“I know it is none of my business, but why are you forcing your daughter to marry anyone? Shouldn’t she be able to select her husband? I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I don’t understand.”
Alexandr sighs loudly before sitting back in his chair. “I don’t want to force her to marry anyone, but this situation isn’t about her. A Stepanov has been at the helm of the Bratva for several generations. Alexi should have inherited it from me, but that’s not happening. Whoever I select must marry Anya so that the Stepanov line continues and the Bratva remains under the Stepanovs’ control. I know it seems unfair to Anya. I wish there were another way, but Alexi’s death took away my choice. And Anya’s. Now, tell me what you have planned for New Orleans.”
I share my plans with him to expand our control into other states along the Gulf of Mexico. I think we’ve missed out on significant potential by focusing only on the coasts. When we leave the meeting, I’m confident that he’ll support my plan. I just wish he’d let Anya have control over her fate.
I stand. “I’ll see what I can discover tonight,” I assure Alexandr. Dominic and I don’t speak until we’re in the car and on the way back to the hotel.
“You’re worried about Anya?” Dominic says, breaking the silence. “You know she’ll get her happy ending when Alexi reveals himself, right?”
I slowly nod as I consider Alexandr’s plan. “If Alexi stands up and takes what is his. He’s still reluctant about revealing himself. I’m wondering if Alexandr’s attempt to keep the business in the family isn’t what put Anya in danger.”
“You think whoever tried to kidnap Anya plans to use her to force Alexandr’s hand?” Dominic muses, nodding as he considers the scenario. “That would make sense. Why sit back and wait for Alexandr to choose? If the person is aware of Alexandr’s overwhelming need to keep the business in the family, they could kidnap Anya and force her to marry. You think Alexandr would hand everything over if that happened?”
“I do.”
“You think whoever tried to kidnap Anya is the same person who tried to kill Alexi?”
I consider his question. “I don’t know. It seems like that would be the logical conclusion. We need to talk to Alexi and see if he’s discovered anything that can help us figure this out. If whoever tried to kill Alexi knew that Alexandr would select a replacement, then yeah, I can see all of these incidents being related. However, we don’t know for certain if gaining control of the Bratva was the reason for the attack on Alexi. Alexi said he doesn’t know why someone wanted him dead.”
“Maybe he’s figured something out while we’ve been out shopping.”
When we arrive at the hotel, we find Alexi sitting in a chair, a glass in his right hand, his head resting on the back of the chair as he stares up at the ceiling.
“How was your day?” I ask him.
“Quiet.”
“What have you been doing?”
“Thinking.”
“About telling your father that you’re alive and reclaiming your heritage?” I ask. Up until now, I haven’t been pushing Alexi into a decision, but Anya’s future has my patience with Alexi waning.
Alexi ignores me. “I’ve been thinking about who wanted me dead, and I have an idea.”
“Okay, let’s hear it,” I say, taking a seat and accepting the glass of whiskey from Dominic.
“A few months ago, during one of our lunches, we were talking about the history of the Bratva and specifically about how the Stepanovs took control. I remembered my father telling me the story of how the Bratva was led by a man with several daughters but no sons. He wanted to ensure his blood stayed in control, so he had his lieutenant marry his eldest daughter. That lieutenant was my father’s grandfather. He married my great-great-grandmother. My family has been in charge ever since.”
I lean forward and stare at Alexi. “Wait a minute. So, what’s happening now mimics what happened then. That’s what you’re saying? That someone may have worked out a plan to take over the Bratva from your father by eliminating you?”
Alexi nods. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. I haven’t done much of anything to piss someone off enough to kill me. However, if they thought that my death would open doors for them… Yeah, I think that’s a possibility.”
Dominic and I share a look before I return my focus to Alexi. “You know your father is planning to marry Anya to whoever he selects to take your place, right?”
Alexi nods as he runs his hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah. I didn’t think about her having to pay the price if I disappeared.”
“You know about the attempt to kidnap her. Your father thinks it might be one of the men he’s considering.”
Alexi’s head snaps up. “What do you mean?”
I explain Alexandr’s suspicions that one of the men knew Rurik was returning to the theater to pick up Anya and took advantage of the situation. “If one of the three men kidnapped her and forced her into marriage, would your father reward him with the leadership role?”
Alexi stares at me in horror before slowly nodding. “He would, especially if she were pregnant. Shit. Do you think that’s what is happening here? That someone is stacking the odds in their favor by going after Anya?”
“I think someone figured out how to gain control of the Bratva, and they put together a plan to make it happen. Shipping you to Ukraine was the first step. I know you don’t want to return to the Bratva life, but are you willing to sacrifice your sister?”
Instead of responding, Alexi jerks to his feet and strides out of the room.
