I take a drink and smile. “How did you find me here?”
“You aren’t the only one who needs a reprieve sometimes. Now, would you like to tell me what’s led you to the liquor cabinet before lunch?”
I don’t know how honest I want to be. It’s against my nature to show any weakness, but Ivan is one of my few sources of sound advice, so I want to share my frustrations. As wonderful as he is, though, complaining about being a woman isnothow one conducts business with a Bratva boss.
“What made you decide to hand this over tome? Surely, a male cousin of ours somewhere would gladly take the reins. It would definitely make everyone else happier to have a man leading the New York branch.”
Ivan is still for a moment before he answers. “I know you’ve met my son, Sasha. But did you know I have a daughter?”
“Yes, of course. Katarina, right? Sasha talked about her a lot when he was helping train Teddy, but I’ll have to admit, I didn’t know about her until recently.”
“You wouldn’t have. She was raised as my brother Pavel’s daughter. Her mother was forced to marry him, but the two of us fell in love. She died in childbirth, and Pavel always assumed Kat was his, so I kept my distance for everyone’s safety. He kept her hidden from the world, locked behind these compound walls, but regardless of her gilded cage, she blossomed into one of the most intelligent and kind humans I’ve ever known. She faces life head-on and never backs down from a challenge.” He smiles wistfully, and I hope I get to meet Kat sooner rather than later.
“Then there’s Sasha’s wife, Lucy. She lost the only family she knew when her mom died. She didn’t have anyone and was only in her early twenties, but she never let life’s darkness in. Instead, she continues to see the best in everyone and everything. I truly believe her light saved my son. I hope you have someone in your life you can turn to when the shadows of the business threaten to swallow us whole.”
If he means brother from another mother and right-hand man, I have Misha. If he means a lover, someone to share both my deepest thoughts and the banal ins and outs of everyday life…
“And last, there’s my wife, Blanche, who could run circles around any man I know. She certainly does me. She’s cunning and strong, and I know I couldn’t have accomplished so much in the past few years without her help. I studied your operations in Thunder Bay until I physically couldn’t read any more. I listened to the way your father talked about you, always with respect. I saw what you did down there when you started running things. You’re more capable than anyone I know to take over this Bratva. And quite frankly, I think the fact that you’re a woman makes it even better. You’ve got this.”
“Thank you.” I nod at him as he leaves, straightening my clothes as soon as the door shuts behind him.
Iwas born for this.
I’ve just put the half-empty bottle of liquor back on the shelf when my phone buzzes, and I smile as my brother’s silly picture pops up.
“Hello, Cuddles, everything okay?”
“Sis! Yeah, everything isgreat.”
“Good, good. Did you need something?
“Can’t a guy just check in on his most favorite sister in the whole wide world? Why does it always have to be meneedingsomething? How are you getting acclimated to New York?”
“Okay, well, thank you, I guess. Um, it’s fine. Sorry, I don’t typically talk on the phone for no reaso—”
“Oh great, I’m glad you’re liking it! Actually, there is onetinyfavor I have to ask of you.”
I knew it. God, I hope the house in Thunder Bay is still intact.“What?”
“Well, since you aren’t going to be at the compound much—”
“I’m actually stuck here for the next few mon—”
“Thatcher needs a place to stay, and I told him it wouldn’t be a problem for him to just stay there.”
“No, absolutely not. I have—”
“He won’t be in your way much at all, I promise. I mean, I’ve seen pictures of that mansion. Even if you were there, I doubt you would even notice him.”
“Teddy, I have a lot going on right now and—”
“I wouldn’t ask if he had a better option. His condo building caught fire, and his only other option right now is a hotel, but he gets sad when he’s cooped up in a hotel room without any friends.”
“His condocaught fire?”
“Yeah, about that…actually, just make sure he doesn’t have any candles.”
“Doesn’t have any candles?Wait, the fire in the condo was—”
