Chapter 2
IVAN
I was already on my way to Zvezda when I got the call from Aleksei that Dima had something to share with us. I didn’t think we’d arrive at my club at the same time, but we did, which was lucky because waiting patiently has never been one of my strong suits.
Especially not after bumping into that pretty little thing outside.
Pretty women are a dime a dozen in Zvezda, and I have no problem attracting them. All I have to do is show up at the main bar, and they swarm me like moths to a flame, eager and willing. But it’s been way too long since one actually made me look twice.
I roll the hair tie I took between my fingers, and Aleksei shoots me a curious brow raise.
I shrug and tuck it into my pocket as I lead my brothers to one of the VIP lounges.
Whatever Dima wants to discuss, this meeting needs to be quick.
I have some hunting to do; she’s mine for tonight, I’ve already decided.
As soon as we’re seated, Dima pulls his tablet out of his suit jacket and, after a few quick taps, he slides it across the table towards Aleksei and me.
The screen is frozen on a face I vaguely recognize.
I hit play, then pause it again when I fully register whose smug expression is staring back at us.
“You called us here for this?” Aleksei asks with obvious disgust, beating me to the punch by half a second.
Dimitri first mentioned this low-level politician—whom he believes is being sponsored against us—about a week ago. Daniel Salvi. Even the name sounds pretentious as hell.
“Just watch the damn thing,” Dima retorts, leaning forward to press play himself. The video clearly starts mid-clip, cut to the exact moment he wants us to see, so I force myself to focus.
"For too long, this city has been plagued by organized crime. We’ve allowed it to thrive in plain sight—in the unions, in the clubs, even in the council chambers themselves.
I’ve gone after these people in court. I know where some of them live, where they operate.
And how many active investigations have been buried, never to see the light of day?
But when I become mayor of this great city, I’ll make damn sure they pay for their crimes against humanity. "
"That's so heroic," the female interviewer giggles, flipping her hair back like she’s eating this shit up. "Are you referring to the Petrov family?"
Daniel pauses just long enough to look measured, then lifts his face straight into the camera. "I’m referring to all of them. If the shoe fits… they’d better start running.”
The video cuts off. Amusement flickers through me, and I can’t help but chuckle at the sheer audacity. Obviously not the response Dima was hoping for, judging by his glare, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s funny.
“What a dick.” I shake my head, still smiling. “He just shot himself in the foot. Possibly both feet.”
Our family name might have been dragged into that little performance, but we’re not the only players in this great city.
Like he so helpfully pointed out himself—council members, police chiefs, union leaders, hell, even senators and governors reap the fruits of our reign here.
They’re going to want to keep us around so they can continue enjoying their benefits. This idiot’s campaign is DOA.
“He won’t even make it through the primaries,” Aleksei says dismissively, pushing Dima’s tablet back to him.
“Did you honestly think he might be a threat, Dima? You need a drink. You’re getting paranoid.
” Without waiting for approval, he presses the small button subtly hidden on the side of the table to summon a server.
“Haha,” Dimitri deadpans. “Do you two assholes even know who that is?”
“I assume you’re about to enlighten us,” I say dryly, settling back in my seat.
It doesn’t matter who he is or what hole he crawled out of. His campaign is going to ruffle too many powerful feathers. He’ll be dead before he gets anywhere near the mayoral seat.
“That’s Daniel Salvi, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
” Dima leans forward, voice dropping. “Apparently, his father was caught in the crossfire during the shootout between our family and the Marinos twenty years ago. The case was never solved. Throughout his time as U.S. Attorney, he tried to arrest the Marinos—and our father—but he never succeeded before his term ended and he was replaced. The entire foundation of his campaign is built on getting rid of us and the other mafia families operating in this city.”
That information gives me pause. A former U.S. Attorney with a personal vendetta? Oh, he’ll have some deep, problematic connections.
“Daniel sure knows how to hold a grudge,” Aleksei murmurs, and I chuckle in agreement. Twenty years ago, it was our bastard father and his cronies in charge of the city. They’re long dead. Salvi is fighting ghosts.
The lounge door opens—fast service, even for my staff—but it isn't the server.
It's Nadia, mid-tour, with the woman I bumped into earlier hovering at her shoulder. My brows pull together as I take her in properly, now dressed in Zvezda’s uniform.
The navy button-down with my club's logo embroidered beneath the collar, paired with the charcoal pleated skirt, should look standard. Forgettable. It’s the same uniform every female server wears, after all. But on her… Fuck me.
Her hair is scraped into a high ponytail, baring her face and the clean, tempting line of her neck. My mouth waters at the thought of tasting that exposed skin, of feeling her pulse flutter under my tongue.
I watch her legs as she trails behind Nadia.
Long legs are usually my thing, and hers aren’t particularly long, but the way she moves, the soft swish of that pleated skirt, captivates me far more than it should.
How would those legs feel wrapped around my waist?
Or better yet, over my shoulders while I push into her and—
I drag my eyes back up to her face, over her pert nose and rosebud mouth, which I suddenly need to know the taste of, before finally settling on her eyes; honey-gold and skittering everywhere but at us.
She tucks herself behind Nadia like she's terrified of being noticed, nothing like the fire I glimpsed when she snapped at me in the alley.
Then her gaze finds mine anyway, like it can't help itself.
Half a second. That's all I get before Nadia murmurs an apology and pulls the door shut, severing it.
Too late, milaya. I already noticed you.
She must be the new server Nadia mentioned hiring, which is too fucking bad.
I don’t fuck around with my employees. Ever.
And the fact that I’d already decided she was mine tonight makes the disappointment sting worse.
I’d love to take a bite of her, see what she has to offer beneath that prim uniform.
My cock stiffens, and I swallow a groan. Goddamn it. I should have paid more attention when Nadia showed me her employee profile. Attractive women like her are exactly why I don't hire them—they're distractions I don't need in my business.
The actual server comes and goes with our order while I'm still staring at the closed door.
Dima launches back into his analysis of why we should take Daniel seriously, but my brain has just been thoroughly scrambled, and I need a few seconds to shift gears.
Fuck. I might actually have to fire her. I never react to women this viscerally.
“What do you think, Vanya?” Aleksei’s voice cuts through my spiral.
Both my brothers are staring at me, waiting.
“If Dima is that worried, then we should consider pushing our own mayoral candidate forward earlier than scheduled.” Years of practice have made my poker face impenetrable, but I don’t miss the subtle shift in Aleksei’s expression; he knows something is up with me.
“Thank you,” Dima says emphatically. “Taking preemptive measures won’t hurt. This isn’t the time to be arrogantly dismissive of potential threats.”
He’s not wrong. Underestimating enemies—even seemingly insignificant ones—is how empires fall.
“I’ll handle the arrangements,” I say, already taking out my phone and typing in my password. “We’re going with James Salvatore, right?” I glance at them both for confirmation before pulling up Salvatore’s number.
Meet me at Zvezda in thirty minutes. Come with your partners. It’s time to deal with them.