"Does Father know?"
Nicolai scoffs. "Father sees only what confirms his worldview. To him, the Rossos are either loyal allies or enemies to be eliminated. The concept of a made man wanting out is incomprehensible."
I process this information, recalculating probabilities and scenarios. "If Rafa is planning an escape..."
"Then perhaps your interests align," Nicolai finishes. "Two is statistically safer than one in most extraction scenarios."
"Or twice as likely to fail."
"True." He swirls his Scotch . "You'll need to assess him yourself. The engagement gala is in three days. Vito Rosso has spared no expense—apparently, there will be senators and a state judge in attendance."
"Laundering social capital alongside actual capital," I murmur. "Efficient."
Nicolai's expression turns serious. "Kira, if you truly intend to pursue this... hypothetical scenario, you need to understand the risks. Father won't just disown you. He'll hunt you. Both families will."
"I know."
"And Rafa, regardless of his own plans, is a Rosso first. He's been raised in that world just as we've been raised in ours. Trust is a liability."
"Trust isn't part of my calculations," I say.
Nicolai sets down his glass and takes my hands—a gesture so uncharacteristic that I startle slightly. "I can help you," he says quietly. "Not directly—I have too many eyes on me. But I can provide resources, intelligence, and misdirection when needed."
Hope flares in my chest, bright and dangerous. "Why would you help me leave when you're staying?"
"Because someone should get out," he says simply. "And out of all of us, you have the best chance. Your skills exist beyond our world. Mine don't."
I squeeze his hands, emotion tightening my throat. "I could bring you with me."
He shakes his head. "Two might be safer than one, but five is a target. And I won't leave Misha and Zoya unprotected."
Our younger siblings—brilliant, reckless, and utterly unprepared for the full brutality of our father's world. Nicolai has always shielded them, deflecting our father's attention and rage whenever possible.
"I understand," I say, and I do. In the Bratva, family is both our strongest bond and our heaviest chain.
Nicolai releases my hands and returns to business mode. "The first step is assessing Rafa. Determine if he's an asset or a threat. Learn his plans, his resources, his weaknesses."
"And if he is planning an exit?"
"Then proceed with extreme caution." Nicolai's eyes are hard behind his glasses. "Men like Rafael don't share power easily, especially with women. He'll try to use you, just as you'll try to use him."
"Then it's a good thing I've always been better at this game than most."
Nicolai almost smiles again. "Remember what Father taught us?—"
"Never bring a knife to a gunfight," I finish automatically.
"No," Nicolai corrects. "Bring a knife, they don't see coming."
Later, after reviewing security protocols for the engagement gala and analyzing the latest intelligence on the Rosso operations, I retreat to the guest suite Nicolai prepared. Likeeverything in his world, it's immaculate and sterile, designed for function rather than comfort.
I open my laptop and dive back into the Bratva-Rosso financial systems, searching for any trace of the thief. As I work, I notice something new—a message buried deep in the code, so subtle that anyone else would miss it:
# BitVenom's encrypted message, hidden within the system
def bitvenom_encryption(rsa_public_key):
# BitVenom's cryptic message
