaving Nikon alone with thoughts that circled like wolves. He reached for his phone, thumb hovering over Reuben’s name in his contacts.
The urge to call, to hear that voice, to make sure Reuben was safe ...
A beat passed. Nikon locked his phone and set it face-down on the table.