34. Lexi
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
LEXI
I stand outside the towering skyscraper on a bustling street, where cars honk and life rushes by. Yet, amidst the clamor behind me, all I can focus on is a mesmerizing hum that draws me in.
I went to Seattle, and it became clear that it was no longer home—not without my sister by my side. For weeks, I found myself sitting in the coffee shop my sister now owns.
The workers thought I was losing my mind as I spent hours there, overwhelmed by memories of Valentin, tears cascading down my cheeks. But one phone call from Elise, and they left me alone, ensuring my coffee cup never went empty or cold.
One day, something inside me snapped. Seattle and that coffee shop is part of my past. It was time for me to start living for the future.
After a month, it was time for me to return home—not to the city of our childhood, but to the place where my heart belongs—New York City.
I take a deep breath and step toward the entrance.
As I enter, the lobby quickly becomes overwhelming. Security personnel in sharp black suits are scattered about, and people chat animatedly, coffee cups in hand, each seemingly on the brink of rushing off to their next destination. Glancing around, I notice a woman at a desk nearby.
I approach the receptionist, who greets me with a welcoming smile.
“How can I help you today?” she asks.
“I’m looking for the Savin Corporation,” I say quietly, hoping this is the right spot. I recall that when I was tracking Valentin, he frequently visited this building for meetings with Andrei.
She casts a curious glance my way, staring at how my black tights hug my curves, paired with a stylish black crop top and striking knee-high leather boots. As I survey my surroundings, it’s clear that I must stand out amidst the sea of business professionals bustling around me.
“Are you meeting someone?” she inquires, her tone hinting at a desire to be courteous, while still implying, I’m out of place here.
“Elise Walsh,” I answer, tapping my fingers rhythmically on the wooden desk. She narrows her eyes in confusion. “Oh, I meant Elise Savin,” I swiftly clarify.
“Do you have an appointment?” she asks, glancing at her computer.
“No.”
“I’m sorry, but appointments are required.”
She offers a terse smile that seems to say, ‘Leave. You’re not welcome here.’
I step back from the desk, scanning the room for a familiar face, but there’s no one I recognize.
Instead, I notice the heavily guarded elevators and the people scanning their badges to access them.
Suddenly, I remember something. I approach the receptionist again, but now her demeanor has shifted; she looks less welcoming and more irritated.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the black key card. “I have this,” I say, holding it out to her. One quick glance at the card and she springs up from her seat.
The phone rings, and she swiftly picks it up.
The person on the other line is loud, and her eyes are narrowing on me. “Yes, ma’am,” she says in a clipped tone and hangs up, leaving a sense of urgency in the air.
“Mrs. Savin isn’t here, but Mr. Savin is expecting you,” she says, her tone suddenly all too friendly as if she hadn’t dismissed me just moments ago.
“Thank you,” I say with a forced smile because moments ago she was a bitch to me. But I understand. I don’t belong here.
“Scan your card and take elevator one.”
I walk through the lobby and approach the elevator. Suddenly, security halts me. I raise my access card, pretending I’ve been here before.
“Just need to wand you,” he says, brandishing a metal detector.
“Oh,” I respond. I extend my arms as he glides the wand from my head to my toes. After a swift check, he motions for me to proceed and holds up the next person behind me.
I approach elevator one and press the button, but it doesn’t light up. Nearby, I notice a card reader, pull out my card, and hold it to the panel. This time, the light illuminates.
As I step into the elevator, I’m surprised to see there are no floor buttons, yet it begins to ascend smoothly. With my hands clasped behind my back, I rock gently on my toes, not sure what to expect when it stops.
I chuckle, thinking about the day I met Valentin in the elevator. From the moment I stepped in, his presence was consuming me, and I began to fall in love.
I take a deep breath, having finally reached a point where I can think about Valentin without falling apart, not because my love has faded, but because it’s time to embrace my life again. He would want me to move forward. And that is why I’m here today.
As the elevator doors slide open, I’m greeted by a woman I don’t recognize. “Alexis, it’s so exciting to finally meet you.”
I take a moment to assess her, still unsure of who she is. “Sorry,” she adds, extending her hand for a handshake. “I’m Jessica, Elise’s assistant.”
I vividly recall her. When I first arrived in New York, I reached out to Elise. Jessica was the one who consistently promised to pass on my messages, yet my sister never called.
I grasp her hand, and she eagerly gestures for me to follow her down the hallway.
“Elise is in Mexico.” She strides ahead rapidly, as if we’re racing against time to reach somewhere.
I trail after her, my eyes scanning the office as I take in every detail around me.
Everyone is dressed in high-end suits and elegant dresses, adorned with dazzling diamonds and pearls around their necks.
The warm brown wood and plush leather chairs create an atmosphere that exudes wealth and sophistication, clearly signaling that this is a billion-dollar company.
It’s no surprise the receptionist regarded me with a look that said I didn’t belong.
“I can return another time,” I say slowly, a sense of disappointment creeping in that my sister isn’t here.
“Mr. Savin will be with you shortly,” she insists, pointing toward the large door at the end of the hall.
The office feels deserted. Just as I’m about to say something to Jessica, the distinctive sound of her heels quickly fades as she walks away. Moving closer to the desk, my eyes are immediately drawn to the breathtaking skyline of New York City outside the window.
I pull out a chair, casually settling in to wait. Turning my head to the left, I suddenly stand and walk over to the bookcase, where a picture catches my eye. It’s a photo of Valentin and Andrei at a football game, both looking so young.
The Pakhan was just a kid back then, and Valentin … he was incredibly handsome even as a young man. As I trace my finger over the glass, a tear escapes, reflecting the weight of the sorrow I still carry.
“He’s always been like a father figure to me,” says a deep voice, suddenly startling me.
I turn around swiftly and see Andrei Savin standing there, dressed in a sleek black suit and matching tie. The large diamonds on his watch catch the light, showcasing how far he’s come from the little boy in that old picture.
He takes a seat at his desk and gestures for me to join him.
I slide back into the sleek white leather chair across from him. “I’m sorry to bother you. I came to see Elise,” I explain.
He interlocks his fingers, the tips touching as he leans forward. “How did your trip to Seattle go?”
“Honestly, it was unfulfilling,” I reply, leaning back into the chair.
“Home isn’t defined by a location. It’s about the people we share our lives with,” he says.
I glance at him, as if the most formidable figure in organized crime has just imparted the most profound wisdom, and he’s right.
“Yeah, that’s why I came to see my sister.”
Losing Valentin has taught me a harsh but undeniable truth that in the perilous world of organized crime, loved ones can be snatched away from you in an instant.
Elise is my only family, the one person who means everything to me, and the thought of potentially losing her is unbearable.
With a resigned sigh, I set the black key card on the desk. The Pakhan leans in, his eyebrows knitting together in intrigue.
“Ivy told me this card means I now work for you,” I say.
“Have you thought about what you’d like to do while working for the Bratva?”
“I didn’t know I had a choice.”
“If you’re anything like your sister, you came here knowing what you want already.”
He has a point. Straightening up with confidence, I meet the Pakhan’s gaze without flinching. “I want to work with the Volkov arms dealing business.”
Andrei lets out a sharp breath, a smirk appearing on his lips. “That’s quite an ambitious goal for someone so young.”
His words sting, and I lean back in my chair, gathering my thoughts.
I sigh, glancing at the picture of Valentin once again.
Then, I lean forward with determination.
“I will never come close to being Valentin, but I love him … and every day until it’s my turn to join him in hell, I will work hard and make sure I honor his legacy. ”
He leans back in his chair, contemplating, while the silence in the room hangs thick. Finally, he breaks our eye contact, reaching for his phone to send a message.
Who is he texting? It seems it’s so important that he must tackle it right in the middle of our discussion.
Setting his phone down, he locks his gaze at me with an intensity that feels as though he can peer right into my soul. “Valentin must have really loved you to give you his men and fortune,” he states, leaving me to ponder the weight of his words.
Valentin’s words, “I love you,” whisper in my mind, and I’m doing everything I can to keep the tears at bay, desperately holding them back.
“I didn’t ask for any of it,” I mumble.
Andrei’s phone buzzes, drawing his attention.
He reads the message, a furrow of hesitation crossing his brow. After a moment, he puts the phone down, and the intensity of his gaze makes me feel utterly insignificant.
“Your sister is in Mexico, brokering a weapons deal with the Martinez cartel.”
The weight of my sister’s prominence in the world of organized crime fills me with pride, knowing that she has carved out a formidable place for herself in a dangerous domain often dominated by men.
“Well, I need her here with me.”
He twirls the phone thoughtfully around his fingers, lost in contemplation. “Maybe, just maybe, the cartel will be willing to work with her little sister.”
My heart is pounding with excitement, and I’m fighting the urge to leap up and hug him.
This is a bold step up from the casino we created. I will be working with the most powerful Bratva in the world, negotiating deals with the cartel. This is the start of my rise as a prominent player in organized crime.
“Of course, you’ll be working for your sister.”
“I’d like that.” I’m actually looking forward to learning from her and spending time with her.
He leans closer, his gaze steady. “You know, when you look close enough, you two look alike.”
I return his smile, knowing it’s true.
Despite having different fathers, Elise and I share the same striking eyes, a detail that only someone who’s truly looked into my sister’s eyes would notice.
As the Pakhan flicks his wrist, I can’t help but find the gesture peculiar.
He stands up, picks up his phone, and begins making a call, completely ignoring my presence as if I don’t exist. It becomes clear that he was dismissing me. Anxious now, I slowly rise from my seat and quietly make my way to the door.
Just as I’m about to open it, his distinctive voice calls out, “Alexis!”
No one calls me by that name except my sister, but I refrain from correcting my new boss.
“You’re part of the family now. Reach out anytime you need to.”
His words bring a smile to my face.
Being part of the Savin family is something that I never saw coming.
“Valentin would be furious if anything happened to you. You’re his girl, and you have my protection.”
“Was. I was his girl.”
He tilts his head, as if he didn’t hear me correctly. “Excuse me?”
“Was his girl,” I clarify again.
With Valentin gone, it’s time for me to stand on my own and move forward.
Andrei gives me a disconcerting smile that chills my spine, as if I’m unwittingly caught in a game of his design. He abruptly turns his gaze to the window, giving me the perfect opportunity to slip out of his office quietly.
As soon as the elevator doors close, I can hardly contain my excitement. I jump and squeal, leaning my head against the door to catch my breath.
When the doors finally open, I see Jessica waiting there, a phone in hand. “Here you go.”
“What’s this?” I ask, taking the phone from her.
“It’s your new work phone. Answer it when they call you. Don’t answer the Pakhan’s or Elise’s call, and it could cost you your life,” she warns me.
“Thank you, Jessica. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
I hold the phone tightly as I navigate through the lobby. The receptionist spots me and says goodbye with a warm, beaming smile.
I force a smile and quietly murmur, “Bitch.”
As I approach the vehicle waiting for me, Lev stands ready, the door open. “Welcome to the Bratva, Lexi. Where to?”
“The warehouse. We start work now!” I reply, slipping into the vehicle, the very same one where I once asked Valentin for a favor and inadvertently found myself kidnapping him.
I look longingly at the empty seat beside me.
“I made it, Daddy. I’m part of the Bratva now. I hope you’re proud of me!”