“You were around,” Yakov mocked.
Adrik interrupted, “It wasn’t his fault.”
“No, it never is. The fight at the strip joint last week, the fight at the casino the week before, or the street fight. Wasn’t his fault then either.”
Alexei snickered. “You just want to blame me for everything.”
“You think I don’t know you, Alexei? What did you say to him?”
“I didn’t say shit. And even if I did, I wouldn’t fucking tell you.”
Adrik snapped his head back to his brother. “Stop,” he pleaded. “Just shut up, Alexei.”
“Yes,” Yakov encouraged. “Stop embarrassing yourself.”
Levka watched the dynamic of the family with wide eyes and awkwardness. Of all of them, Alexei was the funny one, the one Levka felt most comfortable around, yet all of them acted like he was an instigator.
But, as he thought about it, he hadn’t had any plan to start a fight until Alexei gave him the idea.
Alexei conceded, “Whatever. I protected your favorite, and I’m still to fucking blame. Fine. I started it from across the room. I got Levka to be a dick. Guilty.”
“Get out,” Yakov instructed.
Alexei scoffed and shoved the chair over before he left.
Adrik shook his head. “It wasn’t his fault, Papa.”
“He is going to be my replacement. He needs to grow up. Go talk to him before he embarrasses me further.”
Adrik dived out of the room.
Levka suddenly felt very nervous. He didn’t want to be the last one standing. He kept his eyes on the floor, wishing to sink through the carpet. “Could I talk to him?” Yakov asked.
Ivan glanced at his son and Levka softly shook his head, a silent plea to protect him, but Ivan cleared his throat and nodded. Levka almost reached out to his father. He’d much rather Ivan’s wrath than Yakov’s, but his father left him without even a glance.
“Sit.”
The door shut, and Levka took a seat, only having enough courage to stare at Yakov’s feet.
“I know what you are doing.” Yakov began. He strutted around the desk and sat down, allowing the silence to pierce into Levka and make him sweat. “You don’t want to marry my daughter. I’m curious as to why? This marriage would benefit you and your father. I’m friends with the Stephanovs. They will leave Ivan alone, and he can rule Moscow without competition. So speak, boy. Tell me.”
“I’m not a boy.”
Yakov chuckled. “Look me in the eye and say that.”
Levka took the challenge for what it was and flicked his eyes up. “I’m not a boy.”
Yakov held a cigar to his lips, humored by him. “Clearly,” Yakov said mockingly. “Tell me why my daughter isn’t good enough for you.”
Levka quickly began to dig himself out of the hole he put himself in. “Your daughter is beautiful, sir. Anyone would be lucky for the match. But I don’t want to marry anyone. Everything I want, I want to earn it because of my intelligence and my skill. Not because I got lucky.”
“Your father has worked hard to be where he is, to give you the life you have, and all I hear is ungratefulness.”
“I’m not ungrateful.”
“Then you will do what he tells you without complaint. You boys think you know it all, but let me give you a piece of advice. There is no such thing as luck. You were chosen because of what your father has done. It would put you in a position of power you would never get on your own.”
“I won’t know unless I try.”
