Chapter 17
Dmitri
The second we touch down, cell service snaps back and my phone detonates with messages.
Victor’s is on top. Of course it is.
You crossed a line killing Paolo Ferro. The Bratva will pay for your recklessness. End the Irish alliance. Repair what you’ve broken.
I grind my teeth as we deboard the jet with our things.
I’ve already put my foot down and told them how much of a lost cause this is for them.
“Are you okay?” Cara asks me as she wraps her fingers around my upper arm.
I pocket my phone for now as we head toward one of the black SUVs waiting for us. “I’m fine. I need to run an errand today after I get cleaned up, but I want you to relax at the penthouse until we get your doctor’s appointment scheduled, okay? Please, get some rest. You and our baby need it.”
Cara looks wary about me going out and about so soon, but she doesn’t argue. “Okay, I will.”
“Thank you,” I tell her before kissing the side of her head.
Before we get in our car, we offer our goodbyes to Luca, Andrei, and Sean. We just endured a tough journey together, but I doubt that this will be the last time that we’ll all be forced together again.
“You all didn’t have to come with me,” I tell them. “You did anyway. I won’t forget it.”
“Cara survived hell,” Sean says. “She’s not living scared ever again.”
“Paolo was rot,” Luca says. “Cutting him out saved more than my family. The world is a better place without him.”
“I’m always down to take out corrupt assholes,” Andrei says with a shrug. “Especially when they really have it coming.”
“Thank you all for saving me before. I wouldn’t be standing here without you,” Cara says, voice steady. “Any of you.”
“I wasn’t about to let my best friend lose the love of his life,” Andrei replies with a grin as he nudges me.
I smirk and playfully push him back. “Let’s all agree,” I say, “no more hero shit for a while.”
“We need a damn break.” Luca chuckles.
I worry that we won’t get much of one before another enemy shows his face and tries to make our life hell again, but I think we can somewhat relax for a day. Maybe even two.
Starting tomorrow.
“I’ll see you all soon,” I tell them as I open the door to the backseat for Cara.
Cara waves goodbye to everyone before getting inside, drawing her feet in so that I can close the door behind her.
“Hopefully, not too soon because that means something bad happened,” Luca replies, giving my shoulder a friendly push before lifting his hand in a wave as he heads off.
“Call me if anything comes up,” Andrei says seriously. “We can’t let these problems fester for too long.”
Our enemies are so intent on killing us that our problems don’t even get enough time to sit and fester, but I understand his point. I shouldn’t keep anyone out of the loop if something happens, even if it seems small and unimportant.
There are things happening behind the curtain that I’m not aware of. None of us are.
“I will,” I promise him before giving him a one-arm hug. “Thank you again.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Dmitri,” Andrei says before walking off.
Sean starts to leave too, but I step in his path.
“I need to talk to you really quick,” I tell him as I move away from the car so that we can have this conversation in private.
“What’s wrong?” Sean asks me.
“Will you be free in a few hours?” I reply as I check the time on my watch.
“I can be after a shower and some coffee. Why?” Sean questions me, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
I guess I can’t blame him for that. I spring things on people sometimes, but this is something that’s been a long time coming. I think it’s time to get it done with.
“I need your help getting a point across.”
After making sure that Cara gets settled in the penthouse and texting Victor a location I know he can’t ignore: a public park, I get cleaned up and take one of my cars to that location, my fingers tightening around the steering wheel in determination.
I’m tired of being told what I should do to get back into the Council’s good graces when I couldn’t give less of a fuck about that. Being in their good graces nearly turned me into a lap dog, and I’m not about to let a group of old, closed-minded assholes run my life.
They’ll finally get that through their thick skulls, eventually.
When I arrive at the park, I find an empty spot in the parking lot and shut off my car, heading straight to the large gazebo where events are usually held. Kids laugh and play on a nearby playground, and adults of all ages walk and jog on the path that circles around the large park.
For this meeting, I believe doing it in a public place is for the best. Being alone with the Council in an enclosed office where no one can see me or reach me in the matter of a few minutes doesn’t sound like a smart idea.
I stand in the middle of the gazebo and wait, my pulse quickening as Victor arrives with most of the Council, moving like a small army in expensive coats and cheap arrogance.
It doesn’t matter. They should all hear my message anyway.
“You’re late,” I comment as I loosely join my hands behind my back, standing tall and firm.
“As if you have any respect for authority or rules,” Victor spits out bitterly as they fan out in front of me, looking as pissed as I expected them to be given what I just did in Italy not even twenty-four hours ago.
“I do what’s right. If that doesn’t align with what you want, tough shit,” I state as my eyes lock onto Victor’s.
“You dare treat us with such little respect! We can strip your position,” Valentin snarls. “Freeze your accounts. Turn every Bratva crew in this city against you.”
I narrow my eyes at them. “As I’ve said before, that would be unwise. I belong here.”
“You don’t get to come here and wreak havoc!” Victor tells me. “You need to fix your mistakes before the Bratva are caught in the crossfire of your mess. The damage might already be done.”
“I’ve eliminated an enemy of the Bratva. I have proof the Italians killed Mikhail,” I say. “He never went back to Russia because he never left Vegas alive.”
That shuts them up and has a few jaws dropping.
“And I created an alliance with the Irish who have a strong hold over Vegas. The Bratva are less threatened than before because of me,” I remind them.
They’re just upset that they haven’t done anything in years besides sit on their asses and order people around.
“Even if you’re right about the Italians killing Mikhail, you’re justifying a lot of nonsense because of that Irish girl,” Victor says, disgust filling his voice. “Annika is a better wife for a Bratva leader.”
I hold up a finger. “If I hear her name come out of your mouth again, I’ll make you regret it. The only woman I’m going to marry is Cara. Get that through your damn heads!”
“She is nothing,” Pavel grinds out through his teeth. “The Irish are menaces. Cruel beasts. Her father is a scourge on this city.”
“Say that again,” a voice drawls from behind them.
They turn to find Sean, his hands in his pockets like he owns the park.
“I’m wounded that you think so little of me,” Sean says sarcastically as he walks around them to stand by my side. He looks over at me. “Can you believe these assholes?”
“Well, I’ll admit that I used to see you that way,” I reply with a small smirk. “Turns out you’re tolerable on your best behavior.”
“You’re just saying that because you love my daughter,” Sean says with a light chuckle.
“Who I will marry,” I add as I glance back over at the Council members, all of which look like they’re about to explode in fury. They won’t lose their minds in front of all the kids and park guests, though.
“I think there’s another piece of news that you need to tell them,” Sean reminds me, looking just as pleased as I am to torment the Council.
“Oh, right. One more thing,” I say, eyes locked on Victor. “Cara’s pregnant. My heir is already on the way.”
Victor’s eyes widen, and I swear there is a dash of horror among the rage in them. “You traitor! You have betrayed the Bratva!”
“My grandchild and heir,” Sean says softly, “is untouchable.”
Pavel spits at the ground in front of my feet. “We won’t recognize it,” Pavel spits. “Not as Bratva.”
“My grandchild will have more power in this city than any of you spineless bastards,” Sean remarks.
“I’ll also remind you that if you go after Cara, I’ll kill every single one of you,” I warn them, my tone turning icy. I mean those words, and I don’t care what kind of backlash that I might possibly get.
The Council isn’t as widely respected as they used to be, but there are still Bratva families who are old school loyalists.
“You dare threaten us?” Valentin grits out, his face starting to turn red. “There will be consequences.”
When some of them step forward, Sean lifts his hand, making them halt. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Sean’s gaze drifts. The Council follows it and finds men posted at every entrance, every path, every bench. Irish and Bratva. Together.
“You’ll regret ever making the decision to let your feelings overtake your good judgment,” Victor tells me. “The Bratva do not need anyone else outside of our own families. We’re self-reliant. We’re stronger that way.”
“No, we’re not,” I state as I cross my arms. “Your ‘self-reliance’ nearly cost us Vegas. The Irish have eyes, money, and reach you don’t. I’m not turning that down because you’re offended.”
“You mean you’re risking the wellbeing and reputation of the Bratva?” Victor snaps.
I let out a dry laugh. “I just saved lives by killing Paolo Ferro and his men. You should be thanking me.”
Victor balls up his hands into fists, acting like he’s actually ready to fight me in this gazebo in front of dozens of people. “You will suffer for this. You, the foolish Bratva men who follow you, and the Irish.”
“We’ll see about that,” Sean replies, not seeming fazed or convinced.
“Try,” I say.
That’s what the Council does most of the time. Talk a lot of shit and not do anything about it. No wonder it’s so easy for me to tell them to fuck off now.
Victor glares at me before turning and walking out of the gazebo, leading the rest of the Council members away until it’s just Sean and I left behind.
“You’ve had to deal with those guys all your life?” Sean questions me.
“Some have been replaced throughout the years, but yes,” I tell him, remembering how I used to respect them and my father when I was young, na?ve, and didn’t know any better. Now, I’ve seen their true colors. I know how cowardly they are.
There’s nothing to respect about them.
“Are they going to be a problem in the future?” Sean asks as he raises an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” I admit. “But if they move, I’ll move first. Don’t worry about that.”
“Of course, I’m going to worry. They hate my daughter. They hate that the two of you are getting married,” Sean replies.
“Because they want the alliance with the Suyunovs,” I tell him. “But it’s not going to happen. I don’t care how many times they bark those orders at me.”
Sean watches the Council members get into multiple cars in the parking lot and drive off, his brow furrowing. “Just keep your eye on them.”
“I will,” I say. I’ve had my eye on them for a while now.
Sean turns to me and sticks his hand out. “I should get going.”
“Thanks for doing this with me. It’s time that they accept our alliance and my marriage to Cara,” I tell him as I shake his hand.
Our union will change everything for the Bratva, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to forge the most successful alliance in Bratva history. Aligning Bratva families with other Bratva families only takes us all so far.
But I see a whole new vision when I picture the Bratva and the Irish together.
Connections. Shared resources. Protection from outside enemies. Peace.
We can achieve all of that if the Council stops standing in the way.
“Are you headed back to her now? She should really get to a doctor soon,” Sean says with a worried frown.
“Already made an appointment,” I assure him. “You’ll hear what Cara wants to share,” I say. “When she’s ready.”
Sean lets out a soft, hopeful sigh. “Yeah, I hope so. I’d like to be involved in my grandchild’s life.”
That’s a conversation that I need to have with Cara but not for a while. She deserves to rest and recuperate from this last trip, and I think that I’m going to do the same if I get the chance.
“Cara is coming around,” I tell him. “Just be patient with her.”
Sean nods. “Goodbye, Dmitri.”
I nod to him before watching him walk out of the gazebo to get into his car.
For a while longer, I stand there alone.
I watch a kid race across the grass while his father laughs like the world is simple.
Maybe Cara and I won’t get many moments like that.
But I’m going to carve out every one we can.
And kill anyone who tries to take them from us.