18. Konstantin
KONSTANTIN
A weight pressed on my chest as the first ray of the sunrise flickered through the serene landscape. More snow fell last night so it appeared peaceful. Yet, there was no peace to be found. Not in my body and apparently not in my wife’s dreams.
Tatiana had been thrashing in her sleep, plagued by nightmares, while something else entirely plagued me.
The picture Tatiana claimed she found.
Why would Adrian hold on to a picture showing my mother with his father rather than his parents?
Yet the idea that Adrian could be my brother was incomprehensible.
How many times had I heard my father brag about having a virgin bride?
And Adrian was older so that would have meant my mother would have given birth before she married my father.
And then there was the whole issue with the Yakuza.
Reaching for my phone, I messaged Bitter Prince. No fucking wonder he was bitter, every time he came through, he got fucked.
I typed a quick message to meet him. The reply was instant, except he demanded a meeting on his turf. Smart fucker.
I sent a quick agreement, then headed towards the bed where my wife slept.
She mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, her brows furrowed and her breathing harsher.
I smoothed her brows softly and her breathing evened out.
She even pushed into my hand, as if she received comfort from my touch.
I’d rather stay here and fuck her day and night, but unless I took matters into my own hands, we’d be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives. Tatiana and our children’s lives would be constantly in danger.
So the Yakuza had to be handled and that fucking chip had to be found, then destroyed.
For the interest of the whole of Omertà.
* * *
Two days later, I was in the Philippines.
A weight had been pressing on my chest and I knew it had everything to do with Tatiana. I fucking hated leaving her. But bringing her could be risky. Especially since the Yakuza controlled a lot of this territory.
I was doing this to save her and our children.
We headed straight from the airport to Amon’s. It could be a trap, but I was inclined to think he’d have something to gain from our meeting as well as I did. Boris and two other guards were with me. I’d left Nikita behind with the women.
Boris and Nikita had been with me the longest, so I trusted them more than the others.
“Make sure Nikita is ready to follow through if something goes wrong,” I told Boris. “No matter what, she’s to be handed to her brothers if things don’t go well. They’ll keep her protected.”
“You had to marry a mafia princess,” Boris remarked sardonically. “Her past with Adrian made her a liability all along.”
“Adrian was using her to get to me. Believe me, she was just Vasili’s sister until he figured out she was something to me. It was the only reason he used her. To get back at me.”
He released a deep sigh. When all this was over, I’d have to give him a long vacation.
“So now what?”
“Now we bargain with the Bitter Prince and help him become the king. It’s better if we get on his good side now and help him get there. He’s on that path anyhow.”
“How in the fuck do you even know that?”
A small smile grazed my lips. “Because I’ve seen Amon and Reina Romero together. And trust me, I know he will never let her go. He’ll start a war with his brother to keep that woman away from other men.”
The driver came to a stop in front of a large property. We were on one of the southern islands of the Philippines, Jolo. I fucking hated islands but here I was, meeting Amon on an island.
My eyes traveled over the horizon. The crystal blue waters shimmered under the sun, reminding me of my wife’s eyes. Well, if I died today, at least it would be to a good fucking view. Although I had no intention of dying today.
The large gate at the entrance slid open and the driver restarted the car, passing the statues of Shinto gods - Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi. The rest of the driveway had cherry blossoms on both sides welcoming us all the way to the large manor on the edge of the earth.
Amon stood, looking grim and tall, like one of the samurais, ready to extract revenge. There was no shortage of guards around either.
Fucking lovely.
I’d rather have ten feet of snow than cherry blossoms and samurais right now. As the car came to a full stop, Boris and I exited it.
“Amon,” I greeted him.
“Konstantin.”
His jaw was pressed tight. His eyes were darker than midnight. Fuck! He was beyond pissed. He was furious.
As we stepped forward, Amon’s eyes flickered. “Just you.”
Boris immediately stepped beside me. “I’m coming too.”
“No.”
I always knew Amon would be a force to be reckoned with. Little did people know, but over the last two years, his wealth, ports, and empire had become vast and significant. His net worth was right up there with Marchetti and me.
Not that his brother cared one way or another. Dante always got what he wanted. Amon fought for everything he got. He earned it and that made him even more dangerous.
Boris reached into his holster, to bring his weapon out, but I stopped him. “Stay here.”
Amon turned around and headed inside, without waiting for me. A sardonic breath left me. It was rare for me to follow any fucker and here I was, dependent on a prince over a decade younger than me.
Maybe I was getting too old for this shit. Amon was much younger than me. Hungrier too. It was that which made a man more lethal. I really hoped he wouldn’t pull some shit because I’d hate to kill him.
“If I wanted you dead, I’d have seized your weapon,” Amon remarked, as if he read my thoughts. “And you wouldn’t be standing behind me.”
“Good to know,” I retorted dryly. “Although, I don’t have a habit of shooting people in the back.”
Yet, I didn’t regret a single moment that led me to this. To here. Because I got my wife. And our babies grew in her belly. I’d dig my own grave, over and over again, if it meant their safety. I’d do it all over again if it meant having her.
My only regret was that I didn’t take her sooner.
Three of Amon’s guards followed behind me. We made it to the opposite side of the house and sat on the terrace. The ocean surrounded the house from three sides, ensuring you’d never forget you were on an island.
“You have yourself a paradise here,” I said.
“Yet you hate it,” he responded wryly.
I shrugged. “What can I say? I prefer snow and Siberian temperatures.” Especially when my woman was there.
The two of us sat down. Amon’s face betrayed none of his feelings nor thoughts. He could contemplate mass murder on everyone in the Omertà and there’d be no signs on his face.
“I can’t help you with the Yakuza,” he said, breaking the silence. My eyes flickered to his hand on the armrest and noted his knuckles turning white.
“Maybe we can help each other.”
His piercing stare turned to me and his lips curved into a cold smile. “And how do you figure that?”
I could taste the fury on my tongue. He was steaming, despite his cold exterior. I recognized the signs. I lived through this same moment when I learned of Tatiana’s identity, only to find her married to Adrian. Except, his woman wasn’t married to his brother. Yet.
“How about we cut the bullshit?” I said. Amon watched me silently, his face a cold mask.
“Be my guest,” he drawled, annoyance flaring in his eyes.
“I got my hands on the agreement Leone and Romero drafted, to tie their families together.” If I thought his face was a cold mask beforehand, it had nothing on the expression that stared at me now. “I found a loophole and I have a plan B that will ensure Reina never marries your brother.”
A sardonic breath left him. “Really? And let me guess, in the midst of it all, you’ll get me killed. If not by Marchetti, then by my cousin.”
I locked eyes with him. “I’ll kill your cousin.
You’ll take over as head of the Yakuza. You’re aiming for it anyhow.
I’m probably speeding it up by a few months.
” His expression remained impassive. I’d wager none of it meant anything to him without the youngest Romero daughter.
“Romero is dying. I’ll make his passing more bearable and expeditious. You’ll take his seat at the table.”
It was that easy. Kill your enemy. Kill your partner. Save the woman you love.
“If Marchetti hears this, you’ll be dead before you get back to Russia.”
I let out an amused breath. We both knew very well this conversation would never make it back to Marchetti.
“He’s never going to get wind of it because thanks to me, Reina Romero will marry you, not your brother.” I pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table. “And this is the reason that will make Marchetti change his mind.”
I watched him open the envelope.
His mask cracked. His eyes flared. And I feared the Bitter Prince might have turned into a wrathful king.