“I wonder what Ivan will say about all of this. When we were leaving to come and get you, the council was trying to get him on the phone.”
I feel some relief when I see Lake Renegade coming into view. When we get to the property, we head straight to the Cimaruta clubhouse. I hug everyone as we walk in.
“The council is in the conference room talking to Ivan. From what I could hear, he’s claiming he had no idea Yakov was planning this. But we all know he’s pissed because he wanted Gabriela for Yakov. And now he can’t have her. Plus he’s pissed that Ramón is partnering with our families. I think he expected Ramón to bow down to him.” Sebastiano says to me.
“I wish we could just be done with all of them. Once and for all.”
“We all want that. And I really thought after we took care of Fyodor, we were done. But then Oleg had to act like he had power over us. And now Yakov. Because I think Ivan is the only one that really sees that he’s not going to win this.”
“I just want Gabriela and Giancarlo back. Before he hurts them. Because if he was hurting Faith in front of Carlo, who knows what he’ll do to Gabriela.”
The door to the conference room opens and my papà comes out. He heads straight for me and hugs me.
“We’re talking to Ivan now. He’s still saying he had no idea that Yakov was going to do this.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. I know what he’s said to Ramón, but I don’t know if Ivan is stupid enough to think he can go up against us. He knows we won’t hesitate to take him out like we did his brother.”
“So what happens if we kill Yakov? Will Ivan retaliate?”
“Again, I don’t know. He knows that his brother kidnapping your woman and son means he’s going to die. And he might negotiate to keep the rest of his family safe. For now anyway.”
“I guess we’re going to have to take out the Koslov’s one by one. I mean eventually they’ll all be gone.” Apollo rolls his eyes.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Gianluca
I follow my papà into the conference room. I see Ivan’s face on the screen. I take a seat at the table and listen to the conversation.
“Our deal is still in place, Enea. What my brother has done shouldn’t make the deal go away.”
My Zio laughs. “Of course what your brother’s doing makes our deal go away. Because our deal was you all stay away from us. Not just you.”
“But I told you, I had no idea Yakov would do this.”
“That’s a fucking lie.” I blurt out.
“You’re calling me a liar? I don’t tolerate disrespect like that.”
“I don’t respect you.”
“This is how you conduct your business?” he frowns as he looks around the room.
“Your brother broke our truce and took Gianluca’s wife and son. Yet you demand respect from him? You’re joking, right?” Zio Enea bellows out at him.
“I assure you, I don’t joke about respect.”
“Well then you’ve disrespected us by not keeping Yakov in line. I don’t care if you didn’t know what he was going to do. The point is he did it. So now what are you going to do about it?”
“I want your word that you will hand over Yakov to me to deal with.”
“Fuck that.” I snap. “You’ll just slap him on the wrist and tell him to be better.”
“No. I will make sure he’s punished.”
“That’s a joke. You won’t do a fucking thing to him.”
