“I know that.”
Lev seems to think I don’t, and he tacks on, “It’s not so glitzy and glamourous. We don’t have celebrities with our last name. We don’t hold balls and public fundraisers. Our ranks aren’t so full of modern men, either. It’s a rougher business we run.”
“I know that,” I repeat. “You think The Outfit is all glitz and glam? Yeah, we have ambassadors keeping suspicious eyes off us. My own brother Emilio and his wife Melani are famous philanthropists according to the public eye. And yes, we throw charity galas and shit. But I think you all keep forgetting that I watched my uncle die not too long ago. Bad shit happens to us no matter what kind of criminals we are. That’s just life. But this ismylife, and I want to live it with Anya. Here. As Bratva.”
This time, they don’t remain quiet as some sort of test. I believe I may have just struck them silent. The moment stretches on, and I almost start holding my breath with anticipation.
Eventually, Anton breaks through the tension. “I’ll think on it.”
Neither of his brothers look upset with the decision, so I take what I can get. “All right,” I relent, looking between the three of them. “But heads up, I’m not sitting around and waiting for you to make a decision. I’m going to show you that I’m right. You’ll see.”
Anton doesn’t flinch. “I hope I will.”
Not even five minutes later, I’m hidden away in Anya’s empty room to make a call. A call I should have made days ago.
He answers before the call drops, and I don’t waste time on pleasantries or small talk.
“Hey, I need a favor.”
A deep rumble of a reply comes over the line. “Okay. What is it?”
“I need you to help me join the Bratva.”
“You know this idea is the dumbest one you’ve ever had, right?”
I glare up at Nico as I finish tying my shoe, jaw clenching as I try to decide whether it’s worth it to snap at him or not. It’s the night after I pleaded my case to Anton, and I’m keeping good on my word. I’m not just going to sit around waiting for an invitation into the Bratva, I’m going to show him that he has to accept me.
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion,” I mumble, settling for a grumpy response rather than an angry one. The last thing I need to do is to fight with my brother before we leave the house. “You’re the one who said you’d be here for a couple of days only. It’s been a week and you’re still here.”
“And it’s a good thing I am,” he remarks, arching a brow. “Someone needs to look after you while you act recklessly.”
“Why don’t you keep looking after Anya and I’ll look after myself, yeah?”
Nico scoffs. “Like I’d ever take direction from you.”
An exacerbated sigh leaves me.
“Why don’t we focus on the task at hand?” Dmitri chimes in, his smooth voice unsurprisingly acting as the voice of reason. He may only be twenty-four, but the man is a dad to his core. Being levelheaded and calm is his speciality, unless something happens to his wife, of course.
It’s why I called him yesterday, and why he jumped on a plane to come help me, despite having a pregnant wife and two small children. He won’t stay long, of course. But he’ll be here for long enough to help me with what I need.
Nico blinks at him blandly. “The task at hand being you taking my little brother into a Bratva fighting ring to try and win the respect of your father and uncles so he can abandon his allegiance to The Outfit?”
“You’re only two years older than me,” I point out with a groan. Not to mention that I’m bigger than him. Tallerandheavier. “Calling me your little brother is fucking weird.”
“When you act like a reckless little child, it seems fitting.”
I throw my hands up, tired of defending myself. “I’m not being reckless.”
“He’s not,” Dmitri agrees evenly. “Ivan and I have been training with him. He knows how our men fight now. He will beat them, and when he wins, he will be offered Morozov ink.”
The Morozovs offer entry to any man who proves himself in their rings. A tattoo that welcomes you into their fold. It’s only a ticket into the bottom of their ranks, but I have no problem working my way up. I would take the most ridiculous of downgrades if it means I’m one step closer to being with Anya forever.
“You’ve been training him to beat your own men?” Nico questions doubtfully, almost scoffing.
“I knew that he would end up marrying my sister,” Dmitri reports with a light shrug. “I’ve been training him to beateveryone. He was already talented before, and already strong. But he was never dedicated to being the best. Now he is.”
My chest goes warm at the mention of marrying Anya. I’m not sure how far off of a reality that is in terms of timing, but it makes me feel nice inside. I’d take her as my wife tomorrow if I could. But I doubt Anton would like me very much if I did. And besides, Anya deserves much more romancing before I ask to put a ring on her finger.
