Page 137 of Possess Me

“Don Giovanni Bruni had a daughter that was promised to a Bratva family in Russia many years ago. However, she was killed and Giovanni blamed the Russians. That’s when Marcos, his only other child, knew that he and the woman he’d fallen in love with against his father’s wishes weren’t safe any longer so he ran, changing his name in the process.”

I eyed my father as he told the story. While news about Bruni’s daughter did surprise me, it meant nothing to what was happening. “And it took Don Bruni eighteen years to find his own son.”

“No, about ten, but by then, the deal with the Russians was dead and buried and he witnessed just how happy his son had become.”

“Then why have his own flesh and blood killed?”

“He didn’t,” Ludolf interjected. “From all the intel we’ve found, we believe the Russians did, which was why Giovanni convinced Fallon’s mother that the only way she’d be safe was toreturn to Chicago. At that point, she had no one else to rely on. From what we know, she was given a hefty sum of money to wed Luis, who was Don Bruni’s most trusted man.”

“Hold on here. You’re suggesting to me that she wanted to be married to a fucking monster?”

“She wanted to protect her daughters, Vissarian, and in her mind, marrying him was the only way to make that happen.”

I could tell all of them were serious. Given my family had long since learned never to believe anything at face value, I knew in my bones there was much more to the story. “Megan was away at college.”

“Yes, being watched carefully,” Uncle Boris piped in. “She had security detail on her twenty-four/seven at Don Bruni’s insistence.”

My thoughts immediately drifted to something she’d told me. Perhaps the only reason she’d given about wanting to start a new life. She’d asked if I’d ever had the feeling that everything I did was being watched. She’d refused to elaborate. “She ran away because of the security.”

“Yes. Just like her father.”

“Was she led to Vegas and to me? Was it all a lie?”

My father shook his head. “No, son. Up to that point, we were aware the Brunis existed and of course that at some point in our lives we’d face the Russian monsters we fled in Moscow, but her coming to Vegas was…”

“Karma,” I finished. “You also knew the Russian Bratva found out about Fallon.”

“Yes, they began to put pressure on Bruni again because of his location and his connections. Giovanni wanted her protected at all costs, but his Capo and friend was killed.” Uncle Boris still had a story to tell. I could tell by the way he was watching me, curious as to my reaction.

“By the man’s son.” I glanced at Mikhail, who I could tell was having a very difficult time not taking over the conversation. Because he didn’t know all the details. Why in the fuck keep their children in the dark?

“There is a significant chance Don Bruni does not know. There is proof that Antonio has been working with the Russians for years. He even wore the ink to prove his loyalty.”

I took a deep breath. “A skull with red eyes and a sword.”

“Yes. You are correct. Don Bruni is an arrogant man and believes no one could betray him. Antonio was likely offered significant power to turn on his mentor. However, it would seem the Bratva is very good at making promises that often they do not keep.” Ludolf seemed so certain of himself.

I took a sip of my drink. Right now, no amount of alcohol would make me feel any better. I was angry and bitter. “If Giovanni doesn’t know then he’s a goddamn fool. From what Fallon told me, Antonio had made overtures to her for years.”

“As a kid with no power,” my father said. “That’s why Luis didn’t believe him dangerous. Nor did Don Bruni.”

“Okay. That makes sense,” I offered, still trying to curtail the anger. “They couldn’t get their hands on her while she was in the Air Force.”

“No. They did not want to create an international incident.”

“You hired Jeffrey Collins to seduce her. Didn’t you?” I looked from Ludolf to Emilio and then to Pierre.

Pierre shifted and answered. “We hired him to try and protect her. We trusted him because of his employment with your family. His background being from the military made it perfect. We needed to ascertain how best to handle the situation.”

“Wait a minute. So my buddy Jeffrey was one of your plants?”

Emilio was the one who nodded. Who the fuck were these people?

“What fucking situation? Are you telling me that you’ve already had an alliance together?” I simply needed to look from my father’s wary expression to my uncle’s. “You have. You didn’t know this, Mikhail?”

“When he was pushed into the position of Pakhan, he made it clear our family was moving in another direction. We discussed and thought it best for the family. We were hoping that the Russian Bratva would stop their need for revenge.” My father answered for him.

I rubbed my eyes. There was too much information and I had a brand-new headache lashing my brain.