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Now, I’m being treated as an equal with an underworld sultan.

After another few minutes, Vanya grains her stoic composure, raising her head and asking the main question on my mind. I wait, letting her take the lead here.

“Where does this leave Pyotr? The Volk? Us?”

“First, it leaves him with a choice. He may preserve the Volk. Keep his little kingdom. If he will agree to relinquish the footholds I already have all over Russia. Give me the rest of the Bratva.”

“He will never?—”

“Please. Allow me to finish. I believe he is a wise man. And a reasonable one. As for the two of you, I would be interested to hear your take.”

“I would use us as leverage.”

“Ah, a classic move.” He nods.

“If we are talking classics, I would almost expect you to imprison Vanya and make her your bride to solidify your claim to the Bratva,” I offer, immediately regretting it as Van hammers me with a glare.

“I dare anyone to try.” Vanya growls. She is genuinely terrifying.

“Alas, I have no need for such theatrical gestures.” He smiles almost apologetically as I point to everything around us and give him a skeptical look. “Perhaps I do enjoy a bit of the drama. But it would be without honor. And I have wives. Money. What I seek, is to preserve the black market, so to speak.”

“And what does taking most of that market in the North do for you?”

“Access. Consolidation. You see, the key organizations of the criminal world have been diminishing over the decades. Waning. Fading into the background. But this is a way of life that is necessary to the way the world works. So someone must preserve the underworld. Who better than me?”

“I can think of a few governments that might disagree.”

“Which is the next step in my conquest. Once I hold the North, I can begin my maneuvers on the West.”

He means my family’s assets. With Dom in prison, with Alessandro missing, presumed dead. There’s no one to stand in his way.

“With that sort of powerbase, you could challenge the biggest fish in the sea…” Van huffs a sigh of disbelief.

“The Triad. Yes. Times are changing. The world is evolving. My lands, they are secure. But the enterprises in the East, they are growing bold. Careless. Violent.”

“And you’re not?” I scoff, risking his offense.

“They are like a blunt weapon. The Mocro are a blade in the dark. And I am a sound mind guiding that blade. Keeping the balance.”

“Forgive me if I do not trust your hand to remain steady.” Vanya doesn’t hold back, giving him one of her looks.

“Trust this, then. You are free to go. Return to Russia, find your uncle. Relay my wishes to him. I want peace. This does not have to be a long, bloody war.”

“As long as he joins you.”

“Very simple, you see? Given with a token of good faith that I did not harm his adopted daughter when given the chance and allowed her to return home.”

I snap my mouth shut at that one. He definitely harmed her. But I know what he means.

“And if he does not comply?”

“Then he will join the other leaders in the grave.” Adil stops, turning back toward us as we reach the exit to the gardens, a door leading back inside. It’s clear we are at the end of our meeting too. “It has been an enlightening experience meeting you, Miss Sokolov. Ahmed will see you both out.”

“What about me?” I blurt out.

“A nostalgic encounter. You are so much like them, Giancarlo and Aleesandro. Less refined, perhaps. But do not mistake your situation. You are here because of a favor asked, and because I know that Miss Sokolov would not have met with me had I killed you. Honorable, your loyalty to one another. As to why you are being allowed to leave? Call it goodwill toward old friends. Do not push your luck.”

And with that, he dismisses us, turning, pressing his hands together and bowing lightly with that faint sinister grin on his face.