Page 36 of Bride of the Bratva King (Blood & Bride #1)

Chapter thirty-two

The Legacy

A lexei

The USB drive arrives on a Tuesday morning, six weeks after the twins' baptism, delivered by federal courier with a note from Agent Mariana Castillo.

Mr. Morozov—Viktor's final gift to his sister. I thought she should have this before you make your decision about the future.

I turn the small device over in my hands, knowing it contains whatever evidence Viktor compiled before his death. The information that could reform our world or destroy it, depending on how we choose to use it.

"What is it?" Mila asks from the nursery doorway, Viktor sleeping in her arms while Katya naps in her crib.

"Viktor's inheritance. The real one."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything he discovered about corruption in law enforcement, political connections to organized crime, financial networks that span legitimate and illegitimate businesses."

Her expression shifts to sharp attention. "How much information?"

"According to Agent Castillo, enough to bring down three sitting judges, two federal prosecutors, and at least a dozen high-ranking police officials."

"And she just gave it to us?"

"She gave it to you. With a note suggesting we consider our options carefully."

"What options?"

I settle into the rocking chair beside her, close enough to see Viktor's peaceful sleeping face. Almost four months old now, gaining weight and personality every day. The heir to everything I've built, and possibly the heir to something much bigger.

"We could turn it over to the FBI and let them clean house," I explain. "Cooperate fully, provide testimony, help them build cases against everyone Viktor identified."

"In exchange for?"

"Immunity for our organization. Protection for our family. Legitimacy for Viktor and Katya's inheritance."

"And the other option?"

"We use the information ourselves. Selectively leak evidence to destroy our enemies and protect our allies. Maintain control over how the cleanup happens."

"And keep the Morozov organization in the shadows."

"Keep the Morozov organization exactly where it is now, but safer and more powerful than ever."

Mila shifts Viktor to her shoulder, her expression thoughtful. "What does Dmitri think?"

"Dmitri thinks we should burn the drive and pretend it never existed."

"And you?"

"I think our children deserve better than inheriting a criminal empire."

"Even if that criminal empire has been your family's legacy for three generations?"

"Especially then. Viktor and Katya should have choices I never had."

"They'll have choices either way. The question is what kind of world they'll make those choices in."

I can see her working through the implications, weighing the benefits and risks of each path. My brilliant wife, whose mind works like a strategic computer when she's analyzing complex problems.

"There's a third option," she says finally.

"Which is?"

"We take over legitimate law enforcement from the inside."

"Explain."

"Think about it strategically. Viktor identified corrupt officials, but he also identified clean ones. People like Agent Castillo who are trying to do the right thing but lack resources and political support."

"And?"

"And what if those clean officials suddenly had access to unlimited funding, sophisticated intelligence networks, and protection from retaliation?"

"You're suggesting we create a shadow law enforcement agency."

"I'm suggesting we create a better law enforcement agency. One that's not beholden to political interests or budget constraints."

"Using criminal resources to fund legitimate justice."

"Using our resources to fund effective justice."

The idea is brilliant, audacious, and completely insane. It's also exactly the kind of solution Viktor would have loved—using the system against itself to create something better.

"The logistics would be complex," I point out.

"Complex but manageable. We already have financial networks, communication systems, and international connections. We just redirect them toward legitimate purposes."

"And our current business operations?"

"Gradually transition to legal enterprises. Keep the profitable elements, eliminate the criminal ones."

"That could take years."

"Good things usually do."

Viktor chooses that moment to wake up, opening dark eyes that are definitely mine but somehow softer, more curious than calculating. He looks up at me with the kind of trust that makes my chest tight with responsibility.

"What do you think, little man?" I ask him. "Should your papa become a legitimate businessman?"

Viktor makes a soft sound that could mean anything but somehow feels like approval.

"He agrees with me," Mila says with a smile.

"How can you tell?"

"Because he's smart like his mama and practical like his papa. He knows a good plan when he hears one."

"And Katya?"

We both look at our daughter, still napping peacefully in her crib. Even in sleep, she has Mila's stubborn expression, like she's already planning to take on the world.

"Katya will support whatever gives her the most opportunities to boss people around," Mila says fondly.

"She gets that from you."

"She gets that from both of us."

"True."

I stand and move to the window that overlooks our rebuilt gardens. Four months ago, this house was under siege. Now it's a peaceful family home where children laugh and play and grow up surrounded by love.

"There's one more consideration," I say.

"What?"

"Dmitri. He's been running Bratva operations since my father died. This transition would essentially end his career."

"Or give him a new career. Dmitri is brilliant at organization and strategy. Those skills translate to legitimate business."

"And if he doesn't want to transition?"

"Then we help him retire comfortably and find someone who shares our vision."

"That could cause problems with other families."

"It could. Or it could inspire them to make similar changes."

"You're optimistic."

"I'm practical. Change is coming whether we lead it or not. Viktor's evidence, federal investigations, public pressure—the old ways are becoming unsustainable."

"So we get ahead of the change."

"We become the change."

The conversation is interrupted by Katya waking up and immediately demanding attention with the kind of authoritative crying that suggests she's going to be a force of nature when she's older.

"Your daughter is awake," I tell Mila.

"Our daughter has opinions about naptime."

"Our daughter has opinions about everything."

Mila settles Viktor in his crib and picks up Katya, who immediately stops crying and looks around with bright, curious eyes.

"Hello, beautiful girl," Mila murmurs. "Did you have a good nap?"

Katya responds with baby sounds that seem remarkably conversational for a three-month-old.

"She's going to be a talker," I observe.

"She's going to be a leader."

"Like her mother."

"Like both her parents."

We spend the next hour in comfortable family routine—feeding the babies, playing with them on the soft blanket Irina spread on the nursery floor, marveling at every new expression and movement.

"They're growing so fast," Mila says as Viktor grabs onto a soft toy and refuses to let go.

"Too fast."

"Are you ready for them to grow up in the world we're planning to create?"

"I'm ready for them to grow up in a world where they have choices I never had."

"Even if some of those choices take them away from the family business?"

"Especially then."

"And if they choose to follow in our footsteps anyway?"

"Then we make sure they're better at it than we are."

"Better how?"

"More strategic. More ethical. More focused on building things up rather than tearing them down."

"You think we can really do this? Transform everything your family has built?"

"I think we can try. And if we fail, at least Viktor and Katya will know we tried to give them something better."

"We won't fail."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because we're partners. Because we're building this together. Because failure isn't an option when our children's future is at stake."

The certainty in her voice makes something warm unfurl in my chest. This woman who came into my life planning my destruction has become my greatest ally in planning our future.

"So we do this," I say. "We use Viktor's evidence to create something new."

"We do this."

"Partners?"

"Partners."

"In everything?"

"In everything."

Evening comes early in February, and by the time we've finished the twins' bedtime routine, I'm thinking less about Viktor's evidence and more about celebrating the decision we've made together.

"Come here," I tell Mila as she emerges from the nursery after the final feeding.

"Where?"

"Our room. I want to show you how much I appreciate having a partner who's brilliant enough to reinvent our entire world."

"Is that what I did?"

"That's exactly what you did."

Our bedroom feels like a sanctuary after the intensity of planning our future. Private, intimate, filled with the kind of connection that makes everything else possible.

"You realize what we're committing to," I say as I begin undressing her with deliberate care. "Years of careful transition, constant vigilance, building something that's never been built before."

"I realize we're committing to giving our children the best possible future."

"Even if it means completely changing who we are?"

"We're not changing who we are. We're becoming who we were always meant to be."

"And who is that?"

"Partners. Equals. People who use power to build instead of destroy."

When I kiss her, it's with the hunger of a man who's just been given permission to dream bigger than he ever thought possible. She responds with equal fire, her hands working at my clothes with urgent efficiency.

"I love your mind," I murmur against her throat as I map the body I know so well. "I love the way you think, the way you see possibilities I never imagined."

"I love your strength," she gasps as my mouth moves lower. "The way you're willing to change everything for our children."

"For our family."

"For our future."

When we come together, it's with the passionate intensity of two people who've just committed to reinventing their world. She moves above me with confident grace, taking what she needs while giving everything I want.

"You're incredible," I tell her as she sets a rhythm that makes coherent thought impossible. "Strong and brilliant and absolutely unstoppable."

"We're unstoppable," she corrects. "Together, we're unstoppable."

"Together, we're going to change everything."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The climax builds with sweet intensity, and when she comes apart above me, it's with my name on her lips and absolute trust in her eyes. I follow her over the edge, pulling her down for a kiss that tastes like promises and possibility.

Afterward, we lie tangled together in contentment, planning the details of our transformation while listening to the soft sounds of our children sleeping through the monitor.

"Viktor would be proud," Mila says quietly.

"Of what we're building?"

"Of what you're becoming. The man he always believed you could be."

"I'm becoming that man because of you."

"You were already that man. You just needed someone to help you see it."

"I needed you."

"And I needed you."

"And Viktor and Katya need both of us."

"They're going to have both of us. Forever."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The future stretches ahead of us, uncertain but bright with possibility.

We're going to transform a criminal empire into something legitimate and powerful.

We're going to use Viktor's evidence to clean up law enforcement from the inside.

We're going to give our children choices and opportunities their parents never had.

And we're going to do it all together, as partners in everything that matters.

The legacy we leave Viktor and Katya won't be money or territory or fear.

It will be hope.