Chapter 2 #2
“I know you won’t.” He taps his finger on his desk a few times, deep in thought.
“What else is going on?” Alex asks. “I know Eli’s promotion is not why you called us all over here.”
He waits a moment, his eyes looking down at his desk and then back at us. “I want to destroy the Vasilievs from the inside out,” he says matter-of-factly. “Every single one of them.”
The four of us sit up straight, our attention focused on him.
The Vasiliev family has been a thorn in our side for far too long.
Mikhail, Kazimir, Emil, Alik, and Luka are monsters who spread their cruelty like a plague across everything they touch.
Their latest endeavor that we became privy to was the kidnapping and torture of Eli, ending his career in the military.
We had our chance to slaughter the brothers at Madeleine’s faux rehearsal dinner, but when it came time to do that or find Madeleine, Eli gave up his revenge in order to find our sister.
“You’re sure about this?” Leo asks.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything. I won’t play games when it comes to my family’s safety, and they’ve continually been testing my limits.
The fact that they had Madeleine under their clutches…
And after finding out what they did to Eli…
” His fingers curl into fists, his neck muscles tightening. “I want them dead.”
“It won’t be a simple task,” Alex voices. “It will require time and patience. They have powerful allies. Multiple businesses. A whole goddamn skyscraper to seek refuge. Realistically, it could take years.”
“I’m quite aware.”
Silence grows amongst us as we soak in his words.
Bringing an end to the Vasilievs would ensure greater safety not only for my family but also for others.
It’s not a bad idea.
And it’s about time someone has the balls to do it.
But what about—
“Not to bring up a touchy subject.” Eli combs his fingers through his brown hair, his eyes jumping to each of us before settling on Vin. “But what about Liliya and the contract?”
Months ago, when the Alarie Estate came under attack, Vin called in a favor from our cousins. Now, he’s expected to marry Liliya, the youngest of the Vasiliev siblings. Assuming she can ever be found…
“She is clearly not one of them.” Vin’s eyes darken.
“Therefore, she is not on my agenda to terminate. But her brothers are an entirely different matter.” He undoes the top button of his shirt and leans back.
“I know this will take time and is something that will demand a lot from us, but every day we allow them on this Earth is another day putting this family at risk.” He pounds his fist on the table.
“I won’t allow this to go on any longer. ”
“We understand. You know we do.” Leo leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
“I mean, when I think about what their father attempted to do to Scarlett, it makes me see red.” After Leo found out the involvement that Igor Vasiliev, the head of the family, had in Scarlett’s kidnapping, Leo had a chance to kill him and did.
He looks directly at Vin. “But they are just as strong and lethal as we are. How do you expect to win a war against them?”
“We start small. Hitting them where it hurts most. Starting with their businesses. Eventually leaving them vulnerable and defenseless.” Vin waits a moment before saying, “I’ve received word they will be expecting a shipment in our territory.”
Alex cocks his head to the side, his fingers curling around the arms of his chair. “Don’t tell me they’re following in their father’s footsteps.”
Vin nods, and anger swirls through me tenfold.
Those motherfuckers.
My family may not play by the rules.
We run an illegal casino, export and import goods to international buyers that some may deem prohibited, and dabble in laundering through businesses that range from restaurants and nightclubs to real estate.
But sex trafficking is where we draw the fucking line.
Leo abruptly stands. “But Mikhail said—”
“Mikhail lied,” Vin states calmly, referring to the eldest Vasiliev brother. “I’ve had one of my men working under cover for them as a guard, and I received the information this morning confirming they’re expecting a shipment to arrive soon.”
“You planted a spy in their realm?” Alex asks, appearing slightly impressed.
“Sometimes, I’m known to have good ideas,” Vin responds.
“Who the fuck do they think they are playing on our territory?” Leo demands.
Vin steeples his fingers before him. “Governor Johnson gave the all clear. Apparently, he thinks he’s above us.”
“That son of a bitch,” Eli murmurs.
“When?” Alex asks, with anger laced in his tone. “When is the shipment expected?”
“That is what we need to find out.” Vin looks between Leo and me. “Any chance you two can make one more run tonight? There’s a man by the name of Johnny O’Connor who frequents the establishment Darkest Desires on the regular. He’s responsible for arranging the shipment.”
I nod, fighting exhaustion.
Leo rubs a hand over his jaw. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
Vin taps his fingers together. “He’s the governor’s assistant.”
“Is anyone in politics not a fucking wanker?” Eli asks.
“Highly unlikely,” Alex answers. “If more women held seats in office, perhaps the world would be a better place.”
A low chorus of agreement rolls through the room, and I grunt in acknowledgment. Truer words have never been spoken.
A notification chimes on Alex’s phone, and he looks down at it.
“Keep me informed. I have to go.” He stands, regarding Vin, and as their conversation ensues, their words blurring in the background, my eyes trail over to the bookshelves on the side wall, stopping on a picture of our parents, Charles and Cecilia Alarie.
It’s easy to see which one of us resembles whom.
Leo and I, with our dark hair and brown eyes, appear most like our father. Vin and Madeleine, with their black hair and blue eyes, look most like our mother. And then there’s Alex, a complete contrast to us all with his grey eyes and light brown hair.
Our father was the eldest son of an extremely wealthy family in southern France.
My mother, the youngest daughter of the most powerful family in Italy, the Marchettis.
After they met while my mother was studying abroad, they created their own happily-ever-after by moving to America and building an empire never seen in the States before.
An uncomfortable tightness binds my chest as I stare at the image of my father, his deep voice echoing around me.
“You’ve disappointed me, Mauro.”
“Earth to Mauro?”
Internally, I shake my head and look to see my brothers watching me with concern etched across their faces.
Leo stands by the doorframe, zipping his jacket. Arching a brow, he says, “You ready?”
I drag a hand down my face.
I must be suffering from sleep deprivation.
Nodding, I stand, and looking back at the picture one last time, I wonder if I’m still a disappointment.