Page 2 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

T wenty-two years later…

Mikhail

“That should be you, son. This should be your wedding day.” My father’s booming voice held an air of chastisement.

“That would take me finding a bride,” I answered, attempting to hide my disdain.

“You’re not getting any younger and you need to consider your future, not only as Pakhan, but also the importance of producing an heir.”

My father meant to the great Dmitriyev throne. While I was illustrious leader of the Bratva after having brought the family into a new century, he was stuck in the old ways as taught to him by his father and grandfather. Archaic institutions I wanted no part of.

“Go enjoy your daughter’s wedding, Pops.”

“Very well, son, but at some point, you’ll need to heed my words. The Bratva needs your leadership.”

As if by not marrying I was somehow a lesser man.

I watched him walk away, noticing my brother was sauntering closer, his grin indicating that he knew exactly what our father had been discussing.

When he slid beside me, we both kept our attention drawn to the dance floor where our baby sister was enjoying her moment in the limelight.

“You know how to throw a great wedding reception, brother,” he finally said, as if the subject was any better than the insistence I marry.

I casually glanced at Kazimir, chuckling under my breath. I was standing on the outskirts of the huge ballroom, watching the festivities unfold. There were far too many sparkly things and balloons for my taste. “That’s easy when you have an entire resort at your disposal.”

“Yes, the renowned Ecstasy Resort and Casino, recently given a five-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide . Quite the accomplishment.” My younger brother had been swilling bourbon since arriving at the venue. Not that I blamed him. The circus of a wedding had been difficult to swallow.

Maybe I was the only one who understood the alliance between my sister and an Italian prince was an abomination, but I had good reason to feel that way. It wasn’t every day that two enemies were merged, or I should say forced to coexist peacefully because of a love story.

The fact my little sister had fallen in love with a gruff, overbearing son of a bitch from the Costa Cosa Nostra would be considered a farce, a nightmare had it not come true. While I adored Lilia, her treachery burned deep within my soul.

I remained on guard, always on edge. Always the enforcer of the family even though we’d moved on from using violence on a daily basis.

Our father, Boris Dmitriyev, had commanded every family member to be in attendance.

That included my uncle Ivan and my cousins, all of whom were enjoying themselves thoroughly.

They were on one side of the ballroom, the Costa family on the other.

Bad blood remained between the families from the days when the Bratva had arrived.

The glory days, as my father consistently reminded his children.

The days when drugs had flowed freely without fear of police interference.

When entertainment wasn’t whitewashed with political stances and controlled by huge corporations.

And the days when killing in the streets had been a daily activity.

That was then. This was now.

The new world of the Dmitriyev Empire had evolved into a highly successful billion-dollar corporation.

So had the Costa family, although they’d retreated to Reno, leaving Las Vegas to the Russians.

We’d defeated them and the Irish, which was another reason I didn’t like to share in our prosperity.

However, we relied on tight contracts as prepared by our attorneys, not by use of force.

Except on rare occasions.

Right now, I felt like using it, forced to remind myself the bad blood was now tempered, even more so by the nuptials.

“You seem jealous,” I threw out. “Perhaps you should spend more time marketing Genesis than sucking down booze.” My brother managed a sister resort only a few miles away from Ecstasy. Both held prime real estate and excellent reputations.

I intended on keeping it that way.

“Oh, come on. This is a celebration.” Kazimir shook his head. “Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find a wife. At least that will get our father off your back.” His laugh annoyed the hell out of me.

Given I was the firstborn, my brother wasn’t subject to the staunch requirements that had followed the family from Moscow.

I should be married with four kids by now.

I might be Pakhan, but the old ways should be dead and buried.

“Not a chance, brother. I’m not husband material.

Dad can push all he wants, but anyone daring to agree to marriage would soon learn I’m a sadistic fuck. ”

“You could marry in name only. That way you’d still manage to enjoy your playboy lifestyle.”

“I think you have me confused with the rest of our family.” Kazimir would never settle down, but he was under no duress to do so. There wasn’t a month that went by when our father hadn’t reminded me of my testament to the old ways.

“At least you don’t have blood on your clothes. I can’t believe you handled an issue right before the wedding. You were even late getting to the goddamn church.”

“I also wasn’t a member of the wedding party so what does it matter?

Plus, I always keep an extra change of clothes in the car.

You know that.” Laughing, I tossed a look in his direction.

The issue had been an employee who’d been stealing from us for months.

It had taken careful surveillance to determine the culprit.

While I might not be the man I’d once been, tempering my anger and my reactions when possible, anyone caught betraying us was dealt with harshly and swiftly.

He’d learned a valuable lesson. While he’d no longer be able to work as a blackjack dealer given his amputee status, he was alive. I’d spared him the ultimate sacrifice.

“You barely managed to stop by the rehearsal dinner.”

“Someone needs to run the empire.” What he hadn’t realized was that I’d only made a brief appearance at Lilia’s request. She’d been concerned I would start a fight. She’d been right.

“Our beloved Pakhan.”

My reputation within the masses of Las Vegas was one of ruthlessness and perfected business acumen, my wealth providing employment to thousands while also aiding charities.

However, those who knew me best as well as my rivals understood I had a cold, black heart and was capable of extreme violence and bloodshed without a scrap of remorse.

That had kept crime in our resorts and casinos to a minimum and our enemies at bay.

For now.

As I scanned the room noticing at least two dozen guests who I considered on my shit list for one reason or another, celebrating was the last thing on my mind. I was watching carefully, concerned there’d be a disturbance that would destroy my sister’s tentative hold on happiness.

“Try and enjoy the night, Mikhail. We have full control of the alliance.”

“This is just the beginning of a long and arduous ordeal, brother,” I told him. While Giovanni Costa genuinely seemed to care for my sister Lilia, his brothers wore the same expression as I did.

Distrust.

“No, this is the beginning of a profitable alliance. That is if you’d keep your dick in your pants.”

That was my brother’s way of telling me my constant pushback had created strife between the two families.

Their union hadn’t been the product of an arranged marriage, a barbaric yet powerful method of bringing peace between two warring families.

Lilia and Giovanni had secretly been involved for two years. How the fuck hadn’t I known?

Because she’d been allowed to attend law school thousands of miles away, forging a life of her own.

Something else that burned deep within. Perhaps I was more like my father than I cared to admit.

“I’ll try and keep that in mind,” I told him.

“You should since we have a meeting next week. The outcome will set the tone for the entire relationship.”

“How could I forget?” I lifted the glass to my lips, using the opportunity to allow my gaze to drift from one table to another. At least the fucking party was coming to an end. Dozens of guests had already left, others too drunk to remember which partner they’d arrived with.

Thankfully, most were staying in the hotel, although the thought was met with chagrin on my part.

“Mmm… There’s our sweet mother telling the band what to play. She’s fearless.” Kazimir chuckled. “Maybe I need another drink.”

“Perhaps you should sleep off what you’ve already had.”

“You’re no fun any longer, Mikhail. Since you took over the corporation from our dear father, you’ve become a bore.”

Yes, I’d been promoted to CEO. Kazimir was one of two vice presidents, our cousin Vissarian the second, my other brother Alexsey was COO, and so on and so forth.

Yet our father remained on the board of directors.

Still actively involved. Still controlling even though often done from his outside throne at his sprawling estate.

But the person who’d truly run our empire was our mother.

To the rest of the world, she was a queen, beautiful and confident, kind and generous. But we knew the real woman behind the mask.

Tatiana Dmitriyev was a stern dictator with a love of control. Today’s festivities had been no exception. Everything had been required to be perfect. The cake. The fucking fifty thousand dollars’ worth of flowers. My sister’s dress flown in on a redeye from Italy.

The dollars she’d spent on food and beverages could feed the entire population of Las Vegas for a week. Nothing was too good for her baby girl.

“Have a drink. Go mingle. Find a woman to fuck, Mikhail. You haven’t gotten laid in a decade.”

“Unlike you who’s enjoyed a different girl every night. Which one is your choice for the night?”