Page 61 of Claimed By the Bratva Brothers

“Whatever it was, it’s none of my business,” Bowman replies. “I just want them as far away from you and your father as possible. Don’t forget, they kidnapped me. They held me hostage for days.”

“I thought you said you didn’t know for sure it was them?”

His lips twist into an arrogant smirk. “You may be a genius Lyric, but I’m pretty high up on the IQ scale as well, if you remember.”

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to offend you.” I sense the need to tread carefully here.

“You need to understand something, Lyric, and I’m glad we have the opportunity to talk about this now. The Sokolov’s are going down for a multitude of reasons. Their expectations of the future are unrealistic. You can’t polish a turd and call it gold, and that is precisely what they’re trying to do. The Bratva serves its purpose as is, the same purpose for over a hundred years.

“The mere fact that they think they can push it into a different, more legitimate direction isn’t just a wild dream, it’s pure delusion. The Sokolov’s are fighting a system designed by their fathers and grandfathers. They’re fighting a system designed by my father and grandfather. They will never succeed.”

“You give them little credit,” I say. “According to my algorithm…”

I pause as Bowman bursts into a bout of copious laughter. “You ran them through your algorithm? You sweet, naive child.”

“I’m not sure I understand what’s funny here.”

I’m also not sure how much longer I can keep this fake pleasantry up. Bowman clearly isn’t interested in partaking in an actual interview with me. He’s more interested in showboating and teasing me about the Sokolov’s. There’s a play here, and it seems that I am meant to be one of his pawns, which makes me wonder what his endgame is, at least where I’m concerned.

He knows I’m not seeing Max, Ivan, and Artur anymore, regardless of the nature of our dynamic. It’s his way of telling me he stays informed about his enemies.

“Okay, let me try to put things in perspective for you,” Bowman says. “You’re a brilliant woman, a mastermind about to change history in many ways. Your father is a good man and a sharp, promising politician. Yet somehow, you managed to get involved with the Bratva and have seen more law enforcement in a month than most people do their whole lives. Is this how you wish to fail, Lyric? By associating yourself with the worst of the worst?”

“Jack, forgive me, but I had a business relationship with the Sokolov’s. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Let’s assume I believe that” he replies dryly, “and that you weren’t getting in deep with them. It’s beside the point, anyway. Even a business relationship could spell doom for your academic career. They’re toxic, they’re dangerous, they’re the scourge of our society, and I will do everything in my power to take them, and all of their associates out for good. I’ve got your father’s support in this, along with the Bureau.”

“Is that what you’re determined to do?” I ask, my tone flat. I’m getting kind of tired of hearing the same crap, over and over again. “Or are you just determined to make sure they stay in their lane and do nothing about a system that has brought you colossal profits and influence?”

“I’m offended.”

“I’m offended by the amount of self-righteous bullshit that you and my father and Director Smith keep trying to feed me. You all shower me with compliments, saying that I’m so intelligent, that nothing gets past me, yet all I hear coming out of your mouths are layers upon layers of shameless lies. I must really look stupid to you.” I pause, giving Bowman a moment to blink and gather his thoughts. “Why did you call me here today? It obviously wasn’t for an actual interview. You couldn’t give a rat’s ass about my thesis. You know damn well that I can finish my dissertation without any of your precious quotes.”

“There she is,” Bowman chuckles, increasingly satisfied with my reaction. “The kitty does have claws. Smith was right about you.”

“I just want to be left alone.”

“And that is precisely what I called you in for, my apologies for the slight deception,” he says. “I wanted to make sure that you are, indeed, done with them.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re about to get wiped off the face of the earth and I promised your father that I would at least try to keep you out of it. You can’t stop what’s coming, Lyric. You can’t change a world that has no interest in being changed. Personally, I doubt your algorithm will get anywhere, because no one really wants things to be different. If they did, the streets would be burning, day in and day out. The whole planet would rebel. Nations would unite. But nobody wants that utopia that you and the Sokolov’s envision.”

“You don’t want it. You and those who profit from the chaos.”

He smiles broadly. The sheer sight of him makes me sick to my stomach. “Consider this your only warning. I sure hope you’re truly done with the Sokolov’s, Lyric. Because you don’t want to be anywhere near them when we go after them. The Bratva as a whole will remain as it is, serving the same purpose as always, until they are deemed useless.

“If you don’t keep your distance, you will find yourself engulfed in something neither I, nor your father, will be able to save you from. Matthew may not be Father of the Year, but he does love you. I’d like him to get the opportunity to see you grow old.”

Slowly, I grab my bag and get up, only to realize that my knees have gotten weak. “Will that be all?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

“Send me those interview questions in an email and I’ll reply with some nice quotes for your paper. Let’s keep it civil until the end, shall we?”

I simply nod.

He watches, still smiling, as I walk out of his office. I glide past the PA, barely mumbling a goodbye as I head straight for the elevator. By the time I’m downstairs I’m virtually running out of Bowman’s building. My heart is thudding and my breath comes quick as the world spins all around me.

Having lost control over my senses, I shudder and stop for a moment, waiting for a semblance of clarity to return. Whatever it is they’re planning against the Sokolov’s, it’s going to happen soon. I broke it off with them because I need this baby of mine to be protected, but I did promise to help them from afar and I intend to keep that promise. I’ve already supplied them with all the information I had about my father, and I still have some scenarios running through the algorithm. I need to speed that process up and start looking deeper into it.

---