I give her a side glance. “Son as in… singular?”
She gives me a guilty smile. “I did say that, didn’t I? To be honest, they’re both egotists. It’s just thatIsaak is don.”
“Meaning what? He needs to be?”
“It takes a lot to be the kind of leader than a Bratva needs. You can’t show weakness, not ever. Youcan’t make a misstep because that could cost lives… the lives of the men who’ve sworn theirallegiance to you. Sometimes, that robs you of your humanity.”
“He seems to love it, though,” I point out somewhat hesitantly.
“He does,” Nikita concedes. “Sometimes, it’s amazing how much he reminds me of Vitaly.”
“Yes. He earned a reputation for being one of the most ruthless and unforgiving dons in the history ofNew York City. He reveled in that reputation. Wore it like a badge
