Page 158 of Deceptive Vows

She reaches out and touches my cheek. “But you are still my little angel. Sometimes, it’s the little things we remember from our past that count.”

I nod. “You are right.”

“How are things at home?” she asks tentatively as the worry returns to her face.

“Hard.”

“You love Adriana,” she notes. It’s been weird hearing that name now, and stranger knowing I’ll always have to keep that secret. But I don’t have to lie about my love.

“I do.”

“Then let’s hope this gets resolved soon so you can be together again.” She taps my shoulder. I don’t make her any wiser about my plans.

“Yes.”

“These are dangerous times, so I agree with you sending her away. It’s the right thing to do. What happened to her guard will deeply affect her, and until we figure out what’s going on, we can’t risk anybody’s safety.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

The door opens to our left, and I turn to see Ivan. He stops mid-stride when he notices me and puts that smug-as-fuck expression on his face.

“It’s time to get seated,” he informs us.

“Thank you, dear,” Sophia replies.

I don’t answer. I just follow Sophia when she walks ahead of me.

We enter the hall, which is now full with the members who make up the New York quarter of the Bratva.

Ivan and I walk down to the front of the room, where our father is seated at the head like the judge, jury, and executioner.

He looks worse tonight. Paler. And his eyes are duller than usual, like the light of the living has already left him.

There are two stands before his chair. I stand on the right and Ivan to the left. Sophia sits in the seat across the room but in front of the Brigadiers. The room goes silent, and Father stands.

It’s time.

As I look at my father, I cast my mind back to how he was twenty years ago. Strong and defiant, ruthless, merciless. You’d know all that just from looking at him.

It was around that time when I knew I wanted to be like him, and I knew I didn’t need to be the Pakhan to accomplish that. If I can accept that, I can accept him choosing my brother.

That doesn’t change anything about what I plan to do to Ivan.

“My brothers and my dear sister,” Father begins, giving Sophia a quick glance, to which she dips her head. “We gather tonight in our numbers to witness the dawn of a new era. A new era of leadership. In the Vory, we honor the code that was set by our forefathers, and we’re ruthless bastards when it comes to conquering wealth and expanding what we already possess. The Pakhan is chosen to lead you to victory the way a general leads his army. Both my sons are worthy to fulfill the role of general, and they can both live up to everything you would expect from a Baranov leader. But only one can carry the title.”

He pauses for a beat and glances from me to Ivan. When his gaze settles on Ivan, I automatically think he’s chosen him, but then he looks at me, and his eyes soften.

“This has been an exceedingly difficult decision. Truly difficult.” He focuses on my brother and me. “I want you both to know that I appreciate everything you have done for me and the Bratva.”

“Thank you, Father,” Ivan and I both say and dip our heads.

“You are welcome.” He brings a hand to his heart and looks paler but lifts his head a little higher as he addresses the men again. “The man I have chosen to be your new leader is my son Mikhail Dmitriyev.”

I hear the words fall from his lips, but they don’t quite register in my mind until a few seconds pass.

I look at Ivan. I don’t know what I expect, but it’s not that nonchalant expression on his face, like he doesn’t care. I know he does. He would have had to, to carry out everything that’s happened so far.

The men stand and cheer, and my asshole brother steps toward me with his hand outstretched to shake mine.