Chapter 32
Vissarian
My father was expecting me.
He’d either anticipated the meeting or had heard through the grapevine I was pissed and would have my say. Either way, I’d been summoned to his house at precisely two in the afternoon.
He’d been kind enough to give me a few hours of rest. Not that I’d taken any. I’d remained on the computer, learning everything I could about Giovanni Bruni and his organization.
As Carlos had stated, they were not well organized or that well-funded even with their foray into arms deals as recent as four years before.
In my experience, syndicates with solid hierarchy including members of the immediate family were usually more highly respected and therefore more affluent and successful.
From what I’d learned and knew from my vendetta against them was that they’d floundered over the years.
Until recently.
It was very apparent they’d had an influx of cash and if I had to make an educated guess, I’d say it was all because of their proposed alliance with the Russian Bratva. The Costa family had provided more details as to just how much Marcos Bruni’s treachery in leaving his family had hurt them.
Don Bruni had been lucky his entire organization hadn’t been annihilated.
But he’d come out swinging and rumor on the streets of Chicago was that they were interested in taking over other areas of the country.
Las Vegas had been mentioned.
Perhaps by the Russians back home.
But which Russian faction were we dealing with? There were a half dozen that could be the problem. Russia was a huge country, for fuck’s sake, and violence was necessary just to survive. I was hoping either my father or uncle could shed some light on who’d taken a step above the others.
I also needed to know what the fuck the Hoffman Group had to do with any of this. Why such a huge charade, if that’s what the talk of joining forces had been?
Now that everything had settled in, I was angrier than I’d been before.
When I pulled up to the gate of my father’s house, I was more irritated than anything. My father liked to talk in riddles.
Not today.
Today he would answer direct questions.
Or else.
I smirked as the guard waved me through. No matter his age or my position within the Bratva, my father was clearly a man of authority. As soon as I drove up to the house, I realized he already had company.
Including my Pakhan. Why Mikhail hadn’t warned me was something I couldn’t question. Even my uncle’s vehicle was parked in the driveway alongside another car that seemed to be a rental.
However, whoever the guest was had brought security with him. There were soldiers in suits standing outside.
This should be fascinating.
While they didn’t question me when I climbed out, I could tell they were on guard, weapons positioned in holsters and easy to see given their open jackets.
If they thought they could intimidate me, they were dead wrong.
What the fuck was going on?
Before I had a chance to knock, the housekeeper who’d been with the family for decades opened the door, nodding as she always did.
“They’re waiting for you in the den.”
“Who is they, Marta?”
“Your uncle and the Pakhan and three men I don’t know.”
That told me everything I needed. If my instincts were correct, Ludolf, Pierre, and Emilio had made a trip overseas.
This should prove interesting.
“You’re late,” my father said by way of a greeting. He was dressed as if this was a traditional business meeting in a tailored suit that I would guess he’d gotten from Italy.
Just like Fallon had accused me of.
Mikhail appeared weary while Uncle Boris was clearly angry. But at whom, the interruption of the three men from the Hoffman Group or something else altogether?
“Unexpected wardrobe change.” Given every man had a drink in their hand, I headed to the bar to pour a chilled vodka. I had a feeling I’d need something cold and smooth to handle whatever bullshit would be tossed out.
The game was beginning to smell.
“This is important,” my father spit out, clearly annoyed I was ten minutes late. I certainly wouldn’t share why. While he adored my mother, business had always come first and always would.
Meanwhile, I was of the opinion that life was about more than bank accounts and casinos.
All because of one feisty woman.
“Yes, I believe you are correct. I’m certain our Pakhan shared that I was almost gunned down while attending to…
business. Business that should have been benign and nonviolent.
Imagine my surprise when a bunch of Italians tried to shorten my lifespan.
” They said nothing as I poured. It took me turning around to face them to realize that I was the odd man out.
They were all in sync about whatever the forthcoming discussion was.
“I’m surprised to see you here, gentlemen. ” I used the term loosely.
“We knew after the way things were left between us and given the fact you were almost killed while accepting our hospitality that our presence was mandatory.” Ludolf studied me like a specimen under glass.
“Why don’t we cut to the chase. The last few days have been notably difficult. Who are you really and what the hell do you want with this family?” My question was pointed as they all would be.
Ludolf shot both my uncle and father a look. I instantly noted my family members weren’t concerned in the least about their sudden appearance.
Because they’d been invited to the party.
“Before we continue with the game of charades, I need to know something, Pops. Did you know about Megan’s true identity? Did you know she was an Italian princess?” For the first time in years, I witnessed my father being highly uncomfortable. “You did.”
Mikhail gave me a cautionary look since my tone changed dramatically with the last two words.
“Not at first, son, but when you became serious, I had her checked out.”
“That would have taken DNA.” When he said nothing but stared at me blankly, I laughed. “You did. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me? At least that would have answered questions as to why the fuck my life had been destroyed!”
“Do not raise your voice to me! I am your father.” He pounded his hand on the credenza that he was standing beside for emphasis.
“Take it easy, Viss,” Mikhail cautioned again.
“How can I take it easy when the past came back to bite me and another woman who had no fucking clue who she was or her importance in this twisted world?”
Uncle Boris cleared his throat. “There are some things you need to know, Vissarian.”
“Then by all means tell me. I’m all ears. I was hunted down like some dog only to discover that Fallon was a valuable commodity. Did you arrange having her as my pilot?” I threw the accusation at Ludolf.
At least he had the decency to look uncomfortable.
“With our blessing,” my father said, indicating the former Pakhan and my uncle.
I scratched my head, uncertain what to make of the entire shit storm I’d been shoved into. “That cost my friend his life. Did you know that? Did you even care? Or was he just another pawn in some sick game?”
“Calm the fuck down,” Mikhail said under his breath.
After throwing him a harsh look, I swallowed half the liquid in my glass.
Emilio sighed. “We are sorry to hear that.”
“Oh, yeah? Is this just a game to the five of you? And you, my own cousin. Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“He didn’t know,” Uncle Boris said with full authority in his voice.
“Why keep it from the Pakhan of this Bratva?”
“Because it was necessary. We needed to know if Fallon was a willing participant.” My father’s voice held an air of arrogance.
That only made me that much more furious.
“Do you have any clue that her stepbrother thinks she belongs to him? That he killed his own father and stepmother, the woman who stole Marcos Bruni’s heart because of his obsession with her?”
“It’s more than that,” Mikhail finally interjected. “Tell him everything.”
“Yes, please do because I’m about ready to walk out of here.” When I started for the door, Mikhail moved in front of me, his eyes imploring. I backed away, locking eyes with all of them. “Tell the story.”
“Don Giovanni Bruni had a daughter that was promised to a Bratva family in Russia many years ago. However, she was killed and Giovanni blamed the Russians. That’s when Marcos, his only other child, knew that he and the woman he’d fallen in love with against his father’s wishes weren’t safe any longer so he ran, changing his name in the process. ”
I eyed my father as he told the story. While news about Bruni’s daughter did surprise me, it meant nothing to what was happening. “And it took Don Bruni eighteen years to find his own son.”
“No, about ten, but by then, the deal with the Russians was dead and buried and he witnessed just how happy his son had become.”
“Then why have his own flesh and blood killed?”
“He didn’t,” Ludolf interjected. “From all the intel we’ve found, we believe the Russians did, which was why Giovanni convinced Fallon’s mother that the only way she’d be safe was to return to Chicago.
At that point, she had no one else to rely on.
From what we know, she was given a hefty sum of money to wed Luis, who was Don Bruni’s most trusted man. ”
“Hold on here. You’re suggesting to me that she wanted to be married to a fucking monster?”
“She wanted to protect her daughters, Vissarian, and in her mind, marrying him was the only way to make that happen.”
I could tell all of them were serious. Given my family had long since learned never to believe anything at face value, I knew in my bones there was much more to the story. “Megan was away at college.”
“Yes, being watched carefully,” Uncle Boris piped in. “She had security detail on her twenty-four/seven at Don Bruni’s insistence.”
My thoughts immediately drifted to something she’d told me. Perhaps the only reason she’d given about wanting to start a new life. She’d asked if I’d ever had the feeling that everything I did was being watched. She’d refused to elaborate. “She ran away because of the security.”