53. Second Son
SECOND SON
Iused to have a sense of what to expect when I entered Igor’s office.
Recent events have rendered that ability obsolete.
He’s regularly met with Aleksandr over the past couple of weeks, but the only summons I’ve gotten were so I could torture a spy, then lead the team that dealt with those planning to attack Aleksandr’s residence.
When I enter the room, my father and brother are in their customary positions, seated on either side of the fire. Aleksandr, Victoria, and Ilya are still staying at Serebryanovo even though the immediate threat has been eradicated.
My brother would never admit this, but the plan rattled him.
If one of the men scouting hadn’t been so careless, we would have had no idea the attack was coming.
Alarms and guards—the layers of defense always in place—likely would have offered enough protection.
But a surprise ambush would have resulted in losses on our side.
There’s also the small possibility they could have succeeded in breaching the house.
Neither Igor nor Aleksandr stand as I enter. Or speak. They assess me with eerily similar expressions. Twin sentries, guarding an inner sanctum I’m no longer privy to.
All it took to change the natural order was for me to get married. I’ve been unofficially demoted, shifted to the outside when I was often the decision maker. I’m conflicted how to feel about it.
Part of me realizes it’s for the best—that I was being treated as the future pakhan when, in all likelihood, I’d never be one.
Most of me resents the ongoing lack of trust. Do they truly believe marrying Carina was impulsive? That I took one look at a woman I’d never met before and chose to commit for life?
“How is your shoulder?” Igor asks.
“Fine.” The stitches were taken out three days ago.
He nods. “Good. You’re needed in Chicago. Take Viktor and Misha with you.”
“What happened?”
“Malcolm is being difficult.”
“How so?”
“He’s refusing to communicate with Adrian. Says he’ll only talk to you.”
“Malcolm is paranoid. It took time to earn his trust.”
“It did not take you time.”
“I broke in and replaced his product with an address where we could meet.”
Igor doesn’t smile, but he makes the approving sound he intones anytime he deems I handled a situation well.
“He showed up. We made a deal, and his income doubled the next month. Malcolm values results. Adrian took over a successful partnership. He hasn’t provided Malcolm with anything he didn’t already have access to.”
“Greedy Americans,” is Aleksandr’s contribution. “We could stop working with him. Find someone else.”
I’m not surprised that’s his solution. He put in no effort toward winning Malcolm over and has reaped the rewards ever since we began benefiting from his established network.
Igor glances at me. “What do you think?”
“I think that’s a profitable bridge to burn.”
My father nods. “I agree. You leave in the morning.”
“Wednesday.”
It was one thing to leave Carina for a day. Flying to Chicago, then figuring out a way to get Adrian and Malcolm on the same page? I’ll be gone for four days, minimum. Maybe closer to a week. I need time to make sure everything here will be handled properly.
“Your pet can’t be left alone?” Aleksandr asks.
I head for the door, not waiting for Igor’s dismissal. “When I get back, I’m taking my two weeks.”