35. Chapter Thirty-Five
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
V iktor
The Bratva compound buzzed with excitement, as we prepared for Roman’s 12th birthday party. After their arrival, it seemed fitting to celebrate him while we were all together. Who knew when that time would happen again?
I couldn’t help but smile, as I watched the festivities unfold around me. Roman, the child prodigy, had become an integral part of Alexie’s, and therefore our family, and today, we celebrated him with all the pomp and grandeur he deserved.
The courtyard had been transformed into a carnival of delights. Colorful balloons swayed in the breeze, and the aroma of freshly grilled shashlik wafted through the air. The laughter of children, and the cheerful chatter of adults, filled the atmosphere.
As I made my way through the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Alexie’s protege, Roman, had grown, not only in age, but in wisdom and resilience since he helped dismantle that biker organization. His mute state was a testament to the darkness he had faced, but today, we celebrated his strength and brilliance.
I spotted Tiffany chatting with some of the other women, a smile on her face as she admired the decorations. She looked radiant, a stark contrast to the dangerous world we navigated. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, someone who understood the complexities of our life, yet brought light and laughter into it.
The highlight of the party was the games and activities we had planned for Roman and his friends. A dunk tank had been set up, and I couldn’t resist taking my turn, much to the delight of the children. Tiffany’s laughter rang out as I hit the water with an exaggerated splash.
The cake was a masterpiece, a work of art that depicted Roman’s journey within the Bratva. As we gathered around to sing ‘Happy Birthday’, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unity and family that transcended the darkness that often surrounded us.
Roman’s eyes sparkled with excitement, as he made a wish and blew out the candles. The cheers and applause that followed were a testament to the love and support he had found within the Bratva.
As the festivities continued, I took a moment to reflect on the journey we had all embarked upon. In a world of shadows and danger, moments like these were a reminder that, even amidst darkness, there could be light, joy, and celebration.
Roman’s 12th birthday party was not just a celebration of another year, but a celebration of the bonds that held us together, the resilience that defined us, and the hope that guided us forward. In that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the family we had become, and the future that lay ahead.
As the celebration continued, the music shifted to a lively tune, and the courtyard transformed into a dance floor. Guests of all ages joined in the festivities, but it was Tiffany and I who took the center stage.
I extended my hand to her, and she accepted it with a warm smile. I felt like we were finally happy. This was our moment. We moved gracefully together, our steps matching the rhythm of the music. The guests watched with admiration as we twirled and swayed, our movements a testament to the unbreakable bond we shared.
In that moment, it wasn’t just a dance; it was a declaration. It was a statement to our family, our friends, and our enemies, that no matter what challenges we faced, we faced them together. The world of the Bratva was a complex and dangerous one, but in each other’s arms, we found solace and strength.
As the song came to an end, I pulled Tiffany closer, our foreheads touching. Our smiles spoke of a love that had weathered the darkest storms, a love that was as unyielding as the bonds of our criminal empire.
The guests erupted in applause, their cheers and whistles filling the air. We had shown them that even in the midst of chaos and danger, there could be moments of pure joy and unity.
And as we stood there, locked in each other’s embrace, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the woman who had become, not only my partner, but my anchor in this tumultuous world. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, and our love would remain unwavering, a beacon of light in the darkest of times.
After our loving dance, Tiffany returned to avoiding me. She hid behind her new friendship with Sloane, but I wasn’t fooled. I wanted to hunt her down, but I told her I’d give her 24 hours. I mean, she was recently punished for waltzing off on her own. I had to give her a little slack.
I walked down the opposite corridor to my beloved wife, watching as she went back into the birthing wing with a tray of food from downstairs. Seemed like she was taking good care of Sloane indeed, which made sense since she was a mothering type of woman. It was why I’d wanted to impregnate her with my child.
Knowing I was successful had me wanting to shout it from the rooftops. The men would be overjoyed. A pang hit my chest as I remembered Tiffany’s face when she asked for space. She wasn’t taking the family tradition too kindly, and I couldn’t blame her.
If I found out there was a plot to take me out after I’d raised my child, I would want to take revenge as well. I bumped into a solid wall, since I was too busy looking at the tiled flooring.
There in front of me stood my brother Alexie.
“What do you want?” I grumbled.
“When are you going to stand up to him?” He growled.
I didn’t ask who he meant. He was talking about our father. He didn’t understand the intricate way politics were played. Alexie was a hammer. He had no finesse. It was what made him a sloppy leader.
I reached for the ice inside my veins. Calmly I reminded him, “it’s not like you’ll ever get the throne back, so what does it matter to you?”
Alexie’s eyes flashed pure violence. “I could fucking kill you,” he spat.
I motioned with my hands. “Come at me.”
With a roar, he rushed me, but he was again blinded by his emotions. At the last second, I sidestepped his body and watched as he ran straight into a wall. It knocked him on his ass. He shook his head slightly before looking at me, bewildered.
“I’ve grown up since the last time you saw me. I’m no longer your punching bag.” I stood to my full height. “I am the heir of the Bratva throne, and I will not be disrespected in my own household.”
We glared at each other before Alexie relented, softening his gaze.
“You think I don’t know I fucked up?” He asked me.
I shook my head. “I know you do.”
“You don’t understand. The drugs, the drinking, the camaraderie with the soldiers; it all went to my head. Before I knew it, I was power tripping. Fucking for the sake of fucking, and killing for the very same reasons.”
“What changed?” I was genuinely curious.
“Besides that night?”
I nodded.
He pointed up above us. “She did.”
It was then I knew what he meant. All our lives we were pitted against each other. In this one moment, I could see the resemblance Alexie had to me. United in this one stance. I reached out my hand, and Alexie slowly let go of the gun in his holster on his hip. We shook each other’s hands warily. It was a truce.
“Don’t get comfortable, Pakhan ,” Alexie spat before letting go like I scalded him.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I muttered. I wouldn’t either. Alexie still had a lot of growing up to do before he became the leader I was today. It was why the men so easily turned against him.
They needed more than dreams. They had families to take care of, and they needed more money. For the ones who couldn’t be bought, I found ways to gain their loyalty, orchestrated or not.
We went our separate ways. I went for a long swim to clear my head. It was rare that I had any emotional outbursts. But with this impending birth, Tiffany going missing, and not knowing who to trust, paranoia rested on my shoulders.
By the time night had fallen, Tiffany was tucked in bed resting, and I had to go on a late night mission. I hoped that everything remained alright. I sent Tiffany a brief overview of when I would return, then I set off.
The Italians had reported that half their shipment was missing. They blamed us, stating that we had messed with their supply before in order to gain their loyalty. Though they weren’t wrong, this time it wasn’t us. We had too much beef with the Italians right now, and we couldn’t afford another mishap. The alliance was tenuous at best, due to me marrying Tiffany without anyone’s approval.
But what did they expect? For me to bow down and obey their every rule? That was the antithesis of how I was raised. I scaled the wall in front of me and met at the spot. It was a secluded area with not much foot traffic. Perfect for shady business dealings.
“Why did you bring me out here, boy?” Don Ricci stepped out of the shadows.
“I have come to make a deal.”
He scoffed, “another back end deal that will hurt my people?”
“No,” I tried to find some patience. “I am offering you our first born daughter.”
“Whose?”
I shrugged. “Be it mine or Alexie’s, does it matter? The first to have a girl, since both of our women are pregnant.”
“What if you both have boys?”
I clucked my tongue. Greedy bastard. “We can cross that bridge when we get to it. In addition, we will take our soldiers out of Sicily, giving you your home operation back.”
“No spies?”
I shook my head. “None.”
He spat in his hand and held it out to me. I did the same to mine and kept a straight face as we shook. We walked backward away from each other, not wanting to show the other our back. As soon as he was out of sight, I wiped my hand off on my pant leg. Disgusting Italian svoloch .
I headed to the docks to find out what had happened to their shipment. There I met the dirty foreman, who informed me that there were some intruders on the docks late last week. They’d taken out the camera system, so we had no idea who stole the shipment.
I took Jeremy the foreman out back, and showed him exactly what we did to men who slipped up. Cleaning blood off my hands, I speed dialed Roger.
“What do you need?”
“A cleanup crew down at the docks.”
“Is it messy?”
I chuckled. “Isn’t it always?”
We hung up without any more conversation. We never spoke too long when it came to business. It was easiest to keep those calls short, just in case. I headed home after laying a towel down on the seat of my Ferrari.
I’d burn these clothes when I got in.
Tiffany was laying down, when I got back in the house. Her hand was resting on her belly, with a book on birthing laid open on her chest. It was an adorable picture she made. Before touching her, I headed into the bathroom and stripped off all my clothes.
I stood in the shower, cleaning off until the water ran from red until clear. I dried off my body before wrapping the towel around my waist. Once I stepped out of the shower, I bent forward and grabbed the clothes along with my shoes. I took them outside, uncaring of the chilly air, and dropped them in the burn bin. Then I grabbed the matches right next to it and set them ablaze.
I walked away, knowing that the men would put out the fire before too long. Once the evidence was all gone, they would bury the ashes in the woods behind the property. I headed inside and picked up my lovely bride. She sighed in her sleep and cuddled up to my neck. I laid her down in our bed and lifted her shirt. She was exhausted, so she didn’t even move.
I whispered a short nursery rhyme I would tell our child every night after Tiffany went to bed. I planned on singing our baby songs, and whispering great things to her belly everytime I could. It was the way we could bond. I felt as if my child would grow stronger, just by listening to the sound of my own voice.
After a while, the baby’s flutters slowed down and I knew they were resting for the night. I wrapped a hand around Tiffany’s belly, engulfing it in its entirety. Another way of protecting my child. My heir. My everything was in this bed with me, and I would never forget the precious gift she was bestowing to me.
This has been the most beneficial arrangement I have ever made. I knew that one day Tiffany would care for me. It was just a matter of time. Her heart was soft like that. Sure, she was a mouthy brat, but at the end of the day there was kindness inside of her.
It was one of the many things that I loved about her.