Chapter 4
Alexei
"We're here, boss." Yuri's voice echoes from the front, interrupting me from my self depreciating thoughts.
Our house is located a stone's throw away from the city, nestled into an inconspicuous corner only a selected few know exist. The compound is gated, surrounded by sky high wrought iron grills, lined with spikes and barbed wires at the top.
If someone were to miraculously manage to climb over, they would be greeted by our twelve very protective, very angry dogs - all highly trained Kangals and Dobermans.
We pass by the massive gate and head down the driveway separating the stables from the topiary gardens. My childhood home looms ahead - a sprawling pale stoned facade, perfectly symmetrical, broken only by tall windows and a columned entrance.
Up ahead, I notice the helicopter idling by the helipad on the roof. Which can only mean that my brother, Victor has decided to drop by.
I sigh to myself, already dreading the reunion.
Yuri hurries to open the door for me but I fling it open, almost hitting him in the process. He stumbles back and I stifle a smile, trying to remain serious when I get out and march up the steps.
"We meet him for a few minutes and then I'm heading back to the penthouse. Got it." I tell Yuri because he's seems to be communicating with father more than I am and he simply nods aggressively in agreement.
"Zdravstvuyte, Nina." I nod at father's most loyal housekeeper, who has been with us since I was a child. (Hello)
She smiles at me endearingly and takes my coat to hang it by the entrance. "Zdravstvuyte, gospodin." (Hello, boss.)
She's always been a woman of few words, which is why we've kept her around for so long. It's hard to find loyal and quiet people nowadays. I sneak a dirty look at Yuri who's whistling under his breath for some reason. See - one example of loyal but noisy and useless.
Father's study is left half open and I hear Victor's annoyingly smug voice before pushing the door open and barging in. I don't knock anymore, not since I became the Pakhan a little more than a year ago. (Boss)
To everyone outside the Bratva, my father Nikolai Romanov still holds the title. We agreed to leave this unchanged while I operated in the dark. Father had insisted on it for my safety, since he's always cocooned in this giant impenetrable compound, whilst I stay in the city running every thing.
Things are volatile now with the Italians, ever since I outsmarted them out of one of their territories, so it's best we keep the status quo. For now.
The fireplace is on, flooding the room with muted heat. I walk in, nodding at both of them briskly before taking a seat across from father.
"No hug for your brother?" Viktor teases from my side and I grunt in response.
"Me? Touch politician scum? If you want a hug, go back to Washington. I'm sure there are plenty of men willing to give you more than that." I pick up a cigar from the open container and twirl it between my fingers.
"This politician 'scum' is going to take our business to new heights."
"Or burn us to the ground once you expose our family." My voice is tight as I light up the cigar and bring it to my lips. I was never in favour of him pursuing politics and bringing our family into the limelight.
Ever since his highly publicised wedding to Senator Henry's daughter, there has been paparazzi following us around, especially in the city. They've even taken my pictures on occasion and I only found out once one of those stupid photos went viral on social media and Yuri showed them to me.
Goddamn politicians and their need to feed off public attention.
"That won't happen." Father is as usual the mediator and voice of reason when it comes to the two of us.
"This isn't the first time someone from a crime family has joined senate. Plus, we have files on everyone of them. We have dirt on not only them but their families, their children, even their house staff."
I take a long drag and then exhale in Viktor's direction, earning a scowl from him. "It was so much easier to operate in the dark. So much easier to kill openly when no one knew who we were."
"They still don't know and they won't ever." Father shoots me a sharp look. "Now let's discuss why we're here."
The two of us straighten up in our arm chairs. One, the current head of the Bratva, the other a rising politician with dirt under his sleeve and a stained past. Both of us holding the utmost respect for the man who brought us into this world.
They say the Russian mafia have no loyalty to family, unlike the Cosa Nostra. That being said, I would take a bullet for my father any day, or my mother....but it's a little too late for that.
"The Italians were conducting business in our territory," father states, his cold blue eyes devoid of emotion.
His eyes are deep set, overwhelmed by eye bags and dark circles ringed with fatigue.
He hasn't been able to sleep well for years, ever since the three of us lost the most important person in our lives.
I nod, taking another long drag of the cigar. That's why I was there, undercover, hoping to catch them in the act.
"They killed someone in our turf." I lean forward, dead serious, my words ringing loud and clear in the silence of the room. "I can prove it."
"How?" Father's eyes light up for the first time in the past three years and it only further emphasises how important this is. How imperative it is that I find that girl.
My finger glides across my lower lip unconsciously and then I quick stir out of it. "There was a witness. Yuri saw her and then he lost her."
It's better Yuri takes the blame for this. My father seems to have a soft spot for the fool but not for me. If he knew I let our one and only chance for war escape the way she did, I might as well dig a hole in the ground and bury myself in it.
"Fucking Yuri." Viktor murmurs. Our mutual dislike for him might just be the only thing we have in common at this point.
I suddenly feel bad and make a mental note to buy Yuri some drinks later for throwing him under the bus.
"So a woman saw the Italians murder one of our own...on our turf?" Father leans forward, resting a hand under his chin as he stares at me. "Do we at least know her identity? Did Yuri talk to her?"
I gulp softly, swallowing my embarrassment. "No, but we know what she looks like." I even know what she tastes like.
"I have people at the precinct looking out for witnesses. Someone's bound to report something." Viktor adds - always the suck up, vying for father's attention. No one reports to him, especially not those in the police force.
The chief answers only to my men.
It's as if father knows this as well because he simply ignores him, keeping his eyes trained on me. "Find her and we have our ammunition."
I nod slowly, the intensity in his gaze mirroring mine. The Italians have never acted out, never given us enough reason to put a target on their back.
We finally have a chance for revenge, a completely legal one by the book. One that we've been waiting for for three years.
"I'm on it. Don't worry."
Father nods, pouring me a glass of his favourite whiskey and handing it to me. Viktor shifts in his seat uncomfortably, having not been offered one.
"Umm, can we talk about my proposal now?" he asks timidly.
Father waits for me, checking to see if we are done with the conversation. I nod and he graces Viktor with his attention. I don't bother, taking sip after sip of the delicious whiskey, that is until I nearly choke when the most ridiculous words fall out of Viktor's mouth.
"I've been in talks with the Greeks. They are open to an alliance through marriage with Principessa Elina Vasilakis. Doing so would secure our monopoly over arms imports and exports throughout the U.S."
Did I mention nothing good ever comes out of that stupid mouth of his?
"Fuck off, Viktor."
He glances at me hopelessly before turning back to father.
"That would make us billions, Pakhan," father murmurs. Unfortunately, the old man is considering it. Thankfully, he's not the one in control anymore. (Boss)
"Last I checked, we are already making more than enough with our legitimate...and illegitimate businesses."
Not to mention, I recently struck a deal that gives us full control over laundering money for several major corporations, and they pay us handsomely for it. There's no need for this stupid marriage.
"That's pittance compared to this deal, Pakhan." Viktor's mouth scrunches up with distaste when he addresses me formally. "Come on, at least meet with the girl. I've heard she's quite beautiful."
"You marry her then." I shoot him a look to which he frowns.
"Think about it, son. It would only make us stronger and more untouchable to the Italians. To the don."
The mention of the man I dream of killing every night has me going silent in contemplation. I take another long drag of my cigarette and blow it out in Viktor's direction once again.
"He's like a child." Viktor complains, wiping down his custom tailored suit that does little to hide his bulging stomach.
"Fine. Set it up. I'll be there." I mutter and then stand up, ready to leave.
"Stay for dinner. Your brother hardly ever visits." Father's gaze is pleading, but I can't bring it in myself to sit with them at the dinner table, not when the one person I want to see won't be there.
"I can't. There's some thing I need to deal with at the club. Let's take a rain check yeah? Do it somewhere outside next time." Maybe that will be more bearable.
Father's face falls and Viktor nods, disappointment filling his sharp features. "Sure. I'll keep you updated on the proposal."
I don't bother replying as I walk out of the room.
"Please tell me we have some progress on the witness." I say to Yuri, as we jog down the carpeted stairs.
"We've recovered some CCTV footage from T-bar as you requested, boss. We've also erased the rest of it, only you have access to them now."
Good, I don't want the Italians finding my witness before I do. I highly doubt she was with them and due to the gravity of the situation, they must be searching high and low for her as well.
"Bring it up to the penthouse." My stomach flips with excitement at the prospect of catching that girl and I'm prepared to spend the entire night working towards it.
Towards her.