“Yeah, that’s why you’re worried. The guys will make sure he’s safe. I gave him two of the best. Nick and Noel won’t let anything happen to him. They understand how important it is for you and our organization to keep him safe.”
I nod in agreement as we traverse the short distance to Alexandr’s house. I know Dominic and his men have Alexi covered, and that I need to focus on my upcoming meeting with Alexandr. In truth, I’m more at risk than Alexi. Alexandr could very well decide to strip me of my territory, or even my life, when he learns that I’ve killed my father. There is a possibility, although I think it is a slight one, that Alexandr condoned my father’s attempt on my life and the lives of the other Bratva leaders.
“Do you want me to go into the meeting with you?” Dominic asks.
I glance at him and shake my head. He’s offering to risk his life to protect me. I can’t let him do it. Not just because of Dina, but because this is my battle. “You can come with me into the house, but not into the meeting. This needs to be between Alexandr and me. If I don’t come out…”
“That’s not going to happen,” Dominic growls.
I shrug. “It could happen, but you’re right, I doubt there will be a problem. It all depends on whether or not Alexandr colluded with my father.”
I study the mansion as the driver pulls up to drop us off. Dominic exits first, glancing around as he waits for me to join him. He’s not just guarding against a possible attack, but checking to see if anyone is watching Alexandr’s home or watching us.
I approach the door and knock. A woman in her sixties opens the door and greets us in Russian. I reply in kind and identify myself. Once we’re inside, she takes our coats and directs us to a closed door. She knocks once and waits. The door opens to reveal a beautiful study with walnut shelves. The other furniture in the room is made of the same material. Rather than being dark and oppressive, the abundance of sunlight and the lighttouches of cream on the walls, floors, and upholstery brighten the room.
The man who rises from behind the desk is one I have not seen in many years.
“Vladimir! What a pleasure to see you again,” Alexandr says, grasping my hand. “It’s been years.”
“Mr. Stepanov, it is nice to see you again. I was just thinking that the last time I met you, I was still in my teens.”
“You were fifteen or sixteen, if I remember correctly. Your father was very proud of you. And who is this?” Alexandr turns his attention to Dominic, who hovers near the door. “Come in, come in.”
Dominic enters, which allows the man standing near the door to close it. However, before he does, Alexandr stops him. “Igor, I won’t be needing you for several hours. Vladimir and I have much to catch up on. I’ll call for you when I need you.”
Igor gives Alexandr a stiff nod before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. When Alexandr turns his attention to Dominic, I introduce them.
“He’s your right-hand man?” Alexandr asks, after we take the seats across from him.
“Dominic has been with me since I was eighteen. We met when he was fighting off my father’s men. They were showing inappropriate attention to his younger sister,” I explained.
“Good for you! It is the older brother's honor and responsibility to care for his sister. Alexi had always been protective of Anya. I know she misses him. As do I.”
I open my mouth to question Alexandr about Alexi’s disappearance, but he speaks first.
“Now, tell me how the world came to believe that you were dead, and why your father is not here with us?”
“It’s a long story, but I’ll summarize. Someone paid Sigil to kill me. Luckily, the man who was ordered to kill me is in arelationship with my mother and is a close friend of my twin brother. He helped me fake my death so we could figure out who ordered it.”
“You have a twin brother?” Alexandr asks, sitting back in his seat. He studies me for a beat before continuing. “I never knew that you had a brother, much less a twin. Your father said your mother died giving birth to you, but you’re saying she’s still alive?”
I nod. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet my brother and connect with my mother. She explained how my father took me from the hospital soon after my birth and disappeared. He threatened her to keep her from coming for me.”
“I knew your father was heartless, but I never imagined he’d steal a woman’s child from her. Where is he?”
I share a glance with Dominic before responding. “He’s floating somewhere between here and the Florida coast,” I reply.
Alexandr’s eyes widen. “Did you kill him? This is very serious. The killing of a Bratva leader is punishable by death. Patricide is not something we condone.”
“I have my reasons.”
“I would like to hear them.”
“I discovered Maxim was the man who contracted for my death with Sigil. He also paid for the deaths of two other men. Ivan Orloff and Dimitri Shevchenko.”
Alexandr sucks in his breath. “Why?”
“Greed. He wanted the entire Eastern Seaboard. He thought if both men were dead, he’d talk you into giving him their territories.”
