Page 23

TWENTY-TWO

Vlad

I ’ve never visited Steorra, it’s something that I make use of but it’s not of interest to me. Inessa runs a tight ship and the guards work on rotation between Bratva and ‘Ndrangheta, swapping days, so they’re always protected. I’ve chosen the wrong day for my first visit as Gio hesitates on letting me pass. Straightening my cuffs, I’m the gentleman and there’s no threat in my voice.

“It’s a neutral zone, I’m here to collect my wife.”

It’s a partial lie, and he relaxes minutely, stepping aside.

The large atrium is filled with light with branches going off into sections for different activities. Each part is filled with children of varying ages and there’s a room hidden behind the large floating reception desk that has adults sat inside. Aro pauses when he sees me, and it takes too long for him to recover. The little girl at his side follows his line of sight and smiles widely. She’s the only one who didn’t have blank eyes, and Inessa’s messages gave me her name.

Afiyah — to be free from any inflictions.

Her parents or guardians named her correctly and I keep my eyes forward going towards the elevator, not wanting there to be any interaction.

Stepping into the elevator, a little body squeezes through and she looks up at me like I’m a superhero whispering in awe, “Geedar.”

I don’t know what it means and fight a smile as she puts her finger in front of her lips, copying what I did. Her other hand moves as she covers her eyes too. She looks healthier and there’s no fear on her face as she stands beside me, so she’s hidden by the bottom panels as we go up to the top floor. Her little hand wraps around my finger. The kid is cute and one of a handful of successes out of hundreds of worst-case scenarios.

The glass panels are obstructed as we continue going up and I stop the elevator. Her smile doesn’t dim, knowing she’s safe, and I pick her up so we’re face to face. Softening my voice, I hold her under her armpits, and she stretches her arms out, stroking my face with the tips of her fingers.

“Afiyah, you can’t tell anyone you know me, okay?”

I don’t know if she can fully understand me, but my checks have shown that Inessa has started to get all the kids enrolled with translators. She holds her finger in front of her lips again, making a low shushing sound, and I take that as a yes.

Setting her down on the other side of the elevator, I go back to the control panel and restart our climb. She walks back over to me and holds my trousers near my knee as I straighten my cuffs. When I look down, she just smiles up at me and copies the shushing motion. I should have her follow me everywhere when I’m with Inessa, then she’d see that even a three-year-old thinks she talks too much.

There’s no one in the hallway as the doors open to raise any suspicion and the kid grabs my finger. I don’t push her away as I go to Inessa’s office, and she pauses seeing me. Her brows slowly come together, and the crease deepens when she sees the new friend I’ve managed to make.

She abruptly stands, walking straight to her, and her voice is gentle as she crouches down to her height.

“Are you looking for Amber, sweetheart?”

The soothing tone tapers off as she picks her up and goes into another office. She isn’t gone for long, and she closes the door when she returns. Keeping her voice low, she asks, “Is everything okay?”

Worry lines her features as she stands in front of me, and her hands go to my chest.

My own confusion comes out at what the fuck could possibly be wrong and require Inessa’s help. I’m more than capable of dealing with anything that could happen, but I don’t say that and lie easily.

“Get your coat, I thought you’d want lunch.”

She softens, smiling up at me, and turns smug.

“Told you we’d be friends.”

I don’t have the willpower to burst her bubble and she turns stoic as soon as we step out of the doors. It’s like a switch has gone off in her brain and she becomes the ice queen as we take the elevator back down. I slow my steps to see what Val did when the doors open and take out my phone, tapping out random sentences as a little girl runs between the different play centers. He was right, even though I saw the picture, she’s a double of her father. It’s almost fucking creepy, like someone shrunk him and slapped a wig on his head.

It’s a shame she’s been taken in by that family. The Kadares don’t shy away from letting their enemies know how much family means to them and I won’t physically hurt her, but their imaginations will carry a threat my hands will never follow through on. Unless she’s an adult and involves herself where she shouldn’t.As far as I’m aware the Albanians keep their women away from business, so she’ll grow up to be a spoilt brat or a coke head searching for chaos.

The atmosphere changes as we step out into the street, and I can feel the murderous glare without turning my head. Rushed footsteps thunder towards me and I take a step back, covering Inessa before Roel can do shit. His eyes are ablaze with fury, the flames get wilder as I smile. He’s not the same kid I found getting high with Valentin at some shitty house party and a woman stands behind him without any emotion on her face.

Opening his mouth to issue a half-assed threat, I meet him head on with a twisted smile.

“You know where to find me if you want a fair fight,” I say calmly and pointedly look at his hand reaching the gun that is undoubtedly in his waistband.

He was a good earner; his psychotic tendencies weren’t as strong as mine. But he’d pack a punch and drive the crowd wild. Glaring with his fists clenched, he doesn’t move, and I wait for any reaction, the woman behind him must be his wife as she looks bored at everything around her.

The little girl who will solve this shit he’s caused pokes her head out of the door and calls out to him, “Uncle Ro, bunny?”

He’s being saved by a kid in more ways than one and positions his body to block me from anyone he deems his family. Walking away takes effort, I’ve never shied away from a fight. But the neutral spaces have to be protected or Maximoff will have reason to vote against me when the time is right. I repeat the plan I have mentally to infuse the will required for each step.

1. Valentin marries Inessa and becomes Pakhan .

1. I marry Inessa and named as Maximoff’s successor.

2. Have an heir to solidify the bond with Moscow to keep Valentin, Vitali, Viktor safe.

3. Get into Dmitri’s home with an invite.

4. Kill Dmitri.

5. Don’t leave Moscow alive.

Killing the Pakhan of Moscow may be an aspiration for some outside of the ranks, as a Vor I know what the punishment will be. But his will be worse, and I will singlehandedly wipe out every fucker who even shares a single drop of his blood.

Inessa doesn’t say anything as we get in the car and her long sigh pisses me off.

“Do you think the same as him?” I ask.

Shaking her head, she deflates and rests against the seat.

“I told you before, my loyalty is to the Bratva. But I don’t think you would intentionally set out for a woman to be kidnapped when there’s no benefit to you personally. You’re an asshole, but everything you do has a motive. Even if it’s for your twisted enjoyment.”

Her answer isn’t enough for me to fully relax, and she shows empathy where it doesn’t belong.

“I get why he’s angry. If I was in that position, I’d kill everyone who was remotely involved. Down to the bastards who made the fucking bricks of where I was being kept.”

She falls silent and turns to me with suspicion and asks what she never has before.

“You didn’t have anything to do with it, right?”

I organized a fucking fight and all of a sudden I’m a conspirator to some sick suka who needs to drug women. Tapping against the steering wheel with my middle finger, I try to push my anger away to keep with the ruse of a spontaneous lunch.

“I’ve never hidden my sins. I won’t start now.”

Any happiness she had over a budding friendship dies a quick death. I’ve only ever given weight to three people’s opinion of me, even those aren’t much concern with the bond in place. The sound of Vanya giggling echoes from my memories, the only person who could ever have control over me. My solnyshkuh can calm me even when she’s not here. My finger bounces, barely touching the dash, as I repeat mentally what made me, what kept me, what will save me.

Katya is sat at the bar in Noctem as Valentin and I walk in. It’s Switzerland with it being the one true neutral place for any organization, but my alertness doesn’t disappear. Every fucker in here would slice the other’s throat for a taste of more power. Taking our table at the back, the Stidda soldiers look wary, and I keep my hands above the table, proving I have nothing to hide.

Valentin turns rigid beside me, unable to mask his features as the fuckers who tortured Vitali walk through. Erion Kadare may not be the head of his criminal family anymore, but the man is still the patriarch of his kin, and he hasn’t hung up his authority with the title of Krye. The last meeting I had with him, he went over my fucking head like some dumb bitch in a shopping center calling the manager and getting Maximoff involved. The reminder of that day and it coinciding with being the first time Inessa declined the ring I provided her with taints the anger I should feel. She was powerful as fuck walking into the warehouse.

The son we’ll be discussing is notably absent as he takes his seat and does the same with his hands as me.

“What do you want to discuss?”

His voice is stilted, and his guards remain stood at the back as the current Krye sits beside him, allowing the deferment. Dion stares at my brother with open hate, it’s funny when they all went to the same school, and I paid a fucking fortune to get them in there, hoping they’d form a bond at a young age and not have to live through any wars.

There’s uncertainty in his eyes and I smile, relaxing back into the seat. Straightening my cuffs, there’s nothing but boredom coming from me as I confirm what will happen.

“I’m taking New Jersey, you’re welcome to try to stop me.”

The dare is there and his jaw tics, feeling disrespected. Before the Albanians can get murderous, I add, “Should that be the case, I’ll take everything that belongs to my bloodline.”

They pause, both Dion and his father fighting the urge to look at each other to work out what they could possibly have that belongs to me.

The majority of the east coast is under the rule of at least one part of the Conglomerate. Between the Stidda, ‘Ndrangheta, and the Albanian’s Enterprise you can’t fucking move without encroaching on their territory and their alliances have been cemented with heirs. I won’t be like the GSS and bend over so they can get their fill, Maximoff is too content with the status quo to fight it with all his legal interests being in New York. Taking New Jersey will put me on top and everyone around the table holds their breath, knowing what it means.

Valentin moves the folder forward filled with partial truth. Dion takes it first, his jaw tensing as he looks at the photos of his niece beside her biological father. They both look at it and there’s a slight pause when they reach the fabricated DNA results showing the adopted Kadare is a Vartanov. Fucking idiots. People are too stupid, too blinded by their allegiances to ever question anything, they just blindly accept things in front of them as facts when they’re so easy to manipulate.

Erion moves closer, the family man unable to maintain control as he wraps it within his brutality. The air shifts with his deadly tone, “Threaten my granddaughter, Vartanov, and the only land you’ll be concerned with is your burial plot.”

Valentin sits up straighter, his body going rigid with the threat as I laugh lightly. He’s an old fuck and there’s been too many decades between the man who favored a chainsaw compared to the one in front of me who has clearly exchanged that with whatever the fuck grandparents do.

I meet Roel’s eyes, and he can’t control his temper being relegated to the back. I want him to react to the murder he’s plotting, it would be fun, but no one fucking moves without Erion’s command. People think wars are won with blood, rarely does that work. They begin and end with paper, the blood spilt in between is to satiate man’s desire for violence.

As if sensing my request for insanity, the youngest Kadare steps into Noctem. He’s a psychotic fuck with no impulse control and Niko takes a step forward, ready to make my day. These are the same little shits who would make stupid bets with my brothers as teenagers, sneaking out together to raise hell, and now it’s all murder from both sides.I don’t look at Valentin as he locks onto the addition, and he knows better than to fuck this up.

Expecting the old Krye to keep the information, he slides it back and admits defeat.

“It’s done.”

I’m like a kid excited at winning the argument and he fucks off, taking his youngest psycho with him. Every one of his guards look confused as I finish my drink while they leave. I take my time, savoring each sip, hoping it urges someone to move. The Alessi’s may run Noctem with ironclad control to ensure no one breaks the peace, but a man’s pride being hurt can make him do a lot of shit he shouldn’t.

Valentin discreetly tilts his phone towards me, Vitali’s message lights up the screen making us leave. There’s no rushed steps and I slow down, passing the pricks who are too weak to fight fairly. Fucking pyromaniacs have been burning everything down for months like cavemen who have just found fire.I’m sick of dealing with the arson reports and having weak fuckers within my group.

The tantrum starts as soon as we get in the car and for a father, Val’s pout is fucking ridiculous.

“So, we’re moving?”

Checking my messages as he drives, I don’t look up and treat him like the child he is.

“You won’t have to change schools and I’m sure you’ll make new friends.”

He scoffs like I’m the immature one and shuts the fuck up.We were taking New Jersey no matter what happened tonight, by force or careful manipulation. The fuckers were too stupid to outright ask if the child was a Vartanov, they just accepted a piece of paper and made my life easier and equally boring.

I’ve already found the new house and Viktor will have more space along with his future sibling. It’s the perfect time to bring up the plan since Valentin is already in a mood about moving and not being told. I don’t look away from my phone as I speak.

“Once Inessa is pregnant, and the child is in my care, there are adoption papers for you to sign.”

He slows down and stares at me with his mouth open like a fish. Fuck, I can’t tell him clearly or he’ll start getting emotional or fucking crying.

“It’s a contingency if anything happens, you know how this life is.”

He nods and starts driving again as he lies, “Nothing will happen to you. You’re too much of a fucking psycho to let anyone kill your controlling ass.”

Huh, he’s kind of right considering I’m going to be the catalyst to my own death.

“Well, if it does you’ll raise the child like your own. If they’re too young to know who I am, you won’t let them find out,” I say carefully to prevent him finding a thread of my plotting.

He has no sense of fucking safety and slams the brakes on as he pulls to an abrupt stop at the side of the road. I swear to fuck his tantrums are getting worse.

“What the fuck? You want me to be your kid’s dad ? How fucking insane are you?”

“Dealing with your tantrums? Very.”

He balks and pulls his head back, cursing.

“Fuck you, I’m not having a fucking tantrum. You don’t even want your kid to know you? I’d kill anyone who tried to make Vik just say I’m not his dad, never mind live his life like that.”

My finger moves, tapping against the edge of my phone as I push every honest piece of history back to stop him from having full understanding.

“That’s the difference between the two of us, I don’t need my child to know me, I need them to be safe and you’ll be able to offer that. You’ll become a Vor too.” He opens his mouth to argue, and I quickly add, “Take the fucking compliment that you’ve raised your son well and drive, you have tonight to pack up your shit, we’re moving in the morning.”

Going back to the message from the agent confirming handover is ready for tomorrow, I decide to make him feel better.

“You’ll even have a pool. There are stables and horses on the property, 10 bedrooms and you can get Viktor enrolled in school.”

He doesn’t relax and gives me a stilted nod as he pulls back into the road and starts driving again.

I send the listing to my brothers and my thumbs pause before I can add Inessa to the group. She can make an argument out of anything, and I’d prefer not to deal with her shit right now. I’m already going to have to deal with the overgrown toddler currently driving, so decide against it, and Dima sends confirmation that everything has been dealt with ready for the move.

I realize my mistake as we pull up outside of the house we’ll only be in for another twenty-four hours. I should have just sent it to her because she’s waiting by the door with her arms crossed.We’re not even fucking married yet and she’s stood at the door like a nagging fucking wife.

The last fucking person I kill before implementing my plan is the witch who fucking cursed me to live this life with the most infuriating woman as my wife.