Chapter 42 #2
It was something I was dying to know. Why did he risk coming out of hiding? Why did he risk coming into a house with people who wanted nothing more than to see him dead?
“To take what’s mine, of course,” he smiled.
“You’ve got a decision to make, little nephew.
I’m sure you’ve figured out by now I was responsible for the attack last week.
Yes, you always were the smart one. You know I have Dimitri, and you know I have no problem killing him.
So, if you want your father to live, you and your siblings will renounce all your rights to the Bratva and hand it over to me.
You will leave this house, this country, and never return.
If you do as I ask, I will release your father and allow you all to live.
Do the right thing for you and your family and concede to me here, now.
Accept you’ve been defeated and I will have mercy.
We both know that without your father, your days are numbered.
You may be a tough son of a bitch, Aleksandr, but you’re no Dimitri Volkov. ”
He must have actually thought I was an idiot, because only an idiot would accept any kind of deal from a man like him. Dominik was the epitome of an untrustworthy man. The moment he got what he wanted, he’d turn around and kill us all. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about that.
I chuckled lightly, interlocking my fingers on the desk. “A very…interesting offer, Dominik. Truly. Here’s my counter.” I let the silence drag on for a moment, building the suspense. “We settle this the old way.” Drea hopped off the desk, coming to stand by my side.
“The old way?” Dominik frowned.
I slowly got to my feet, shrugging out of my suit jacket. “A fight to the death.” My siblings moved on cue, grabbing all the furniture, the desk and the chairs, and pushed them up against the wall, creating a wide-open space.
“You and me,” I continued, never taking my eyes off him, “one on one.” I handed my jacket to Drea and began unbuttoning my long-sleeved shirt.
Dominik watched, unease flashing across his face. He wasn’t sure if he could take me, that much was clear. It was in the way he shifted uncomfortably on the spot, the way he licked his lips nervously.
He was a big man, like my father. But he lacked the same skills in a fight. My siblings thought it wasn’t worth the risk. The fact that there was a small chance Dominik could win didn’t sit well with them.
“If you win, my siblings won’t fight your claim to Pakhan . But if I win, I get my father. You’ll give one of your men his location so that when you die, I know where he is.”
Dominik tried to hide his anxiousness with a boisterous laugh. “So confident you’ll win are you, little nephew?”
This whole ‘little nephew’ nonsense was new. He was using it as a derogatory term to try and make me uncomfortable. It didn’t work. The word ‘little’ didn’t apply to me, regardless of the fact that Dominik was my elder.
“Confident enough.”
Dominik studied me closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. “As tempting as this challenge is, I don’t see why I even need to bother with it. You can’t win against me and my men.”
I arched an eyebrow, giving ‘his men’ at his back a judgemental glance.
“We both know your men are no match for ours. It’s why, despite the element of surprise and your higher numbers, you still lost.” By the time we were done cleaning up the mess from the attack, our final count for their dead was thirty-nine.
Dominik clenched his jaw but he didn’t deny it.
“You have a chance right now to claim what you’ve always wanted. All you’ve got to do is beat me.” I took a step forward, spreading my arms out wide in invitation.
Because I knew Drea so well, I could tell how anxious she was.
One look into her eyes was all I needed to see she was nervous, worried about me.
No one else would be able to tell. She had a mask of complete confidence on her face, like my siblings.
They didn’t want to show any unease, but I knew they all felt it.
Dominik ran his tongue over his teeth, assessing me. We stared at each other, the tension building in the air between us.
My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging in my veins. Say yes, motherfucker. Say yes.
Shaking his head, Dominik scoffed, taking a step back. “You’re not going to trick me into this. Last chance, little nephew. Hand over control or your father suffers.”
I said nothing.
“Fine. Remember I tried to offer you a way out. You’ve made your bed, now you’re going to have to lie in it. What happens next is on you.” He spun on the balls of his feet and stormed out of the room.
I looked at Lukyan. “Follow him.”
My brother nodded, taking off after Dominik.
“Can you believe the nerve of that fuckwit?” Illayana growled, glaring out the door. “Did he honestly think you’d agree to just hand everything over?”
I don’t know what he was hoping for. What he was expecting. Dominik and I weren’t close, but even he should have known I’d never take his oh-so generous offer. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. My father would have my fucking head if I negotiated control of the Bratva for his life.
Fear and worry overtook me. I’d just sealed my father’s fate. Whatever happened to him now was on me.
Soft hands stroked my lower back. Drea stepped up to my side, her face warm and comforting. “We’ll find him,” she said softly, sensing my thoughts.
Yes, I knew we would. But what condition would he be in when we did?