“I don’t know their names. But the evidence...” Ivan swallows hard. “The evidence also implicated someone in your family.”
Dmitri goes very still. “Who?”
“Daria. Your cousin in St. Petersburg. The transactions went through accounts she controlled. I don’t know if she was involved willingly or if someone used her name without her knowledge, but the paper trail leads to her.”
I watch Dmitri’s face as this information lands. His composure doesn’t crack, but something hardens behind his eyes.
“Daria has a daughter,” Sasha states from beside me. “A little girl. She’s only six.”
“I know.” Dmitri rises from his chair and looks down at Ivan with an expression that makes my blood run cold. “Is there anything else you want to tell me before we conclude our business?”
Ivan starts crying again. “Please. I told you everything. I gave you everything Adrian had on me. Please don’t kill me. I have a family.”
“You should have thought about your family before you betrayed mine.”
Dmitri turns and walks toward the stairs without looking back. Boris steps forward with two of his men, and I guide Sasha up the stairs before she can witness what comes next.
We’re halfway across the compound when we hear the single gunshot echo from below.
That night, Dmitri calls a smaller meeting in his private office. Just him, Alexei, Sasha, and me.
“The situation with Daria requires careful handling,” he begins. “If she was knowingly involved in money laundering against our interests, that’s a betrayal that demands consequences. But if she was manipulated or used without her knowledge, punishing her would be unjust.”
“She has a daughter,” Sasha repeats. “Whatever Daria did or didn’t do, that little girl is innocent.”
“I’m aware.” Dmitri rubs his temples. “Which is why I’m not going to act until we know more. I’ll send someone to St. Petersburg to investigate. Someone who can get close to Daria without raising suspicion.”
“Who did you have in mind?” Alexei asks.
“I haven’t decided yet. It needs to be someone we trust implicitly.”
The conversation continues, but my mind is already moving in a different direction. The Daria situation is concerning, but it’s not my problem to solve. My focus needs to be on building a future with Sasha, not getting drawn into another family conspiracy.
When the meeting concludes, Dmitri asks me to stay behind.
“Close the door,” he instructs once the others have left.
I do as he asks and turn to face him. The Pakhan of the Kozlov Bratva eyes me before speaking.
“You saved my sister’s life. Multiple times.”
“I also put her in danger in the first place,” I counter. “If I’d never taken Adrian’s contract?—”
“If you’d never taken Adrian’s contract, someone else would have. Someone who might not have developed feelings for Sasha. Someone who might have completed the mission instead of sabotaging it.” Dmitri pauses. “Your loyalty has been proven, Tony. Absolutely and without question.”
“I appreciate that.”
“The position I offered you before we went to London. Head of counterintelligence for the organization. The offer still stands. If you want it.”
I don’t need to think about my answer. “I want it.”
“Good.” Dmitri extends his hand across the desk. “Welcome to the family. Officially.”
I shake his hand, and something settles in my chest. A sense of belonging I haven’t felt since my team died in Chechnya. Maybe even longer.
“There’s one more thing,” I add before releasing his grip. “I asked Sasha to marry me. She said yes.”
Dmitri’s eyebrows rise. “Did she?”
