I shouldn’t feel pride at hearing my brother talk about killing a federal agent, but I do. Not because I want blood spilled, but because it means he’s finally stopped pretending he’s separate from who we are.Whatwe are. It wasn’t always that way with him. Kostya fought his fate for as long as he could.
Or perhaps this isn’t about finally accepting his role in our family at all, and more about his wounded pride. Being the only Petrov to get taken down by the FBI has to sting. But he’s wrong if he thinks there’s shame in it. Sooner or later, someone always slips. A soldier opens his mouth to impress a pretty girl. Someone gets caught with their pants down and cuts a deal. There are a million ways things fall apart and plans go south.
It was just Kostya’s shitty luck that it happened on his watch. ThePakhanwill forgive his lapse and give him some grace. Especially since Misha has always held a soft spot for our younger brother.
Sasha, on the other hand, not so much. He’ll give Kostya hell for sure. Just another reason why the two are always butting heads. But that’s their beef to overcome. Not mine.
“It’s done now,” I tell him. “No use dwelling on it. We’ll regroup, and before long, you’ll be back in San Francisco in no time.”
“Actually, I was thinking… Maybe I could stay here with you in Chicago for a while.”
“You were, were you?” I laugh because we both know that’s not happening. “And what does Misha think about you staying with me instead of going back to work?”
“Don’t know.” He shrugs. “I haven’t asked him yet. I thought maybe I might spring the idea on him over the holidays. He’s usually in a better disposition this time of year anyway. We all know how Elena gets around Christmas.”
Yes. Yes, I do. My sister-in-law loves the holidays. Not for the festivities, but because it’s the only time in the year that the house is full of people. For years, she dreamed of a home bursting with kids and boisterous laughter, but cancer made that dream impossible. We’re as close as she’ll ever get to a full household, and she clings to it. That’s why we make an effort to be on our best behavior. That illusion doesn’t last when she’s not around, though. Sasha and Kostya fighting all the time is proof of that.
“Fuck! Let’s get inside. I’m freezing my balls off out here,” he blurts, rubbing his arms.
“I thought you were homesick for the cold weather.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Pussy.”
Kostya barks out a laugh, and I join him as we slide into the back seat of the SUV. The driver pulls away from the runway, heat finally filling the cabin. Once we’re warm, I turn my full attention to my baby brother.
“I notice you haven’t said a word about the Triad coming to your rescue. Anything I should know there?”
Kostya lifts a shoulder. “Didn’t say anything because you didn’t ask.”
“Well, I’m asking now.”
“It’s nothing. Just Misha being overprotective. I didn’t need their help.”
“That’s not true,” I counter. “If Misha was sure you wouldn’t get picked up by the feds, he wouldn’t have asked the Triad to hide you.”
“Or maybe he used me as an excuse to get closer to them. Ever think of that?” He arches a brow.
Hmm. Thatisa definite possibility. In fact, it was the first thing I thought of when Misha told me about the arrangement. Even if all our safe houses were blown, there were a hundred other solutions before resorting to the Triad.
“What do you think Misha’s intentions are?”
Kostya gives me a look that says I should already know. And then it hits me why our brother would bother with getting into bed with such a rival. “Their poppy fields.”
“Ding, ding, ding!” Kostya sings.
“But why? We have our own supply.”
“Not like theirs,” he says. “Trust me, I saw it up close. Our little operation can’t compete. They didn’t put up a fuss about letting us into their territory because they know we’ll never match their product.”
I take that in, my jaw tightening. If Kostya’s right and we’ll always be small players in California, then what’s Misha really planning?
“ThePakhanalways has a plan,” I say quietly, even if I don’t see what it could possibly be. “He doesn’t make alliances without an endgame.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Kostya mutters, disgruntled. “Hisendgame.”
Unlike me, Kostya doesn’t trust our brother’s ulterior motives. Misha would never put us in harm’s way, but he would do just about anything to prove to the world that, asPakhan, he’ll outshine his predecessor. Vasily is the ghost that never quits, always haunting Misha’s every move.
