Page 19 of Bound Vows (Empire City Syndicate #3)
Andrei
Watching three of my most trusted lieutenants question my judgment while my bride changes out of her wedding dress upstairs proves that even matrimonial bliss comes with obstacles.
It’s not the first time they’ve expressed their disapproval, but now that the deal has been sealed, they seem especially interested in voicing their objections.
“The marriage was a mistake,” Denis announces from his position near the study’s fireplace, and his scarred face screws up as if to emphasize his point. “Marrying into the Mastroni family makes you vulnerable to manipulation and betrayal.”
“We’ve been through this, boys. The marriage provides legitimacy and political cover for our expansion into Italian territories,” I reply from behind my desk, pouring vodka for myself and deliberately not offering any to my ungrateful subordinates.
“Maya’s cooperation ensures smooth transitions rather than bloody wars. ”
Alexei snickers and shakes his head. “Boss, with respect, you’re thinking with your dick instead of your brain. This woman has you twisted around her finger.”
I set down my glass and fix him with a stare that has made men twice his size reconsider their life choices. “Explain.”
“You’ve given her access to sensitive information, allowed her to communicate with her family, and now you’ve legally bound yourself to someone whose primary loyalty will always be to her blood relatives.
” Alexei gestures toward the window where wedding guests are still departing.
“Half the families at today’s ceremony are probably planning how to exploit this weakness. ”
I drain my vodka and reach for the bottle.
“The only weakness I see is my organization’s inability to recognize strategic advantages when they’re presented.
Maya’s ability to weasel intelligence out of our competition has already proven invaluable.
Her family connections provide access to territories we’ve spent years trying to penetrate. ”
“And she’ll use that remarkable ability to gather intelligence against you, Andrei,” Katarina interrupts from the doorway and enters without invitation. “Every conversation she has with her brother is another opportunity to compromise our security. The more she sees, the more she will relay.”
“Maya’s communications have been monitored and controlled according to specific parameters. Her cooperation has been exemplary.”
“Her cooperation has been an act designed to lower your guard.” Katarina snickers and adds, “She’s playing a longer game than you realize, Andrei. This marriage gives her access to everything we’ve built.”
“And what would you recommend, Katarina? Annulment? Divorce? Perhaps an unfortunate accident that makes me a widower before the honeymoon? Or maybe you have alternative suggestions for how I should handle my personal life.” I lean back in my chair and study her face, searching for signs of the jealousy I know drives her objections.
“I’m suggesting you remember that Elena died because you underestimated your enemies’ willingness to target the people you care about.” Katarina’s voice drops to a whisper. “And this time, you’ve invited the threat into your home.”
The mention of Elena’s name lands like a bullet to my chest, and I watch my lieutenants’ faces as they survey the damage. Katarina has just crossed a line that few people survive, but she’s not entirely wrong.
“Elena died because I failed to anticipate my enemies’ tactics.” I stand and move to the window. “Maya’s presence in my life creates different risks that require different solutions.”
“Such as?” Denis asks.
“Such as ensuring that anyone who threatens her discovers the consequences of targeting what belongs to me.” I turn back to face my subordinates, noting how they subconsciously step away from the menace in my tone.
“Maya’s safety is now a matter of organizational security.
Threats against her will be treated as threats against me. ”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Alexei argues. “You’re compromising operational security for personal attachment. This marriage has created a blind spot that will get us all killed.”
My phone rings before I can respond. I answer immediately, already knowing the news won’t be good. I should be consummating my marriage right now; no one would dare call me if it wasn’t an emergency.
“We have a problem, boss,” Anatoli, one of my security leads, barks out. “The warehouse in Queens is on fire. Multiple explosions. Looks like a coordinated attack.”
“Casualties?”
“Six dead, twelve injured. Someone hit us during the shift change when security was lightest.” Anatoli pauses, and I hear sirens in the background. “This wasn’t random, boss. They knew when and where to strike.”
“Who?” I demand.
“Intelligence suggests the Gallo organization, possibly working with Chicago muscle. They moved fast and organized like they had inside information about our operations.”
I disconnect the call without a word and look at my subordinates, who are trying very hard not to appear smug about being proven right. “The Gallo family declared war on us minutes after my wedding reception.”
“How convenient,” Katarina observes. “They attack the same day you marry into an allied Italian family. Almost like someone encouraged them.”
“Almost like they’re testing our response to see if marriage has made me weak.” I walk to my desk and retrieve a phone reserved for giving orders that require immediate and permanent solutions. “Anatoli, I want Christopher Gallo’s son taken from his bus stop in the morning.”
“Boss, he’s just a kid?—”
“He’s leverage. Take him to a safe house and await further instructions.” I end the call and look at my lieutenants, who stare at me with varying degrees of surprise and approval. “Anyone else want to question whether marriage has made me soft?”
“That’s not soft,” Denis admits with grudging respect. “That’s fucking brutal.”
I pour another drink and take a shaky breath. “The Gallo family wanted to test my resolve. They’ll discover that some tests have permanent consequences.”
“What about the boy’s father?” Alexei asks. “Christopher is not going to?—”
“He’ll surrender every asset his family controls.
” I finish my drink and set the glass down with enough force to crack the crystal.
“I want the warehouse attack traced back to its source. Every person involved, every dollar spent, and every phone call made. Then, I want those people to disappear in ways that make their families grateful for closed-casket funerals. Once that’s done, we’ll return the boy to his mother, unharmed. ”
“Now you’re talking.”
I walk to the wall safe and retrieve files containing detailed intelligence on every family that attended today’s ceremony. “How many of our wedding guests do you think knew about tonight’s attack?”
“Most of them,” Katarina answers without missing a beat. “The timing wasn’t coincidental. Someone wanted to test whether the marriage had changed your priorities.”
“Then they’ll discover that marriage has expanded my reasons for brutality rather than diminishing them.” I spread the files across my desk and begin reviewing family structures. “Maya’s safety is now tied to my reputation. Anyone who threatens her threatens everything I’ve built.”
“Which brings us back to the original problem,” Alexei points out. “Maya’s family has reached out to other organizations, offering territorial concessions in exchange for military support.”
I click my tongue in acknowledgment. “Max Mastroni is building a coalition. The question is whether he’s planning rescue operations or revenge campaigns.”
“Does it matter?” Katarina scoffs. “Either way, his activities represent a threat to your authority and Maya’s usefulness as a political asset.”
“It matters because Maya’s value extends beyond political considerations.” I close the files and look at my lieutenants, who are trying to read the implications of my statement. “Her skills make her an asset.”
“Those skills also make her dangerous if she decides to use them against us,” Denis observes.
“Which is why our honeymoon will take place at the mountain safe house rather than some tropical paradise.” I walk to the window and watch the last of the wedding guests disappear into the night.
“Isolation, a controlled environment, and enough security to repel a small army. Maya will have time to adjust to her new circumstances without outside interference.”
“For how long?” Alexei asks.
“Until I’m convinced that her loyalty to me exceeds her loyalty to her family.” I turn back to my subordinates. “Maya’s cooperation has been impressive, but cooperation under duress is different from genuine partnership. The mountain location will provide clarity about her true intentions.”
“And if she fails your test?” Katarina questions with a hiked-up brow.
“I’ll deal with that situation if it arises. But I suspect Maya will prove more adaptable than any of you expect. She’s survived in this world by being smart, ruthless, and opportunistic. Those qualities serve my interests as much as her family’s. Does anything else require discussion?”
I lock the files in the safe and check my watch. “Maya’s presence in my life creates additional motivations for brutality, not fewer. Anyone who mistakes marriage for weakness will discover their error permanently.”
“When do you leave for the mountain?” Alexei asks.
“Tomorrow morning. The sooner Maya adjusts to her new circumstances, the sooner we can focus on expanding operations rather than defending them.” I walk toward the door, already thinking about the honeymoon that will determine whether my new wife becomes a partner or a beautiful liability.
“Katarina, coordinate with security to ensure the mountain facility is prepared. Denis, oversee the Benedetti response. Alexei, continue monitoring Max Mastroni’s coalition-building. ”
“And if the coalition moves against us while you’re away?” Katarina asks.
“Then they’ll discover that my absence doesn’t mean my operations have become vulnerable.”
As I leave the study and head upstairs to find my new wife, one thought dominates my mind: The mountain safe house will provide the perfect environment to determine whether Maya Mastroni can become Maya Volkov, or whether I’ll need to find permanent solutions for the complications she represents.
The honeymoon will be educational for both of us.