I ignore him.
“I would like to offer you an equal alliance. Four of the strongest Bratva leaders in Chicago, working together for the purpose of ensuring Paul Gregori does not resurface or regain power of any sort.”
He scoffs. “You want me to join your alliance because you have daddy issues?”
I press my lips tighter to stop myself from sighing in annoyance.
“I want you to join an alliance against a man I’m fully aware you have past issues with, and to build your own status and strength within Chicago. Once word gets out that the four of us are working together, no one would dare go against us.”
He lets out a sigh as though he’s bored with this conversation.
“Listen, Joe, can I call you Joe? I’ve got things to do, and you’re taking up my time with this…this mediocre bull. I’ll thinkabout it. But I hardly think I need any of you to increase my own power in Chicago,” he states blandly.
The man is jaded. No one is untouchable. Everyone needs an alliance.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I force myself not to snap back at him about how his ego is getting in his own way.
“You take your time, Artur. Think it over. I’m sure once you’ve done so, you’ll realize the value in my offer. Sometimes it just takes people a moment to process,” I say, unable to hold back my own little snarky remark.
He huffs. “Enjoy your afternoon, Gregori,” he snaps, making a point of reminding me that I am my father’s son. Before I can say goodbye, he’s already hung up.
Two out of three. It’s not bad. But it’s not good enough.
Frustrated, I decide I need to stop thinking about it for the rest of the day and try talking to Artur again tomorrow. He has to see the obvious benefits. He can’t be that naive.
To my surprise, I don’t have to wait until the next day.
Around eleven at night, just as I’m getting out of the shower, my phone rings with Artur’s name across the screen. I watch it for three full beats before I answer, not wanting to give him the impression that I was desperately waiting for him to get back to me.
“Yes?” I answer coolly. I have to play Artur’s game. An air of nonchalance goes down well.
“I have a condition,” he states.
“What would that be?” I ask, pacing my bedroom with a towel sitting low on my hips and water running over my body.
“Marriage.”
“What now?” I say, caught completely off guard. Of all the things I expected him to ask for, this wasn’t even on the list.
“Marriage, to lock the alliance in place. I know what your sister did: marry four Bratva leaders. I know how well it worked for them and that their power quadrupled since they made that move. I will join your alliance under the condition that we do the same.”
“Artur, that takes planning and…”
“I already have the girl. Everything can move forward swiftly. All you need to do is say yes.”
I scrunch my nose, pressing my fingers against my closed eyes. “Marriage,” I sigh. This is not what I want. Not under any circumstances. “There has to be another way.”
“There is no other way. If you’re not interested, I’ll say goodbye now and…”
“Wait,” I blurt out.
He’s pushed me into a corner. I hate being pushed into a corner, but in this instance, I need the alliance. I need this to work.
“Fine. Marriage. I’ll speak to the other guys and find out if they agree.”
My stomach knots. I don’t like this. But what difference does it make? It’s just a piece of paper.
Thirty minutes later, Benedikt and Kazimir have both reluctantly agreed to Artur’s condition. They both hold the same sentiment I do. It’s just a piece of paper. And just like that, we are all suddenly preparing to get married.
