Chapter 22 – Artur
The number of times I watched the fight between my wife and that huge man was unhealthy. At first, I almost didn’t believe that she took down an assassin three times her size on her own.
Until I watched the tape.
The CCTV captured the whole thing, from the way she killed the man who’d shot Konstantin to the battle in the hallway. I blamed myself for not being there when all of this was happening. But at the same time, I was filled with so much pride while watching the tape.
She proved to be stronger than I thought; she was capable of handling herself in trouble. I wondered what was going through her mind as everything was happening. Because the woman in that video was a vicious beast.
That naive, innocent little girl was nowhere to be found in the face of trouble. She was gone, allowing the lioness to take the wheel. I hadn’t been more shocked in my whole life. Nothing surprised me like this version of her.
I never imagined for a moment that there was a killer lurking somewhere inside her. The joke was on me. I should’ve known better. As proud as I was, I never wanted her to cross that line. And I would change that reality if I could.
But I couldn’t.
She was one of us now. A killer.
Not because she enjoyed it.
But because she’d had no choice.
What she did was proof that she’d make a good leader and an even better mother. She would protect her flock against predators.
Now, that was a partner worth having for life.
The more I watched the video, the more I realized she didn’t win that fight by chance. It wasn’t luck. It was her sheer will to survive, to protect one of her own. And I couldn’t have been prouder.
However, it was time I put an end to that bastard, Rocco, for good. Twice now, he’d launched an attack on me. In my house. He was reckless enough to bring the fight to my home. Twice. That was a slap to my face.
He’d proven to be a formidable enemy, one I shouldn’t underestimate. The bastard was a cancer, a thorn in my flesh, and I was going to pluck him off. I needed to take care of this problem quickly because I had two lives to protect at all costs.
Rocco wasn’t working alone, and neither should I. He’d made himself some new friends—powerful and influential people who wanted me out of the way. They joined forces, and together, they’d been planning my downfall.
To make matters worse for me, the Bratva elites were pulling their resources gradually. They blamed me for letting this escalate and spiral out of control. They called me sloppy, accusing me of becoming weak and out of touch with reality.
They didn’t say it to my face, but I knew they believed my wife was the reason for my “weakness.” They cast a vote to decide whether or not they’d intervene and help out.
At the end of the day, the results weren’t in my favor—as expected. A good number of them voted against lending a helping hand.
Essentially, I was on my own.
Rocco’s fight was with me. Not the Bratva.
It was my responsibility to end this feud once and for all. With or without their assistance.
Most of my best men were injured during the most recent battle. So I was short-manned. My cousins all had their hands full at the moment, and I didn’t want to bother anyone with my problems.
I was in my study that afternoon when Konstantin’s temporary replacement walked in. He told me someone was at the gate, waiting to be ushered in.
“Who?” I asked, seated behind my desk.
“Anatoli Petrov,” he replied.
Anatoli Petrov was an ally of mine, one of the very few ones that hadn’t been compromised. He was the man who made Celine laugh at the gala and tricked her into thinking he was nice.
“Let him in.”
He nodded and walked away.
A few minutes later, Anatoli was escorted in by two men who left shortly after.
“Artur, good to see you again, brother.” He walked in, wearing a wide grin.
“Likewise, Anatoli,” I replied, rising to shake his stretched-out hand. “Please, take a seat.”
He sank into the chair across my table, fingers undoing the button of his jacket. Leaning back, he crossed his legs with his gaze on me.
“To what do I owe this visit?”
“Come on, is it a crime to drop by to see an old friend?”
I reclined in my chair. “Cut to the chase, Anatoli. Why are you really here?”
He chuckled. “At least pour me a glass of vodka first.” His eyes flicked toward the half-empty bottle on my table. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll get it myself.”
I watched him lean in and grab the bottle.
“I hear you have a Rocco problem on your hands.” He poured himself a glass, eyes fixed on the bottle. “I also hear the Bratva isn’t really willing to help.”
Silence.
I sat there, observing, paying attention to his body movements. Just in case there’s something fishy beneath the surface.
“What else did you hear?” I indulged him.
“That you’ve grown soft,” he answered, swirling the drink in his hand. “And that Rocco’s three steps ahead of you.”
Again, I said nothing.
He sipped from his glass. “Hmm. Neat.”
“Why are you here, Anatoli?” I stared at him, a hint of suspicion flickering in my eyes.
“To help.”
My silence was his cue to elaborate further.
He continued, “I hate that son of a bitch as much as you do. I’ve always wanted to take him down after what he did.” His expression turned cold in an instant.
Anatoli had unfinished business with Rocco, and everyone in the criminal underworld knew about their history.
Two years ago, Rocco’s cousin, Matteo, had raped and impregnated Anatoli’s niece. She was just a kid at the time, a minor. Not more than fourteen years old. Yet that animal had forced himself on her and gotten her pregnant.
Because of Rocco’s influence, Matteo walked free, and Anatoli’s niece was denied justice. Depressed and ashamed of her condition, she took her own life soon after.
Ever since then, Anatoli hated the Romano family and had been looking for the right opportunity to make them pay.
He uncrossed his legs and placed his hands on the table between us. “That bastard is our mutual enemy. And as we speak, he’s recruiting more powerful people on his side. I say we join forces and take him down for good.”
I drummed my fingers on my table, watching the anger in his eyes burn like fire. “Do you have a plan?”
His lips curved into a mischievous grin. “Matter of fact, I do.” He leaned back into his chair. “But I’m afraid you might not like it.”
My brows knitted together in a mix of bewilderment and suspicion. “Why is that?”
He hesitated, fingers scratching his forehead. “Because it, uh…it involves Sergei Smirnov.”
My face twisted into a frown, and I balled a fist in both hands.
Sergei and I had history. One so bad that I’d vowed to put a bullet in his head next time I saw him.
“Ah, ah. Before you get mad, hear me out!” He stretched out his hand forward, as if blocking the rage oozing out of me. “I’m not saying you two should become best friends overnight; that’s never gonna happen—”
“That, we can agree on,” I cut him off.
He pressed on regardless, saying, “All I’m saying is, these are desperate times, and you know what they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“I am not desperate enough to work with the man who tried to kill me. Twice.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, in all fairness, you tried to kill him, too. Twice. So I guess it’s a tie.”
My scowl deepened.
“Listen, I know you hate the guy—I don’t like him either, he’s a dick. But right now, he’s our best shot at taking Rocco down. He has the resources we need. And…he also hates the Romano family.” He paused. “So much so that he’s willing to get in bed with you.”
I thought for a moment. “He’s in on the plan?”
“One hundred percent,” he answered. “We’re just waiting for you to join the team and spearhead the operation.”
Sergei Smirnov was a snake, a cunning bastard who would turn on anyone once it was convenient for him. The son of a bitch also never did anything that wouldn’t benefit him one way or another.
He wasn’t to be trusted.
“What’s in it for him?” I asked Anatoli. “What’s Sergei getting out of this temporary alliance?”
“Same as me.” His expression darkened. “Rocco’s head on a fuckin’ spike.”
A part of me wanted to decline, but after thinking it through, I realized the truth. I needed them to win this fight. Anatoli was right. Rocco was already two steps ahead. He was buying alliances with some of the most dangerous men in the city.
His army is growing by the day. And right now, if we were to go to war, I would lose because I was outnumbered. The only way I’d stand a chance against him was by building an army of my own.
Sergei had the resources and influence that I needed to win this war. The only problem was that I wasn’t sure when he’d turn on me. Because I was certain that he would. It was only a matter of time.
They say, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Sergei and I had the same enemy for once. Working together to take him out wasn’t such a bad idea. The second we dealt with him, we would go back to hating each other.
If I were going to risk playing this game with that viper, then I’d have to tread carefully. I would need to watch my back, lest Sergei take me down before Rocco did. These were ravaging wolves, searching for easy prey to devour.
Caution was paramount at this point.
My wife was expecting a child—my child, my legacy. I mustn’t lose this war, and at the same time, I ensure my family’s safety.
To do that, I need to hide her somewhere secure, a place fortified so no one can find her. Given what’s happening, the mansion is no longer safe for her or my household staff. That’s why I plan to ask them all to leave tomorrow morning. At least until this scandal was over.
As for my wife and unborn child, I knew exactly where I was taking them.
Anatoli’s voice sliced through my thoughts. “So what’s it gonna be, brother? Are you in? Or are you out?”
I hesitated, my eyes boring into his. “When do we begin?”
He leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a wicked grin.