Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Paddy
It’s taken almost three weeks to get here.
After meeting with Morosov and the Bratva, we found out there are soldiers and lieutenants from the other families involved in stirring up this potential war.
Morosov has heard rumblings, and he’s going to start shaking out his men too.
We haven’t decided whether to bring in the Italians, but I’m of a mind to.
Morosov said he could talk to them because of a family connection. He didn’t explain further.
Family is all tangled up. We try not to mix between organizations, but it happens.
My own cousins are married to one of Morosov’s seconds and to one of his close friends.
I understand that sometimes you can’t control who you fall for.
But as the head of the family, I have to be extremely careful about who I date, so I just choose not to.
Sitting in the office space on the second floor of my newest club, I wait for everyone to arrive.
JJ and Jordon are in their offices, and Hayes is somewhere in the building.
When we were having the club built, I decided it was time to stop conducting business in rental spaces or in my home, so we turned the entire second floor into offices.
I even added a condo for myself on the third floor.
I got the idea from Morosov and the way he designed Yelena’s and the Cardroom. He built office space like this, along with another secure floor of condos for him and his men.
This club has become my biggest success out of all my others. My family owns several clubs throughout Vegas, on and off the Strip. We also have a few gentlemen’s clubs. But this one I’m most proud of.
Transitions is actually two clubs in one, depending on what you’re into.
One side is a traditional dance club with a massive DJ booth and dancers performing behind glass along one wall.
The dancers can’t be identified. They just dance and entertain.
It’s decorated in bright neon colors and caters to the younger crowd.
The second side is also a dance club, but with private bottle-service areas. In there, I have aerial dancers on poles and swings for entertainment. It’s decorated in black and gold and caters to an older crowd.
Both clubs have been packed since opening a month ago, and sales have tripled compared to any of my other clubs.
My phone pings in my pocket, and I pull it out.
Ro: Don’t forget about Friday. Did you get reservations?
Me: How can I forget when you remind me daily? Yes, reservations have been made. Hayes took care of it. What’s so special about this year? When have I ever dropped the ball on this tradition?
Ro: Sorry. I heard there’s a new principal dancer, and I can’t wait to see her perform. Plus, this is the first year you’ve gotten us opening-night tickets with dancer meet and greets.
Me: I like to spoil you.
She sends back a string of heart emojis, and I chuckle as I turn away from the view overlooking both clubs that are closed for the night. We aren’t open on Sundays and Mondays.
“Hello, Paddy.” My uncle’s thick Irish brogue breaks through my thoughts. I look up and smile at him.
“Hello, Broderick. How is Aintín Eireen doing?” I hate that whenever I ask about her, his body tightens up like he’s embarrassed by her. I’m not. Some people struggle with their mental health, and she’s safe now.
“Her nurses said she is doing well. She has started painting.”
“That’s good. I’ve heard art can be soothing and even healing for some conditions. I remember she used to like going to the ballet too.”
Every year, I try to convince him to let me take her to the ballet, but he won’t let her out. Supposedly, she won’t see any of us and has tried to kill herself numerous times.
I think it’s time I go see her myself. As the head of the family, her care is something I should be involved in, and after hearing rumors that Broderick has taken a mistress, I need to be even more attentive. She was my dad’s baby sister.
“What is this meeting about?” Broderick asks, taking the seat to my left. When JJ and Jordon walk in, they each greet him. As Jordon sits to my right in the second seat next to JJ, Broderick turns to me. “Have there been organizational changes I’m not aware of?”
“Broderick, Jordon moving into my enforcer position was going to happen eventually, so I made the decision recently.”
He huffs and pulls out his phone, tapping away while we wait.
By the time everyone files into the room, I’m ready to get out of here.
I don’t like being questioned. Broderick knows that.
In the fifteen years he’s been my advisor, I’ve made it clear not to question me.
Especially not in front of people. It’s the first sign of distrust, and I won’t tolerate it.
Once everyone is seated, I stand up. Hayes walks in and closes the doors. He and I pace around the room. I know it’s making the others nervous, but I don’t care.
“Thank you for taking time out of your shortened week, with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. I appreciate it. Once you hear what I have to say, you’ll agree this meeting was necessary.
” I move back to the head of the table. “As you all know, several months ago a couple members of my family tried to start a war with the other families.” I slam my hand on the table and look each of them in the eye, watching for the ones who shift.
“I won’t stand for treason in this organization.
If I find out you partook in any conversations against the family, there won’t be a second chance. ”
“Why would you think it extended past Jimmy and Johnny?” Broderick asks.
I turn to him. “Johnny confessed to Jordon that he had supporters. He told Jordon there’s a safety deposit box.” I give him the information we agreed to share in order to lay the trap. “We just found the location. Jordon will be going to get the information.”
I return my focus to the dozen men around the table. “Now is your chance to confess, and I’ll let you walk out of here with your life. If I find out later, the repercussions will be worse.”
“Paddy, are you sure—” Broderick starts.
“That includes everyone at this table,” I snap. “You are responsible for your own soldiers. Clean house. Now, leave.” I turn my back on them, but I watch their reflections in the glass. Hayes, JJ, and Jordon won’t let anyone take advantage of my back being turned.
No one comes forward, but Broderick lingers. I turn around and cross my arms over my chest. My sleeves are rolled, and the muscles in my arms flex.
“I’m only going to say this one more time, Broderick. Don’t question me in front of my men again.”
“Young man, you will lose their respect if you doubt them like this. Besides, we all know Jimmy was seeking a higher position in the family.”
A chair scrapes across the floor, and JJ stands to his full height.
His arms strain against his shirt as he holds in his anger.
“We don’t talk ill of the dead, Broderick.
My father wasn’t a good man. We all know that.
But he’s dead now, and we’re cleaning up the mess left behind.
Paddy doesn’t have to explain to anyone why he does what he does, least of all you.
You either stand with this family or against it. ”
Jordon moves to his brother’s side, and I have to admit I’m glad for the decisions I’ve been making lately. Since I stopped seeking counsel only from Broderick, we’ve made more money and built better relationships with the other organizations.
“You are excused, Broderick.”
“Are you demoting me? Cutting me off?” He shoots to his feet, his chair sliding backward.
“No. You are still family. But until I get confirmation from that list in the security box, I don’t trust anyone. Just a couple of weeks ago, we found several bugs in my home office.”
“Well… um…” he stutters, making me doubt him for the first time.
“See you Thursday at the house. Bring Aintín if you’d like. Roisin would love to see her.”
“She can’t leave the hospital. I’ll see you soon.” He turns and walks out, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Daria
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we have a full-dress rehearsal today, with final fitting checks.
I’m standing at the barre, stretching as I wait for my name to be called.
Another dancer is beside me. Masha moved into the soloist group when I moved up to principal.
She’s been with the company for a bit longer than I have.
“Are you ready for Friday?” Masha asks me.
I smile and try to make small talk, but Masha hasn’t been very friendly with me over the months since I joined the company.
I know she has a problem with me, just like most of the other dancers do.
Not only because of my dancing skills but also because of my job.
The girls in the corps felt I should have started there instead of in the soloist position.
A few of them have applied for positions at Lucky Dice and either didn’t get them or were told to apply for waitress jobs instead of hostess or executive hostess.
Even though Vegas is a large city, sometimes it feels like a small town, where everyone knows you or is vying for the same jobs.
“I’m ready. How about you?”
“I’m so excited. I can’t wait.”
I nod in agreement. “I also can’t wait until it’s over and we move on to the next piece.”
We’ve been preparing for this show since August, with auditions held in September.
I thought I’d get an understudy position or maybe one of the three backup Sugar Plum Fairies, since the prima usually gets this role.
But the prima for the troupe was injured, and they moved me into her slot.
I was ready for it. I’d been practicing nonstop.
“Don’t you normally work on Fridays?”
I cock my head to the side as we move to the floor to continue stretching.
“I have a flexible schedule,” I answer.
I want to ask her how she knows my schedule so well, but I ignore the icky feeling in my gut. Trust is hard for me after being raised the way I was and just the fact that I’m so close to the Bratva and Mafia.
“I’d be very careful around her.” Masha tips her head.
I look over to where the corps de ballet is practicing a routine for Friday.
Teena is staring straight at me. She and I haven’t gotten along since I joined the company earlier this year.
She flat-out told me she doesn’t like me.
When I first started here, she insulted me for weeks, calling me a Russian immigrant and telling me to go back home and stop stealing Americans’ jobs.
I asked her what her problem was and explained that I was born here and barely speak Russian.
That’s when she told me to go back to whatever small town I came from.
That I wouldn’t make it here. It irks her that I’ve succeeded this far.
“She looks like she wants to Nancy Kerrigan you.” Masha giggles as she’s called up for her final fitting for the Dancing Doll role.
I just laugh it off, and when I’m called, I focus on what I need to do.
I confirm with the costume staff that I’ll have body makeup on to cover my tattoos.
My calves, hip, and thigh tattoos will show through the opaque tights under the lights, and my hand tattoo will also have to be covered.
This isn’t anything new for me. The small dance company I was with in Laughlin had the same rule.
Of course, I didn’t have as many tattoos then.
My mamma would get upset whenever I got a new one.
I like that I can put permanent expression on my skin.
After my fitting, we do a full-dress rehearsal. Masha’s last comment replays in my mind, and I keep an eye on Teena. I don’t want to get hurt. The way she watches me bothers me.
Something feels different today as I dance.
I can feel the music flowing throughout my body and in every motion.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this.
I almost quit ballet because it didn’t feel as fulfilling as it once did.
But this feeling as I leave the stage is exactly why I didn’t.
I’m out of breath and energized at the same time.
When the choreographer and director finally release us, I’m pleasantly exhausted.
Tomorrow, we have an all-family Thanksgiving dinner at Yelena’s.
Babushka said the family was getting too big to have it at someone’s home, so we’re going to the restaurant, which is closed for the holiday.
I know Mamma and Babushka are preparing entrees that everyone will enjoy.
I offered to make a dish, but they told me to focus on my rehearsals, and I’m glad I took their advice.
The drive out to Summerlin and the Ridges, to the house Alek bought us next door to his, is calming. I have my window down, letting the cool desert night air in. My mind wanders for a moment.
What if this is the last show I ever do? Maybe I’ll finally make the decision to leave the desert and go in search of a new life away from everyone I know and love. But I don’t want to leave. I like Vegas. I love the desert.
Tonight, I feel better than I have in a long time.
Settled.