Page 98 of Shackled

Over the next few days, we work tirelessly. I do my best to be firm but fair with Lev by my side. Slowly, I begrudgingly earn the respect of the remaining few who were initially skeptical, those I hadn’t won over before Javier’s demise. With Lev’s strategic mind and unyielding support, the transition is smoother than I had hoped.

Within a few days, our trafficking ring crumbles like a rickety old bridge. I take pleasure in watching those held captive set free while simultaneously working our other income streams. Solidifying the cartel’s new normal will take time, but the initial days are promising.

With the amount of work that we need to do, we stay a bit longer than planned. It doesn’t take long for us to hit our first wrinkle. I’m honestly relieved because there’s no possible way we’d skate through this transition without opposition. I’d rather bring the toxins to the surface now and cleanse them for good.

“A small faction is resisting our new direction,” Juan-Carlo tells me, scrubbing a hand across his leathery face. His warm brown eyes are wary. “Address them directly and publicly. They are too cowardly to continue.”

I nod and call a meeting.

When everyone is assembled, I take my place as their leader. I stand and address them.

“It’s come to my attention that some of you are unhappy with my decision to end what my brother began.” I sip on a glass of lemon water, hoping my nausea subsides. I need to stay strong in the face of adversity, no matter what it takes. No one here needs to know I’m pregnant yet. They might see it as a vulnerability they can exploit, and I have yet to determine who’s loyal.

Damn it, though, I’m craving a good, hearty plate of golden empanadas and an afternoon nap, but duty calls.

One of the dissenters stands, his voice laced with defiance when he addresses me. I know exactly who he is—Luis Esperanto. “You are ruining us! Your plan eliminates forty percent of our income.” He spits on the floor, eyes flashing. I open my mouth to speak when Lev gets to his feet, his hands clenched.

I put a steadying hand on his shoulder.

“Ruining us?” I scoff, my voice cutting through the tension. “Esperanto, what’s truly ruining us is clinging to the filthy, reprehensible business of human trafficking. It’s a stain on our legacy, a legacy that I will not allow to be tarnished any further. If you’re so concerned about our income, perhaps you should focus on expanding the countless other ventures we have instead of whining like a coward.” I meet his gaze squarely. He isn’t the type to take direction or a dressing down from a woman, but I give him no choice. I place both of my hands on the table in front of me.

“And let me make one thing perfectly clear,” I continue, my eyes boring into his. I put the full weight of my power as leader of the Los Sangre Dorada behind my glare. “This organization will evolve, with or without you. Adapt or get left behind. If you can’t see the value in forging a more honorable path, not to mention the potential of far more lucrative means ahead when we eliminate distractions and harness the power of our resources, then you’re not just a hindrance—you’re a liability. And liabilities, Luis, have no place in my operation.”

“Are you threatening me?” he snaps.

Lev vibrates beside me, holding himself back with concerted effort.

“Oh, love,” I say, my voice laced with condescension. “You are hardly a threat. You are so much more expendable than the women you parade so casually.” I cock my head to the side. “When was the last time you gave birth to an heir?” Some of the men snicker.

I pause, letting my words sink in. “So, I suggest you either get on board with the new direction or find yourself a new line of work. Because trust me, I won’t lose a wink of sleep over cutting dead weight.”

He opens his mouth and closes it again, finally sitting down with a huff of anger.

Lev stands beside me. I nod.

“Talk to my wife like that again, and I’ll make you regret it... you’ll beg for death before the end.” Lev’s voice is a low, dangerous growl, radiating anger in palpable waves. The men shift uneasily, murmurs rippling through the crowd. His eyes, cold and lethal, lock onto the dissenter, promising pain and retribution.

I nod my thanks to him and continue, my tone icy. I will not put up with this bullshit.

“Let me be clear. I will not tolerate dissent, not from any of you. Those of you before me now are here as an act of mercy from me.”

The man’s lip curls in a sneer, but before he can respond, Lev speaks up again. “This is the new order. Adapt or I’m happy to escort you out.”

The look on his face says what he doesn’t say out loud—he would be more than happy to escort him.

“Some resist change,” I say, my voice loud and clear. “But change is necessary for us to grow. And grow we will.”

No one speaks for long moments. “What will it be?” Lev asks, his tone grim and his gaze steely. Realizing the futility of resistance, the man nods his head, grumbling.

“You’ll watch for any dissent among them,” I say quietly to Juan-Carlo. “And report directly back to me.”

But with each day that passes, as we prove with the data we’ve collected that the power of the Romanov Bratva alliance will make us thrive, dissent dwindles. The men here have longed to be part of something greater. My brother did me a favor, sowing dissension and rivalry among his men. Now that I’ve given them this opportunity, they’re grateful.

Being a member of the strongest cartel in Colombia with the ability to influence North America is an opportunity none here would ever take lightly.

In all of this, my respect for Lev and his for me grows. We have weathered the storm of resistance and come out stronger on the other side.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day of dealing with cartel business, he pulls me close, his eyes softening as he looks at me.

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