Chapter 60 Episode 60

Rodion looks like he doesn’t know how to react to any of this. Both Lev and Yulian are on edge. The little puppy, Yaromir, who has the unfortunate disadvantage of being the only heir Rodion has left, looks like he’s about to s**t himself. I appear to be the only calm one in the room. And why shouldn’t I be? I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. I’ve been ready. Slowly, Rodion stands. I don’t follow suit. I was ready for this meeting to be over half an hour ago. His hands tremble a little as he adjusts his coat. “Yaromir,” he says, addressing his nephew. “We are finished here.” The young man stands, but he keeps quite a distance between himself and his uncle. Apparently, he’s worried that anger might be catching. “I have made a decision,” Rodion tells me with the kind of self-righteous flare that reminds me of his dead daughter. “From this moment, I am breaking with the Stepanov Bratva. All our joint business ventures will be liquidated. All our current contracts will be dissolved. And all my money will be pushed into other Bratvas and mafias in the city that are in direct competition with you.” “I have no issue with the first two decisions,” I tell him. “That is your prerogative. But the third is an open call to war.” I laugh in disbelief. “Have you gone f*****g mad, old man? You really want to come at me like that?” “As a matter of fact, I do.” “And who’s going to run your Bratva after you’re gone?” He glances grudgingly at his nephew and I burst out laughing. Yaromir twitches visibly, his expression turning sour. “This one?” I cackle. “I’ll chew him up and spit him out.” “You’re underestimating the strength of my blood,” Rodion says fiercely. “Yeah,” I say, pulling out my gun. “And you’re underestimating the strength of my anger.” Then I point the gun at the old man’s face and pull the trigger. His brains hit the white wall behind him. His body collapses seconds later. Yaromir stares at Rodion’s crumpled form, his eyes wide with shock. Even Yulian seems paralyzed by what I’ve just done. Only Lev seems to understand. He moves to my side and nods. “I’ll get the clean-up team in here.” The man pivots to face me, still drenched in pale-faced horror. “Congratulations. You are now the don of the Ivanov Bratva.” “There’s no need to speak,” I say. “I just have one question. What is your vision for the Ivanovs?” “That’s right,” I say. “Your uncle just gave me a list of things he had in mind. Are you planning on seeing them through?” Yaromir blinks twice. I wonder how long it’s going to take him to recover. My patience is already stretched then. “I’d speak soon, if I were you,” Lev adds just before he leaves the room. Yaromir swallows his fear and shakes his head. “I… I will continue the Ivanovs’ alliance with… with you.” I smile and offer him my hand. “Welcome to the extended family, Yaromir. I’m sure you’ll fit in well. Your men will be waiting for you outside.” “I suggest you compose yourself first,” I tell him. “And get your story straight. The men won’t follow a weakling.” With those words, I hit him on the back and direct him towards the door. Yulian stares after him until he disappears from sight. “Did you really just do that?” “It would certainly seem so.” “And now, they’re reunited once again,” I snarl. He keeps his eyes on me, but I’m not in the mood to justify my intentions today. “Leave me.” He turns, his lips pressed tightly together, and exits. I walk over to the bar immediately. I find Jessa crouched down low, trying to make herself as small as possible. “Stand up,” I tell her. She struggles to her feet, her eyes wide with terror. “You knew I was back here?” “And… and you shot him anyway?” “I don’t tolerate betrayal, Jessa. It’s good for you to know that, too.” Her color is draining fast. I take a step towards her, but she backs away. “He… he was your father-in-law…” “Did she have it coming, too?” Jessa snaps. “Is that how you justified killing her?” “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I know that you’re a cold blooded killer who removes anyone who gets in your way. Just like you did with the man on the boat and with your father-in-law. Why not your wife, too?” “I wouldn’t deny killing her if I’d done it.” Her eyes are rife with fear and disappointment. She’s created a different narrative in her head. Probably some fairytale version of me that’s so far removed from reality that all it can give her now is heartbreak. “You need to sit down.” “Don’t touch me!” she snaps. Her voice is strong, but it must have taken all of her energy to stand up to me. Because a second later, she starts to shake. She tries to grab the edge of the bar, but she loses her grip. I catch her before she hits the floor. She stirs. Her breathing is strong, but clearly, she’s seen too much. Her body is shutting down to protect her mind. I lift her into my arms and carry her back to my room. The whole time, her fingers stay curled around the front of my shirt. “Anton, what’s going on?” Lev asks before he’s even through the door. When he walks in and sees Jessa unconscious, his eyes widen. “She was hiding behind the bar during our meeting with Rodion.” “f**k,” Lev growls. “Did you know?” “And you didn’t get her out of there?” “I thought it was important she stay,” I say vaguely. Lev sighs and then gestures to the bed. “Do you still think that?” “Just get Dr. Spegal in here,” I growl. “She was sick yesterday. I’m sure this is residual exhaustion, but I want to make sure it’s nothing serious.” “It’s probably just shock,” Lev says dismissively. “I didn’t ask for your medical opinion, sobrat. I want the doctor in here within the hour.” He nods respectfully. “I’ll get on it.” I know I should be downstairs talking to my men, preparing for the possible fallout of taking a major player off the board in such sudden and violent fashion. But I can’t bring myself to leave Jessa’s side. Yulian’s voice comes from behind me. I hear his frustration, but surely he’s not going to be stupid enough to question me about my preoccupation with Jessa right now. Surely not. “I don’t know yet. She fainted.” “Understandable. This isn’t her world.” I turn to him. “Is there something you want to say, brother?” “I was with Yaromir just now when he addressed the men who accompanied Rodion here.” He shakes his head. “They were pissed. And shocked. Obviously.” “And did Yaromir bring them into line or not?” I’m really not in the mood to kill anyone else tonight, so hopefully Rodion’s incompetent nephew can do at least one thing right. “Yaromir’s speech was reasonably convincing,” Yulian admits. “They’ll follow him for now.” “Until they find a better option,” I say. “Am I right in guessing that the better option is likely to be you?” I nod. “I never do anything without a f*****g reason, Yulian. Remember that.” He sighs and runs a frustrated hand through this hair. “Why are you here?” he asks abruptly. “I mean, you should have been down there observing Yaromir with the Ivanov men,” he says. “But instead, I find you here. With her.” I glare at him. “If you have something to say, just say it, Yulian.” “I thought this girl was just a distraction,” he says. “I didn’t think she meant so much to you.” “The fact that I’m here doesn’t mean anything. You and Lev are more than capable of handling the Ivanovs on your own.” “Jesus, brother. Come on,” he spits. “I may not be you, but I’m not stupid, either. This girl… you care about her.” “Is that a question or an accusation?” I glance at Jessa’s face. Her eyelashes flutter softly. She’s pale, but she looks beautiful. My chest throbs with something like pain, but not quite. Like sticking a fork in a socket. A full-body throb of sensation without a name. I push back the stab of guilt and turn to my brother. “I don’t know what this is yet.” “Really? Because I think I do.” “You can leave now,” I snap. “Send the doctor in the moment he gets here.” Yulian nods and leaves me without another word. I sit alone with Jessa, wondering what the f**k I’m doing with her at all. Yulian is right—I should have been down there, observing the atmosphere when the Ivanov men were told their don was dead. Killed at the hands of his own son-in-law. But the idea of leaving Jessa’s side… it felt wrong. Still does. Like someone is pulling me in the wrong direction. Leaving Jessa’s side now reminds me of the same feeling I had on my wedding day. I stand up as the doctor enters. Spegal is a short, balding man with a sour expression that doesn’t inspire a lot of trust. And yet, over the years, he’s been the most loyal and reliable of the Bratva doctors my father retained. The man is pushing seventy now, but he’s as sharp as ever. I move aside so he can examine her.