“Riot and Pyro want to collect her bounty and to initiate a working relationship with the Callahans.” Murmurs carried over the audio on the video call, the prezes either discussing with their VPs off-screen or with each other.
“There’s more.” I sigh. “It has to do with the Petrov bratva.”
Ares motioned for me to hurry up and say it already. “Out with it, Priest.”
“Indigo discovered recently that she’s related to someone within the bratva’s ranks. When we realized they’d be sniffing around, I got Clover to do a deep dive on their entire organization.”
“You can’t possibly be considering an alliance between Los Cuervos and an outfit like the bratva,” Omen asked incredulously.
“Just let him finish,” Jinx cut in.
Hyde snorted in his seat next to me and leaned back in his chair, expression stony. I continued. “We know the international Russian syndicate is involved in the skin trade. However, Clover discovered thatover the past two decades, the Petrov bratva has been the first, andonly, family within the syndicate to extricate itself from trafficking people.”
Hyde scoffed next to me. “It’s a hard business to get out of, hoss. You can’t tell me that Moscow is content with the entire American branch of their organization taking a loss in a market as profitable as trafficking.”
“That’s because they didn’t take a hit,” Jinx cut in curtly.
I nodded in agreement. “From what Clover was able to determine, the Petrovs are focusing on moving their bratva in a more… white-collar direction, at least on the surface. Moscow doesn’t really care where the money is coming from, so long as it continues to roll in.”
“And it has been rolling in,” Jinx added. “Clover is still digging, but the Petrov portfolio reads more like that of a media conglomerate than a crime ring. They’re heavily invested in crypto, tech, media, and arms development.”
Omen sighed and ran a hand over his beard. “So what? How does this have anything to do with the Crows?”
“The Petrovs want a formal alliance with Los Cuervos. Indigo is what connects our interests for now, but if we solidify our relationship with them, it would have the potential to make us money as well as benefit our anti-trafficking goals.”
At this, everyone began talking, debating the pros and cons, asking questions, and voicing their opinions. Duke pounded his fist on the table, causing the Scold to fall silent.
“We ain’t makin’ the decision today. Today, we bury a brother. Soon, I’ll arrange a meeting with thepakhanto iron out the details. Think about what was said here today. Clover will be sending each of you a code to enter into an encrypted databank so you can see for yourselves what we’d be getting into with this alliance. For my part,” Duke said with a sigh, “I think it’s worth consideration. Money notwithstanding, we’d be getting one hell of an ally against the Iron Raiders, and if the Petrovs are anti-trafficking, they could help us expand our efforts in that regard as well.”
“Just because they don’t traffic anymore doesn’t mean they’ll join the fight against it,” Tinker argued.
“True”—Duke nodded—“but it’s worth looking into.”
“Agreed,” Jinx added. The other prezes eventually nodded as well.
“Good. Do your homework, and I’ll be in touch once I meet with Petrov. If anyone hears from Pyro or the Iron Raiders, we need to know ASAP. Riot and Roark Callahan shouldn’t be underestimated.”
The Scold was concluded, and after ending the call, Hyde and Duke slapped each other on the back. “I’m gonna call my VP and fill him in on the situation,” Hyde said as he left church. Duke sighed as he rose from his chair, looking years older than he did the day before we left for the Alvarez job and all hell broke loose. Ace had been a Crow since Duke was a kid, so burying him today was going to be particularly hard on my old man.
“That went well, considering,” I said. “After the funeral, I’ll try to talk to Hyde and feel him out.”
Duke nodded. “Hopefully, we can avoid another war.”
The last time Los Cuervos was at war, we’d lost Rusty. He was one of the founding Crows, and Ace had been the last prospect that Rusty himself patched in. We were burying a brother and the last living tie to Rusty’s legacy. It made me wonder who else we’d lose before the end of this war. I had to believe the Crows would find a way to end the Raiders and prevent the taint of the Callahan family from spreading out West.
Chapter 7
Riordan
“Your parents landed at the private airfield about thirty minutes ago,” Ivan said, watching me shake a few extra-strength pain relievers into my palm. “The staff has made sure thepakhan’ssuite is prepared, and Pasha already screened it for bugs.” I nodded and sat back into my chair with a sigh. I’d had a headache in the literal and figurative sense ever since I stepped foot into Crow’s Landing. The entire meeting had been a clusterfuck. Aside from failing to solidify an understanding with Los Cuervos, I’d also been unable to explain to Indigo that my family knew about her. I hadn’t promised specifically not to tell them, but I knew how important it was to Indigo to control how, when, or if she interacted with my family. Revealing her to them without her approval made me feel guilty, and I didn’t fucking like to feel guilty.
“How did Mikhail and Cara take the news?” Sutton asked, adjusting the long sleeves of her royal-blue silk blouse. Ivan and I met Sutton in our sophomore year of college. Something in her called to us, and webecame friends rather quickly. Soon, she became more than a friend. Sutton became family. She was like the sister neither of us had, and my parents cared for her as well. My father was so impressed with her when I brought her home for Thanksgiving the year we’d met that he’d arranged an internship for her at one of the most prestigious law offices in Chicago.
Some might say that thepakhanof the Petrov bratva simply saw a potential asset and made a strategic offer to coerce her into service. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong. My father lived for the brotherhood and would do everything he could to ensure its success. That meant keeping eyes and ears open for potential talent, no matter the arena. He'd never admit it, but the bratva’s best interests made up only about half of the reason he’d gotten Sutton the internship and later financed her law degree. The other 50 percent of his choice had come from the heart because he and my mom saw that even though we weren’t biologically related, she had become part of the family. She spent every school break with us, insisting there was nothing left for her in her hometown. Sutton had even learned to speak Russian.
“Ri?” Sutton asked, breaking me away from my thoughts.
“What? Oh.” I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping the acetaminophen kicked in soon. “I explained tootetshow I came across Indigo and her remarkable resemblance to Aunt Natalya. That we’d done a DNA analysis and confirmed that she is Tatiana’s daughter.”
