Page 8

G rigorii’s cryptic text had come an hour ago, and these emergency meetings only meant one thing - something threatened their empire.

Nikon stood in the doorway of the empty building, twenty-two floors above the city. Through plastic-covered windows, city lights mixed with the harsh glow of a few construction lamps hanging from bare beams. He studied the dark shapes of his three brothers in the unfinished concrete room of Alexei’s latest office development project.

Grigorii sat ramrod straight in his tracksuit, worn trainers crossed at the ankles, scarred hands resting on thighs thick with muscle earned through years of violence. Even relaxed, his posture held the coiled tension of a man who’d spent some two decades defending his family’s business. The eldest Matvei brother wore his battered athletic wear like armor, each scuff and stain a battle scar from keeping his younger brothers alive.

Alexei, on the other hand, sat with perfect posture, every movement precise and planned. His custom suit, polished shoes, and platinum watch painted the picture of success. Like his manicured hands, everything about the younger twin’s appearance was carefully chosen to express “ respectable businessman .” But it was all part of the mask he wore to hide their family’s true business.

Next to Alexei sat his twin, Andrey, who lounged in expensive streetwear with a swagger that screamed attitude. Unlike his refined twin brother, Andrey loved to show off his wealth; from his flashy diamond watch to his rare sneakers. He carried himself like someone who didn’t care what anyone thought. Money hadn’t made Andrey careful like his twin; instead, it had made him bold and reckless in his own dangerous way.

The three other faces of the Matvei criminal empire were waiting to pass judgment on the one thing Nikon couldn’t bring himself to treat as just business.

Reuben .

As Nikon crossed the makeshift meeting space, his eyes were drawn to the single vodka bottle sat atop a rusted metal folding table, its weathered legs uneven against the raw concrete floor.

It was their father’s favorite vodka - a premium Russian brand. Grigorii never held these meetings without it. The bottle served as a reminder of how far they’d come since their parents died, leaving twenty-year-old Grigorii to raise his three little brothers on his own.

The sight of it made Nikon’s jaw clench. His oldest brother only reached for their father’s vodka when difficult decisions needed making.

Grigorii opened the bottle with his scarred hands and poured a drink. He slid the glass across the table to Nikon. The simple act was both an offer and a warning. When their father’s vodka appeared, it meant serious family business ahead.

“You got another bank in your pocket, Alex?” Andrey’s voice cut through Nikon’s thoughts, sharp with something that might have been envy. His younger brother adjusted his thousand-dollar sneakers, a nervous tick he’d never managed to shake. “Tell me, does your newest bank manager friend know what really flows through those real estate developments of yours? Though I suppose we wouldn’t know - you seem too ashamed to be seen with your own brothers these days.”

The barb struck its target. Alexei’s diplomatic mask cracked, just for a moment. “We have the same face, you idiot. I’m seen with you whether I like it or not.”

The harsh words cut deep, pointing out a painful truth - these identical twins led very different lives. Alexei cleaned dirty money through his business deals, while Andrey’s path was marked by violence and death.

“Enough.” Grigorii didn’t raise his voice. He never had to. The same tone that had settled squabbling ten-year-old twins and a rebellious teenage Nikon, still commanded instant obedience today. Grigorii’s hands wrapped around his glass, the vodka catching the construction lamp light through the tumbler.

Nikon took his seat, pausing a moment before measuring each word carefully. This was the moment he’d been preparing for since Grigorii’s text. “Our poker room operation picked up some interesting intelligence about the port authority last week.”

The muscles in Grigorii’s jaw tightened. His oldest brother already knew where this was going.

“Detective Wallis got chatty at one of the high-stakes tables. Had quite a lot to say about upcoming customs inspections.” Nikon kept his tone neutral, professional. “He also had an interesting list of officials under internal affairs investigation.”

Grigorii’s knuckles whitened around his glass. “And which one of your people got this info out of Wallis?” Grigorii released his glass, spreading his hands on the table. “You know how we operate, Nikon. I already have my own trusted contacts at the port authority. Besides, each of us manages our own territory - your gambling rooms, Alexei’s real estate, Andrey’s distribution networks. We don’t cross those lines without very good reason.”

Nikon met his brother’s gaze. “You think I don’t know that? Every contact you’ve built, every official you’ve turned - they’re the foundation of our shipping operations.”

“This is what our whole business is built on,” Grigorii corrected, his voice carrying the weight of decades spent protecting their family’s interests. “Each brother runs his own part of the business. We all agreed to this rule. It’s how we’ve stayed alive and together as a family.”

Nikon clenched his teeth at what his brother really meant. Reuben was not family. They weren’t sure if they could trust him yet. And now he was collecting information that could affect Grigorii’s smuggling business.

Nikon’s oldest brother had been protecting this family too long to trust information from channels he didn’t control.

Shipping containers from Eastern Europe. Weapons that could make or break Grigorii’s expansion plans. The stakes were too high for blind faith in clever reads at a poker table.

Andrey shifted forward, designer jacket rustling. “Speaking of your poker rooms...” His lip curled. “Let’s talk about the pretty boy who’s suddenly handling sensitive information.”

Andrey spoke with the same bitterness he’d shown when Reuben first showed up. This wasn’t just about that stolen cash anymore - it was about authority being undermined, about Andrey’s portion of the empire being used without his permission.

Nikon kept his expression neutral even as his chest tightened. “Reuben’s proven his value.”

“Has he?” Grigorii’s eyes never left Nikon’s face. “Or has he proven something else entirely?”

Nikon felt his neck grow hot with anger. Everyone knew he treated Reuben differently; giving him special treatment, keeping him safe, bending the rules. Nothing stayed secret from Grigorii for long. His big brother had heard all the whispers about this weakness in their family.

“Word is getting around. Everyone’s talking about how the great Nikon Matvei looks at him.” Andrey’s sneer carried all the subtlety of a bullet to the chest. “Even the street soldiers are whispering about how you’re wrapped around some pretty boy’s finger- “

“You’re out of line.” Nikon’s words came out low, dangerous.

“Am I?” Andrey leaned back, spreading his arms. “Tell me, Nikon, when was the last time you let someone get this close so quickly? When was the last time you trusted information from someone who isn’t family?”

Alexei cleared his throat, always the mediator. “Perhaps we could consider a compromise.”

Three pairs of eyes turned to the younger twin. He straightened his already immaculate tie, a habit from boardroom negotiations.

“My newest development project could use some... creative financing.” His diplomatic smile didn’t reach his eyes. “And I have a particularly interesting bank manager who might be worth meeting. One of my contacts at the Bureau mentioned that this bank manager has been quite... cooperative with their investigations lately.”

Understanding dawned slowly. Alexei’s meaning was clear - a bank manager playing both sides would make the perfect trap.

“A test, then.” Grigorii nodded slowly, approval warming his stern features. “If Nikon’s man is playing us or wearing a wire, then him meeting with a known FBI informant...”

“We’ll catch him right away if he’s lying.” Alexei’s smile turned cruel. “And if he really is on our side? Even better. Once he helps us clean the money, he’ll be officially complicit in the family business. He can’t turn back after that.”

The elegant brutality of it was pure Alexei. A test that either proved loyalty or ensured silence - permanently.

Nikon’s fingers twitched toward his glass. The thought of Reuben in danger made his chest tight, but the strategy was sound. More than that - it was necessary. He couldn’t keep fighting this war on two fronts, couldn’t keep defending Reuben to his family while still harboring his own doubts.

“Two weeks.” Grigorii’s voice cut through Nikon’s internal struggle. “Alexei, get your bank manager in position. We need this done within two weeks.”

Two weeks. The timeline wasn’t arbitrary - Grigorii had weapons coming into the port next month. Before those weapons arrived, they needed to know if they could trust Reuben’s information.

“I’ll oversee it personally.” Nikon kept his voice steady, professional. Not revealing how his heart hammered against his ribs at the thought of what failure would mean.

Andrey’s hand drifted to his gun, a gesture that wasn’t lost on anyone. “And if the pretty boy fails?”

“Then I’ll handle it.” The words tasted like ash in Nikon’s mouth. “Personally.”

Grigorii studied him for a long moment, scarred hands still wrapped around his vodka glass. Testing, measuring, the way he had when Nikon was seventeen and had just made his first kill for the family.

“Your heart’s involved.” Not a question. Never a question with Grigorii. “That makes you dangerous. Makes him dangerous.”

“My loyalty isn’t in question.” Nikon met his oldest brother’s gaze steadily.

“No.” Grigorii’s lips flattened into a grimace. “But your judgment might be.”

The truth of it stung. Nikon had always been the controlled one, the strategic one. The brother who could separate business from pleasure, who could bed men and discard them by morning without a second thought.

But Reuben... Reuben was different. Had been different from that first night in the poker room, reading people like books, and moving through their world with intelligence that was both fascinating and dangerous.

Alexei rose smoothly, refilling each of their glasses with practiced grace. “To family.” He raised his glass in their traditional toast. “And to successful tests.”

The others stood, a ritual as old as their empire. Crystal tapped against crystal as the four men clinked their glasses.

Nikon’s mind, however, was already racing through contingencies, mapping out ways to protect Reuben while proving his loyalty.

The brothers ended their meeting quickly, each moving in their own way. Grigorii walked to the stairs first, his steps calm and steady. Andrey followed, strutting with his usual tough-guy walk. But Alexei stayed back, fixing his tie, though it didn’t need it.

“You know this is necessary.” Alexei’s voice softened, losing its boardroom polish as he leaned closer. “Not just for the family, but for you.”

Nikon’s jaw worked. “I know.”

“Do you?” Alexei studied him with the same face that had closed million-dollar deals.

“He’s different.” The words came out rougher than intended.

“That’s what worries us.” Alexei’s fingers drummed against his platinum watch, a rare crack in his usual composure. “Different is dangerous in our world, Nikon. Different gets people killed.”

The truth of it settled like lead in Nikon’s stomach. He’d spent years building walls around his heart, using men and discarding them before anything really could develop. Safer that way. Cleaner.

But Reuben had slipped past those defenses somehow, with his sharp mind and sharper observations. With the way he could read a room like Nikon read ledgers, finding weak points and pressure spots with ease.

“The test will work.” Alexei’s hand settled briefly on his shoulder. “One way or another.”

Then Alexei was gone too, his footsteps fading away down the concrete stairwell, leaving Nikon alone with empty glasses and his father’s vodka.

Two weeks. Two weeks to either secure Reuben’s place in their world or sign his death warrant.

Nikon wondered which would be harder - proving Reuben’s loyalty to his family, or proving to himself that his heart wasn’t already compromised.