Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I clench my jaw and stare straight ahead. The fucking asshole. I’m no saint, but anyone involved in human trafficking deserves to be dealt with severely. He’ll live to regret every vile action he’s taken. No one harms the innocent on my watch.
And I want her. I want her so fucking bad it consumes my every thought. If I can’t have her… if she ends up with that self-serving, sadistic prick…
Lev speaks up. “There’s more. Don’t shut this down, Viktor, and fucking listen.” My gaze snaps to his. “Three months ago, his lawyer got him acquitted on accusations of ownership of child pornography, but he’s guilty as fuck. He’s just untouchable. Too much money and too much power.”
“Fuck,” I growl.
Aleksandr delivers the final blow. “Aria uncovered accusations that were deeply buried. He brutally assaulted his last girlfriend. She faked her death to escape, but he found her. When he did, he broke her jaw before she threw herself into oncoming traffic.”
Bile rises in my throat with the effort of restraining myself.
“It’s not a question of if he will hurt her, Viktor, but when.”
“You’ve been tailing him?” I growl. “Where is he?”
Aleks frowns, making a few clicks on his keyboard. “Two hours north of here. Near the Mid-Hudson Bridge.” He reaches for his phone without breaking eye contact with Mikhail, signaling the gravity of the decision. He dials quickly, and the room falls silent, waiting for the call to connect.
“Nikko,” Aleksandr begins when the call is picked up, “we need to discuss the Ivanov situation.”
Nikko, always quick on the uptake, responds, “I’ve been waiting for this call. Go.”
Mikhail takes over, his voice firm. “It’s about Lydia. We need to secure her for Viktor.” He fills him in.
From what I’ve seen and heard, Lydia and Vera are not close, but that was likely their parents’ fault. They are still sisters.
Nikko pauses, the gears turning as he considers the implications, especially given his ties with Lydia’s sister. “Alright, I see the angle. I’ll set things in motion. But remember, this isn't just about owing us; it's about aligning our families for the long term.” He needs the Ivanovs’ buy-in. After the death of their pakhan, new leadership has taken position, and Nikko is the only one who has a working relationship with the Ivanov Bratva. He’ll know how to play this.
They go on to discuss the details and how they’ll make it happen while my mind races with possibilities. There’s a faint buzzing in the back of my mind, a combination of disbelief in what we’re about to do and the need to find Timur Yudin and destroy him.
As the call ends, the atmosphere in the room shifts from tension to a more calculated focus. Mikhail looks around, ensuring everyone is on the same page. “Nikko will handle the arrangements. We need to be strategic and careful. This isn't just about acquiring what Viktor wants but about positioning ourselves favorably within the community and ensuring long-term alliances.”
“And dealing with the fucking blowback from Yudin,” I mutter.
Aleksandr nods in agreement, his mind already racing through potential scenarios. “We have to consider every move as part of a larger game. Lydia is the key piece. Not only does Viktor get what he desires, but her connection through marriage ties us to a powerful family, strengthening our influence.”
Lev, usually the quietest, seems fueled with his need to see this happen and adds, “And we need to keep this clean. No loose ends that can come back to haunt us.”
Easier said than done.
I’ve been silently listening but finally have to speak up, my voice low and contemplative. “Make sure Lydia is treated with respect in this process.”
I’ll take good care of her. Such good care of her.
My brothers nod, understanding the delicate balance of fear and favor they need to maintain. This isn’t just another acquisition; this is personal, and it has to be handled with precision.
Mikhail's expression darkens as he leans forward, the lightness of our earlier considerations gone. “While we aim to manage this smoothly, understand that Lydia will likely not come willingly. We’ll need to compel her.”
Of course she wouldn’t. She might see us, or me in particular, as a threat. She’s fiercely independent and resists being controlled or used in any of her family’s political moves or machinations. Being forced to marry me after her engagement to Yudin will likely piss her off. Who knows what she thinks about me? Given what I know about her, she doesn’t easily trust and almost never lets her guard down.
This won’t be easy.
Mikhail smiles. “You know… we can align this necessity with an old Russian prophecy known to both our families, which we can use to our advantage.”
Aleksandr, intrigued, raises an eyebrow. “A prophecy? Explain.”
Mikhail nods, a grim smile touching his lips. “Yes, the prophecy known to families that hail from Moscow speaks of a 'Scourge'—a great turmoil that one family will endure, only to be saved by an alliance through marriage. It’s vague enough to instill fear and acceptance. It’s believed that rejecting the prophesied union will bring disaster, and embracing it will restore balance and prosperity.”