Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Alexander
I could feel the tension radiating from Anna's body.
Despite her attempts to act normal, her hands trembled slightly and her eyes kept darting toward the window—classic signs of someone who'd been rattled.
I knew fear intimately. In this city's underbelly, threats and intimidation were daily bread.
I'd seen too many people react this way when danger came calling.
I didn't press her—forcing a frightened person to talk only made them clam up tighter. Instead, I moved closer and gently took her hand. Her skin was ice-cold, which broke my heart. I rubbed her knuckles with my thumb and spoke softly.
"Sofia was an angel today. We made chocolate chip cookies together. She said she wanted to wait for you to come home so we could taste them together."
I felt her muscles slowly relax under my touch, the tight lines around her eyes softening.
Good.
"She also painted something—said it's your birthday gift.
Even though your birthday's months away.
" I kept my tone light, drawing her away from whatever darkness was consuming her.
"You know what she told me? 'Alex, Mommy's birthday has to be the most special day ever, so I need to start preparing now. '"
Anna finally looked at me, the terror in her eyes fading slightly. "She's always so thoughtful."
"Just like her mother." I stroked her cheek, feeling the warmth return to her skin. "Whatever happened, you know I'm here, right?"
She nodded, but I could see the worry still gnawing at her. I wouldn't force her to tell me what had happened, but I'd find out my own way. Nobody hurt the people I cared about and walked away clean.
"Sofia asked me something else today," I continued, using everyday conversation to ground her completely. "She wanted to know why my eyes are the same color as hers. Guess what I told her?"
Anna shook her head, curiosity flickering in her expression.
"I said maybe it's because we both like looking at the same beautiful things—like her mother's smile." I chuckled. "She thought about it real hard, then nodded seriously and said, 'Then we definitely should have the same eyes, because Mommy's the prettiest.'"
That got Anna laughing—really laughing, from deep inside. Seeing that genuine smile spread across her face, I knew the immediate crisis had passed. But underneath, cold fury was building.
Someone was going to pay.
At dinner, I made sure the mood stayed light.
"Sofia, riddle time," I said, cutting her steak into bite-sized pieces. "What has four legs, goes woof, and loves chewing bones?"
"A doggy!" Sofia squealed, waving her little hands in the air. "Too easy! My turn! Alex, listen really carefully!"
She scrunched up her face in concentration, looking exactly like Anna when she was deep in thought. "What can fly, is really pretty, and has lots of colors?"
"A butterfly?" I pretended to consider it carefully.
"Yes!" She clapped excitedly, then turned to Anna. "Mommy, you do one! All three of us should play!"
Anna smiled—God, finally a real smile on her face. She thought for a moment. "What shines bright in the sky, shows you the way at night, but disappears during the day?"
"Stars!" Sofia answered immediately. "Mommy, that one was easy too!"
"That's because you're brilliant." Anna kissed her forehead. "My little genius."
Watching their mother-daughter bond, I felt something I'd never experienced before. This was what I wanted—not the bloody family wars, not the life-or-death games, but these simple, pure family moments.
But my instincts stayed sharp. Every time a car passed, Anna's body went rigid for a split second. Every unexpected sound made her go on high alert. She tried hiding it, but I caught every tell.
This kind of reaction had only one cause—someone had threatened her.
In New York, journalism was a dangerous profession, especially for reporters who dug into corruption and crime. Too many journalists had "accidents" after uncovering the wrong secrets. The thought made my hands curl into fists.
"Alex, what's wrong with your hand?" Sofia noticed my clenched fist.
I relaxed immediately, smiling warmly. "Nothing, sweetheart. Just thinking about what to cook for you tomorrow."
"Really? You're coming back tomorrow?" Her eyes lit up.
"If your mom says it's okay." I looked at Anna.
"Of course," Anna answered quickly, but I caught her eyes drifting to the window again.
My heart sank. I needed to know what the hell had happened.
At nine that night, I got home and immediately called Ivan. Ivan was my most trusted lieutenant and my cousin. In Russian bloodline families, blood relations usually meant the strongest loyalty.
"Pakhan." His voice came through steady and reliable as always.
"I need you to investigate something," I cut straight to the point, heading for my study. "Anna Parker, the journalist who lives next door. I need to know where she went today, who she met, what happened. Detailed report—what she photographed, who she interviewed, any potential threat sources."
"Understood. When do you need it?"
"ASAP. Also," my voice turned steely, "put two of our best on protecting her and the kid. Twenty-four-seven rotation, experienced guys, don't let them know they're being watched. Remember—their safety comes first."
"I'll arrange it immediately. What level of protection?"
Good question. In our world, "protection" had many levels, from simple surveillance to armed guards ready to eliminate threats.
"Full protection. Any threats, handle them immediately. I don't care who they are." My tone left no room for argument. "If anything happens to them, everyone involved pays."
"Got it, Pakhan. Tony and Vito sound good? They're both veterans, experienced."
"Perfect. Tell them this is top priority. Focus especially on any threats related to her work."
After hanging up, I stood by the window, looking at the warm lights from Anna's place. Through gaps in the curtains, I could see her cleaning up from dinner while Sofia helped. The scene was so peaceful and beautiful, hard to imagine any danger lurking nearby.
But I knew that in this city's dark corners, beautiful things were often the easiest to destroy. Whoever wanted to hurt them wouldn't succeed. I'd already lost Sofia's first five years. I wouldn't lose anything else.
The phone rang. Dmitri.
"Alexander, there's a private gathering tonight at the Empire Vibe Club. You need to be there." His voice carried urgency. "Some rumors are circulating about your... lifestyle changes. You need to show face, let everyone know you're still in control."
I'd wanted to refuse. With Anna potentially in danger, I didn't want to be far from them.
But Dmitri was right—in New York's power structure, missing important gatherings often got interpreted as weakness or hiding something.
In the underworld, you constantly had to prove your strength and presence.
Plus, these gatherings were prime information exchanges. Maybe I'd learn something useful about Anna's situation.
"What time?"
"You can come now. The party's already started, but you know, for someone like you, fashionably late is the right move." Dmitri chuckled. "Dress formal—tonight's crowd is high-end."
"Fine. I'll be there in an hour."
The Empire Vibe Club occupied a pre-war building in the Upper East. This was where New York's elite held their secret gatherings.
The club's history stretched back to the nineteenth century, with members including politicians, businessmen, judges, and other influential figures.
And of course, "special businessmen" like me.
Tonight's gathering was in the club's top-floor private room, with about forty people in the main hall.
Italian crystal chandeliers cast warm light while servers moved through the crowd carrying expensive liquors.
The air was thick with Cuban cigars and premium whiskey, low conversations and restrained laughter creating an atmosphere of power and money.
I'd changed into a charcoal Armani suit—these occasions required showing status without being flashy. In New York high society, subtle power worked better than showing off.
"Alexander!" Dmitri approached, wearing a navy tuxedo that made him look like he'd just left the opera. "Perfect timing. Federal Judge Harrison's been looking for you."
James Harrison, Federal District Court judge—a shrewd man who walked the line between law and morality. His friendship often meant certain legal issues could get "flexible" handling.
"What does he want?"
"New federal prosecution case, might involve some people you know. But now's not the time for that." Dmitri lowered his voice. "Tonight's about socializing, letting everyone see you're still in the game. Some rumors lately say you're... stepping back, focusing on personal life."
This rumor put me on alert. In the underworld, any talk of "retirement" or "going soft" could be weaponized by enemies as signs of weakening power.
"What rumors?"
"People say you've been scarce at important events, turned down several deals you might've taken before. You know how it is in our circle—everyone over-analyzes every detail." Dmitri shrugged. "Of course, I know it's not true. You're just being more selective about opportunities."
I nodded, but alarm bells were ringing. Maybe I did need to be more visible publicly, at least until Anna and Sofia's situation stabilized.
The next hour, I had conversations with several key players—surface-level pleasant but full of probing underneath.
Everyone was assessing everyone else's strength and intentions, every word potentially carrying multiple meanings.
These were the rules of New York's power circles—elegant facades hiding ruthless competition.