Trapping His Darling (The Petrov Legacy #2)

1. Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

V iktor, Russia

“How could you let this happen?” my father seethed. “We are now on the brink of war, and for what? A piece of fucking pussy?”

“I allowed nothing to happen,” the lead soldier countered, keeping his tone flat and respectful, despite the tension heavy in the room. “Alexie has always done what Alexie wanted.”

“Why didn’t one of you come to me!” my father roared at the group of men, these so-called leaders of our little kingdom. “I could have nipped it in the bud. Your inaction is just as much at fault as my idiot son is for sticking his dick where it didn’t belong.”

I smirked, relishing the chaos unfurling before my eyes. My brother’s misstep was literally unraveling an entire empire. My father despised being accused of incompetence, and Alexie had indeed made a colossal blunder by putting him, and our family, in this position.

Tensions had been mounting ever since Alexie impregnated the beautiful wife of a mafia don. The Italians were fuming, and our once-solid connections were fraying. The Don was threatening to dissolve a long-standing treaty, if we didn’t produce Alexie for him to execute immediately. It was only his long-time friendship with my father that kept the alliance on this knife’s edge.

“Get out!” my father thundered. “Get out of my sight!”

As the men quickly and quietly filed out, my father paced back and forth, his anger unabated.

“What would you have done differently?” Father inquired of Roger.

“You didn’t have a choice. You either exiled or eliminated him,” he replied.

“They still desire his demise, regardless. I’ve only worsened the situation,” my father grumbled, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair.

Although I yearned to laugh at the absurdity of it all, the gravity of the situation restrained me. Roger, perceptive as ever, detected the amusement I was trying to conceal.

He swung his cane toward my head, something that used to make me recoil, but those days were now over. I grabbed the cane before it could strike and held it, a glare in my eyes. I once carried the family shame and played the part of whipping boy, as I had not respected myself enough to care, but no longer.

Roger’s eyes bulged and he fumbled, trying to assert his dominance on me. “Insolent boy!” he spat. “You think you can act out?”

I had endured abuse from this family for years. No more.

“Maybe you all should think about the consequences of your actions now for when I do come into power later,” I warned, wrenching the cane from my godfather with an impassive facade. “After all, I am the only legitimate heir still standing.” I made a show of looking around the room, as if Alexie would be with us. “Yes?”

“This banishment is only temporary–”

“Not likely,” I interrupted, leisurely twirling the cane like I did when training with my combat staff. “The Don would be perceived as weak, if the man who made him a cuckold came back here and freely walked the streets.”

At the reminder of Alexie’s betrayal, my father sighed. “Viktor is right. Peace has reigned for far too long, and the days of infighting are a distant memory. I aim to keep it that way.”

Roger moved forward. “But Alexie–”

“Is no longer an option,” I interjected firmly. “He threw away his birthright for a woman. You and Alexie need to accept this.”

“ Sukin syn, ” Roger growled at me. “It was you.”

Rage coursed through my veins, but I concealed it with practiced precision. I had a reputation for maintaining a cool demeanor, unlike my impulsive brother. But Roger was pissing me off. He’d always favored Alexie.

I glared at him. He was right. I was the one who anonymously slipped a note to the Don about his wife’s infidelity. So what? It’s not like my godfather could prove it.

“What was me?” I played off. “The one who slept with Don Ricci’s wife?” I tsked. “No, not me,” I murmured darkly, depositing my godfather’s cane in the office trash can like it was an umbrella stand. “I assure you, that was my brother.”

I could practically hear Roger’s teeth grinding.

My heart smiled even if my lips did not.

“The Italians hunger for Alexie’s demise,” my father continued. “My eldest son should be grateful I’ve foiled their attempts on his life, while he sought refuge in America.” My father downed his vodka with a confident flourish. “All this for a slut,” he muttered. “He should have known better. His arrogance got the best of him.”

A feeling of vindication bloomed. Father finally saw Alexie for who he really was; impulsive, cocky, conniving, and not capable of leading this family in a productive way. Unlike him, I always calculated my moves, contemplating the repercussions they might unleash on my future. It was the very reason I considered myself superior to him.

I must admit I didn’t foresee the ruthless assault by Don Ricci coming. I expected it to end in serious discord, but got a dethroning instead. The situation couldn’t have unfolded more perfectly. Our organization seldom regarded women as significant, save for their role in procreation.

“Roger?” My father turned to his trusted right-hand man.

“Yes?” Roger stepped forward, poised to receive his orders.

“You must take Viktor under your wing immediately,” my father commanded. “Demonstrate to the men that Viktor is more than capable of replacing Alexie. This will also mollify Don Ricci a bit, that even though Alexie is still alive, his birthright has been passed on to his younger brother.”

Roger concealed his displeasure well. My godfather might have harbored some affection for me somewhere, but like everyone else, his loyalty remained with Alexie. And I knew he was holding out for my brother to come back. But it wasn’t going to happen.

No matter. Like Father Christmas, I was making my list and checking it twice. The men either complied or would die. Simple as that. Alexie wouldn’t have tolerated anything less than absolute loyalty, and while I mostly hated that motherfucker, I could utilize his methods to reign over my men. An iron fist was imperative.

“Yes, you can mentor Viktor,” my father continued, pouring yet another drink, “guide him into his new role as the heir. Ensure he not only possesses the skills, but also the willingness to do whatever it takes for the Bratva.”

With drink in hand, he collapsed into his chair, looking very old and tired. “Viktor, it’s time to advance the line of succession. We cannot allow our men to fear a power vacuum, should we both meet our demise. Seek a suitable Russian woman and carry on our tradition by siring an heir. This will reassure the men,” my father emphasized.

Say what now? A woman? An heir? Absolutely not!

I vigorously shook my head in dissent, but my father raised his hand, silencing me before I could voice my objections. “You may have a small following among the men,” he sneered, “but that allegiance will crumble once they witness your weaknesses.”

I didn’t have any, other than letting my family hold shame over me for something that wasn’t my fault for far too long. With the ousting of my brother, I had learned something very important that eased my guilt, even more than throwing my brother under the bus with the Italians. Yes, I was sexually assaulted, but at least I didn’t purposely shame my family the way Alexie did by fucking the wife of our closest ally. Yes, I didn’t kill my own mother like I was supposed to, but I also didn’t flee my home the way Alexie did. I suffered the consequences. He ran away from them. He was too scared to face Don Ricci like a man.

“You must demonstrate that you not only possess the capacity to rule with an iron fist,” my father continued, “but that you stand apart from your brother. I’ve already found a suitable Russian woman for you to settle down and provide an heir with. Follow Roger’s guidance precisely, and everything else will fall into place.”

“No–”

“Yes,” my father interjected firmly. “You must be stronger and more ruthless than your brother,” he asserted. “Remember, boy, those are some formidable shoes to fill, and from where I’m standing, you don’t exhibit the muzhestvo. ”

I remained silent, scoffing at the idea that I had no courage. Underestimation was a familiar occurrence, one that had fueled my determination to prove my superiority. I had always known I was better, but they had lavished Alexie with so much attention that I rarely could showcase my worth. However, this slight to me had also been an advantage in a different way. They really had no idea of what I was capable of until now.

I hoped they were prepared to witness the true extent of my courage. By the time I finished with the Bratva, I would leave the soldiers wondering why they ever followed my brother at all. And I had no need for an heir to achieve that.