Chapter 32 #2
“Yes. Just like her father.”
“Was she led to Vegas and to me? Was it all a lie?”
My father shook his head. “No, son. Up to that point, we were aware the Brunis existed and of course that at some point in our lives we’d face the Russian monsters we fled in Moscow, but her coming to Vegas was…”
“Karma,” I finished. “You also knew the Russian Bratva found out about Fallon.”
“Yes, they began to put pressure on Bruni again because of his location and his connections. Giovanni wanted her protected at all costs, but his Capo and friend was killed.” Uncle Boris still had a story to tell. I could tell by the way he was watching me, curious as to my reaction.
“By the man’s son.” I glanced at Mikhail, who I could tell was having a very difficult time not taking over the conversation. Because he didn’t know all the details. Why in the fuck keep their children in the dark?
“There is a significant chance Don Bruni does not know. There is proof that Antonio has been working with the Russians for years. He even wore the ink to prove his loyalty.”
I took a deep breath. “A skull with red eyes and a sword.”
“Yes. You are correct. Don Bruni is an arrogant man and believes no one could betray him. Antonio was likely offered significant power to turn on his mentor. However, it would seem the Bratva is very good at making promises that often they do not keep.” Ludolf seemed so certain of himself.
I took a sip of my drink. Right now, no amount of alcohol would make me feel any better. I was angry and bitter. “If Giovanni doesn’t know then he’s a goddamn fool. From what Fallon told me, Antonio had made overtures to her for years.”
“As a kid with no power,” my father said. “That’s why Luis didn’t believe him dangerous. Nor did Don Bruni.”
“Okay. That makes sense,” I offered, still trying to curtail the anger. “They couldn’t get their hands on her while she was in the Air Force.”
“No. They did not want to create an international incident.”
“You hired Jeffrey Collins to seduce her. Didn’t you?” I looked from Ludolf to Emilio and then to Pierre.
Pierre shifted and answered. “We hired him to try and protect her. We trusted him because of his employment with your family. His background being from the military made it perfect. We needed to ascertain how best to handle the situation.”
“Wait a minute. So my buddy Jeffrey was one of your plants?”
Emilio was the one who nodded. Who the fuck were these people?
“What fucking situation? Are you telling me that you’ve already had an alliance together?” I simply needed to look from my father’s wary expression to my uncle’s. “You have. You didn’t know this, Mikhail?”
“When he was pushed into the position of Pakhan, he made it clear our family was moving in another direction. We discussed and thought it best for the family. We were hoping that the Russian Bratva would stop their need for revenge.” My father answered for him.
I rubbed my eyes. There was too much information and I had a brand-new headache lashing my brain.
“What about Don Bruni? What now?”
“He’s getting pressure to accept the deal offered by the Russians,” Mikhail said. “They have enough powerful connections that they will make good on their threat to try and come into Las Vegas. Bruni also has ties to Sicily. If the alliance is made, they will have a foothold in Europe as well.”
“Hence a renewed and strong alliance with the Hoffman Group.” I threw it out and almost laughed. Our fathers had been keeping secrets for years, since the day they’d left Russia.
“Yes, son. We knew when Bruni was approached again that all our precautions wouldn’t be enough.”
I thought about what had occurred over the last few years and laughed. Pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. “The reason for our alliance with the Costa family. They also have ties to Sicily.”
My father appeared amused as if thrilled I’d followed those breadcrumbs and was about ready to solve the riddle.
Uncle Boris nodded. “It was as much of a statement as it was a protection. We believed it would work until we realized the Russians were about to invade our territory with the reluctant help of Giovanni Bruni.”
“Do they know?” I demanded.
Mikhail shook his head. “Their father does.”
“An old boys’ school exists in the world of the mafia,” I threw out, disgusted with the whole damn thing. “At least we can commiserate about our fathers lying to us.”
“Enough,” Mikhail hissed. “You will have respect, Viss.”
Exhaling, I nodded. “Who attacked us, Bruni or the Russians? Antonio couldn’t have done so on his own.”
“No, he likely had help from the Russians. There are some men loyal to him that he used while pretending to remain loyal to Bruni. He was likely paid handsomely to bring in Fallon. There’s no telling if he would have done so immediately.
Once he did, there would be no need to broker any further deal. ” Ludolf’s words were chilling.
“Don Bruni would be exterminated.” My entire body bristled from the thought of Antonio touching her in any way. Then there was the goddamn promise I’d made.
“Yes,” Mikhail answered.
Antonio’s problem was that he was infatuated with Fallon. But the lure of power and money was strong.
“So what now?”
“Don Bruni needs to be told his empire had been compromised and there’s only person one who can do so that he’ll believe.” My father stared me directly in the eyes.
I took a deep breath. “If you think I’m going to put Fallon in harm’s way, you are dead wrong. I will not be a part of this.” I slammed my drink onto the bar, immediately heading to the door. I’d fucking heard enough.
“They will find a way to take her, son. She is valuable to them.”
“Did you ever stop to think about how much she might mean to me?” My voice boomed in the room. I was surprised my mother hadn’t come running. I glared into my father’s eyes. “Just like I cared about Megan. If I’d known who she was, then she might be alive today. You did that. Both of you.”
Mikhail’s shoulders lifted. I threw my hand out. My disrespect was grounds for demotion. What the fuck did I care at this point? I didn’t.
“I can tell you do, Vissarian. I’m sorry.
I think I can speak for Boris when I tell you that.
We believed the past could be left in the shadows, but we were wrong.
Our alliance with the Hoffman Group and our connections with the Costa family while also coordinating some level of peace with Don Bruni will likely keep our futures secure.
And the way of life you so adore will be kept the same. ”
My father had never been this honest before. I also realized that he felt beaten down, as if the past had indeed come up from their dark shadows, violence and bloodshed ready to pick at the still festering wounds.
I also knew what he was telling me was the truth. Don Bruni would only listen to family. “It’s her choice. I won’t make her do this. She just found out who she is and was almost killed because of it. Her choice. No more secrets or so help me God, I will walk away from this family.”
Mikhail’s face highlighted the stress I sensed he felt.
He’d wanted to change the old ways, creating a powerful corporation by the use of contracts and negotiations.
He’d done that in spades. But instead of simply enjoying our growing family, our wealth and success, we were still hounded by a past that Mikhail and I barely remembered.
And monsters who lurked in the darkness.
Now I knew why my father had always told me to be careful with acts of revenge because they invariably hurt those who didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle.
Fallon was that person.
As I turned for the third time to walk out, I realized just how much I did care about Fallon. Yet I knew in my heart it had almost nothing to do with Megan, a strange sense of karma or simply my innate need to protect her.
Although if there was such a thing as karma then bringing her into my life had been a godsend.
For my heart.
For my sanity.
For my future.
“There is one last thing you need to learn. Both of you,” Uncle Boris said, meaning Mikhail as well.
“As Vissarian just stated, there will be no more secrets in this family or this corporation. Is that understood?”
“No more secrets,” Uncle Boris stated as if doing so for the entire group. “You need to know the identity of the Russians who will continue to try and destroy us.”
Mikhail’s brow furrowed and we shared a look between us.
“Who?” I asked.
“He is by far the most powerful Pakhan in Moscow, both protected and fueled by three sons who in turn are equally as ruthless and dangerous.”
My father’s voice was filled with more anger than before.
“Who?” Mikhail demanded.
“His name is Yuri Dmitriyev,” Uncle Boris said. “He is our brother.”