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“Viktor has seen her. He’s spoken with her. You know what that was when he called her over. It was a threat. Don’t embarrass Anya. His precious Anya… who I don’t want to marry.”

“An alliance is an alliance, some would say.”

“Are you with them now, too?”

She looks at me with an unflinching expression. “I’ve lost a husband and a son. I know how you feel. Neither of them was perfect, but they were mine, ours. Nico, dear child, I just want you to be happy.”

“You’re overreacting. It was just a short conversation.”

“Are you going to make me play matchmaker?”

My response is cut off when Adrian returns, a big grin on his face, powder still on his nose. I could’ve reprimanded him as soon as he brought the bottle of whiskey over. I could’ve put my foot down and ordered him to take it back. But that would’ve been counterproductive. A smart wolf is one who lets his prey bleed.

“Sorry, what were we talking about?”

I cut into my steak. “You were telling me what avenues you’ve made in the laundromats.” I want to know how he is making use of the money from our off brand electronics, and how it's being laundered through local businesses. But I won’t say that openly.

“I’m getting there.”

“Getting there,” I repeat.

“It’s not as easy as…” He stops himself from going on, but what was he going to say?As running dope. As selling sex.“As you make it seem, Nico.”

Now he’s just kissing my ass. “As my consigliere, you have two jobs. Make money. Keep the filth out of the city. Others said it was impossible, Adrian. They said no one could clean up the mess the Brava and my father, and my brother made, the depravity, the evil. But I did.I did.”

Adrian pulls away, looking scared. He tries to hide it. But he can’t. There’s only one way to stop predators from killing the livestock. I have to become a demon even the devil would fear.

“I know.” Adrian swallows. “You okay, Nico?”

No. I want to know what Viktor said to Sienna. I have ever since he called her over to him. It’s a clear sign that he noticed something between us. Or maybe I need to relax. The Russians keep to their territories. But Viktor is getting older. Anya remains unmarried. He’s always wanted me for her.

When I don’t reply, Adrian sighs. “Is that asshole still staring?”

“Which asshole?”

“The Russian.” Adrian picks up his steak knife. “I’m telling you, just say the word.”

“And you’ll… what? Slit Viktor Barinov’s throat in public? With witnesses? For staring? When you want to kill a man, he should never know you were coming, and after, people should either not know it’s you. Or they should be too terrified to seek revenge.”

My mother puts her hand lightly on my arm. It’s a sign I know well. To everyone else, my doting mother is offering me comfort. But in reality, my consigliere, my true second-in-command, is advising me to regulate my emotions.

“Does anyone want coffee?” She asks.

“Sure,” I say.

“I’ll have an Irish coffee,” Adrian replies.

She gestures to the staff… and Sienna walks over. She smiles with that alluring awkwardness that makes her instantly endearing. “The other waiter finished his shift,” she informs us. “So, you’ve got me… if you’ll have me. Ha, bad joke. There’s not really a choice.”

“Oh, Sienna,” Mother says. “This is wonderful. I was going to ask you something.”

“Yeah?”

“She’s here to do her job, Mother.”

But when Gianna has got her mind set on something, it’d take more than a Bratva army to stop her. “Just a quick little question, dear.”

“You sound like the other guy,” Sienna mutters.