He addresses the room now, his presence commanding. "My wife speaks the truth. The old ways are dying, whether we want to admit it or not. Law enforcement is more sophisticated. Our enemies are more organized. And we're bleeding ourselves dry with internal conflicts while external threats grow stronger."
"I've proposed reforms," he continues. "More autonomy for each family. A council system for major decisions. An end to practices that make us vulnerable to prosecution and public scrutiny. And yes, treating women as partners rather than property. These aren't signs of weakness. They're signs of adaptation. Of survival."
I watch the faces in the crowd, seeing the calculation in their eyes. These are businesspeople, ultimately. They understand profit and loss, risk and reward.
"My cousin was a fool," Ivan says, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "And so are you, Dimitri. You've let this woman poison your mind, turn you against your own people."
"My own people are thriving," Dimitri replies calmly. "My territories are stable. My businesses are profitable. My soldiers are loyal. Can you say the same, Ivan?"
The question hangs in the air, and I see several of Ivan's allies shift uncomfortably. There have been rumors of instability in the Volkov family, of soldiers defecting, of businesses failing.
Ivan's hand twitches toward his jacket, and instantly, the room tenses. Dimitri's men move closer, and I see weapons being drawn on both sides.
"Don't," Dimitri says quietly, but with absolute authority. "Not here. Not in front of everyone. You want to challenge me, thereare proper channels. Traditional ways, if you care so much about tradition."
For a long moment, Ivan stands frozen, his hand hovering near his weapon. Then he slowly lowers it, but his eyes promise murder.
"This isn't over," he says.
"It never is with men like you," I reply. "That's exactly the problem."
Ivan turns and stalks toward the exit, and after a moment's hesitation, two of his allied families follow. But I notice that several others remain, watching us with new interest.
The tension in the room gradually eases. Conversations resume, though more subdued than before. But I can feel the shift in the atmosphere. Something has changed.
A man approaches us, one of the neutral family heads I recognize from the briefings Dimitri gave me. Anatoly something. He's older, silver-haired, with sharp eyes that miss nothing.
"Mrs. Morozov," he says, inclining his head respectfully. "That was quite a speech."
"Thank you," I manage, suddenly exhausted.
"I'd like to discuss your proposals in more detail," he says to Dimitri. "Perhaps we could arrange a meeting next week?"
"Of course," Dimitri replies, and I hear the satisfaction in his voice.
Two more families approach with similar requests. Then a fourth. By the time we're ready to leave, Dimitri has scheduled five meetings with previously undecided families.
"You were magnificent," he murmurs in my ear as we walk toward the exit, his arm around my waist. "You changed everything tonight."
"I just told the truth," I say, but I'm smiling.
"The truth is a powerful weapon," he replies. "Especially when wielded by someone as brave as you."
We step out into the cool night air, and I breathe deeply, feeling the adrenaline starting to fade. Alexei and our security team surround us as we walk toward our waiting SUV.
"Do you think Ivan will really try something?" I ask quietly.
"Yes," Dimitri says without hesitation. "But not tonight. Tonight, you humiliated him in front of everyone who matters. He'll need time to plan, to rebuild his reputation."
Our driver opens the door, and Dimitri helps me into the back seat. He slides in beside me, and I lean against him, suddenly feeling the weight of the evening.
The SUV pulls away from the hotel, and I watch the lights of the city slide past the window. For the first time in weeks, I feel hopeful. Maybe we really can change things. Maybe our child will grow up in a better world.
The impact comes without warning.
One moment we're driving smoothly down the street, and the next, another vehicle slams into us from the side withtremendous force. The world spins, and I'm thrown against my seatbelt. Glass shatters. Metal screams.
50
