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“This will start a war, Pyotr,” Ciro leans over the table, matching my uncle’s stance. “A war on your soil.”

“Net. It is already a war. So I will stop it.”

“How?”

“With a show of unity and strength. Your arrival could not be better timed. I assume you have a means of contacting this Adil Abas?”

“Da,” I answer hesitantly, hoping he will negotiate with the man.

“Then I shall invite him to theevent.”

“What event?” Ciro asks.

“A gala, celebrating our success, our future. Thrown in my honor, and the honor of the fallen. For Matvey. And to crown me as the head of the clans.”

My mind reels at the news, the audacious statement.

“Abas will never stand for this. And we will suffer the consequences.”

“Watch your tone, daughter. I know the consequences better than anyone. And I have the best strategists in the brotherhood designing security for the event, and our force placement moving forward. Remember your place.”

“Yes, Papa.”

“As for Abas…he will beg to negotiate with us once he sees our power. He will beg for forgiveness that we do not wipe him from the face of the Earth. He will see reason when he sees the unified opposition he faces, and he will suffer the consequences if he does not.”

“What’s to say he even comes?” Ciro scoffs, crossing his arms.

I agree, though I know better than to mouth off to Pyotr again. This whole situation is out of control over-the-top.

“Because we captured one of hissons.”

26

CIRO

If you look hard enough, you really can see paint dry.

Especially when you’ve got nothing to do but sit on your hands waiting. Pyotr gave us a very important assignment in the wake of our return.

Rest.

A criminal mastermind king is plotting to take over most of our territories, the entire organization is planning a party to very loudly announce that they are not going to let him, and we are supposed to…relax.

Normally, I’d be all for time alone.

And don’t get me wrong, we took advantage of it. Repeatedly.

Until neither of us could walk.

But Vanya is going stir-crazy now.

Nothing normal seems worth doing. Even though I needed new clothes and the apartment we’re holed up in needed food. Fortunately, we have people for that.

Except for the clothes.

I can’t trust someone else to buy my threads.

“Beats sitting on the couch, right?”