“It worked for you and Natasha with Lev. He’s hurried back to Chicago and told me to keep him informed on business but otherwise, he said he was content letting us run things here in New York. Lev is no longer a problem for us. Crises averted.”
Because he’s scared I’ll tell everyone he killed his wife but Nikolai doesn’t need to know that. That secret is for me and Natasha to handle and I’ll help her every day with it.
“You’re suggesting a marriage alliance with Enzo?” Gregor asks. “With who? What unlucky Bratva girl would have to marry that fucker?”
Nikolai stares at Gregor until Gregor’s eyes widen and he shoots to his feet.
“Not Kira,” he snaps.
“Yes, Kira. She’s the best one for this. You and Maksim are high ranking Bratva men. It wouldn’t insult Enzo’s ego if he married into your family. And we could share our territory and be stronger than ever.”
“I am not giving my daughter away to that psycho.”
“And I don’t want to give my sister away either,” I add.
“It’s a good idea,” Nikolai says.
“That fucker is going to hurt my daughter. I will not allow it.”
Nikolai sighs, sitting back in his seat. “Gregor, you gave your son up to be married without a second thought.”
“That’s because Maksim can handle himself. But Kira clearly can’t. She disobeyed me. I found out she goes to parties and acts recklessly. She went to a party at Enzo’s house without even knowing. I can’t trust my daughter right now but I know I cannot trust that fucker with my daughter. I will not allow it. Kira is a woman. Enzo will hurt her.”
“I never hurt Irina,” Nikolai says. “And Maksim. You’ve never hurt Natasha.”
“That’s because we’re not evil,” I say. “But Enzo shot me in the back like a coward. Don’t give Kira to him.”
“It’s a good way to prevent a war. And a good way to ensure the Bratva and the Mafia work together. We could expand our territory. We can earn more money. And we’ll have peace. What’s wrong about that? This can work.”
I scoff. “Yeah, but only if you can get close enough to Enzo without him shooting at us. He might not want to sit down and talk.”
“Let me handle Enzo. I managed to make peace happen with Lev and I can do the same with Enzo.”
“Not with my daughter,” Gregor growls.
Nikolai stares him down with a steady gaze. “No offense, Gregor, but you’re not the highest ranking Bratva man here. I am. And I say I am going to offer Kira up in a marriage alliance with Enzo. If he knows what’s best for him, he will take it.”
“And if he says no?” I ask.
“Then we’ll have a war on our hands,” he says with a shrug. “But we have to try for peace first. I really don’t want my wife to be hurt and I know you don’t want that either, Maksim.”
“I don’t. But she’s my sister. I can’t give her away to that madman.”
“Kira is a tough girl. This has to happen. Both of you can disagree with me until you’re blue in the face but it’s happening. I am going to reach out to Enzo and make the deal and hopefully, he agrees.”
Gregor spits at the table. “You’re going to make an enemy out of me, Nikolai.”
“We both know you don’t have the power to take me down. And if I can secure this deal with Enzo, then I will be a god that no one will ever be able to defeat. Be careful about what you say next, Gregor.”
With one last sneer in Nikolai’s direction, Gregor storms away, leaving me and Nik alone.
“I am sorry about this, Maksim,” Nikolai says. “But you know this has to happen.”
“But Kira? There are other Bratva girls you could offer up.”
“I could. But they’ll also have fathers who will object. They’ll also have brothers who will object. It doesn’t matter who it is. No one will be happy but everyone will be happy if we can make peace with Enzo. And like I said, you and your father are high ranking Bratva men. That will please Enzo’s ego. I can’t offerhim the daughter of a low ranking Bratva man. He’ll find it insulting. It has to be Kira.”
“My father is going to fight you on this.”
