Page 20 of Ruthless Vows

“Your apology isn’t going to stop this fucking war, Alexei. Aguilar wants you dead. And I’d be inclined to let him have his way. But as fate would have it, you’re my brother and I can’t do that.”

“Lucky me,” he mutters under his breath.

I shut my eyes briefly in frustration. “You understand what I’m going to have to do, right?”

“Wipe out the Aguilars,” he answers.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve got to make the Pakhan and the rest of the Bratva aware of this situation and ask their leave to purse this.”

I don’t need their help to clean out a drug ring. But I can’t make any decision solely on my own. Especially not decisions that could affect the entire organization.

“And what are you going to do to me?” he asks, referring to his punishment. “Cut me off? Exile?”

The last time I sent him away, it was to New York four years ago. I’m not sure what happened on that trip, but he came back slightly changed, more withdrawn. From what I’ve heard, he met some woman there, fell in love, and she broke his heart. I didn’t give much of a fuck about the sob story. Except that the heartbreak seemed to temper his erratic tendencies for a while.

And now we’re back here again.

“Just get out. And stay out of my sight over the next couple of days,” I grit out.

He nods, getting to his feet. Before he leaves, though, I speak up.

“And yes, I’m absolutely cutting you off. If you take one step out of this villa in the foreseeable future, Alexei, I’ll end you.I won’t be the brother who cried murder anymore. I’ll actually murder you. Understand?”

He doesn’t look back at me but he does pause in his steps, the only indication that he heard me. Then he walks out, leaving me alone.

Ruslan enters a couple seconds later. “What now, boss?” he asks.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, thinking over a plan for the next few days.

“Gather as many of our men as you can. And tell Clyde to get the car ready. We’re going to the Pakhan’s house.”

Ruslan nods and goes to do just that. The conversation I’m about to have is the absolute last thing I want to do. I’d rather chew asphalt than face the Pakhan right now, if I’m being honest.

It’s a similar scene at the Pakhan’s house, like always. People milling about, both men and women. Curiously when I arrive at his office, the door is locked. I have to wait for his head guard standing outside to send him a text announcing my appearance.

A few minutes later, the door opens and a scantily clothed young blonde walks out. A blonde that is decidedly not the Pakhan’s wife. I keep my face blank at the sight, stepping inside once I’m cleared to do so.

He’s seated behind his desk, looking not the least bit ruffled or abashed at his obvious adultery. Then again, I doubt his wife has ever had any false notions of his loyalty. Igor arches an eyebrow as I approach and I can tell from the glint in his eyes that he already knows why I’m here.

“You’re going to make it a habit of dropping in unannounced, Volkov?” he asks in Russian.

I reply in Russian as well. “Only in necessary situations, Pakhan. We have a problem.”

“Nyet. You have a problem,” he corrects gruffly. “It would seem that little brother of yours is intent on being a thorn in your side for the rest of your life.”

“So you know. Good. What do you plan to do about it?”

He grabs a bottle of whiskey and pours some in his glass, taking his sweet time to gulp down some of the liquid before replying to me.

“Absolutely nothing. This seems like a personal matter. Yours.”

“Anything concerning me concerns the entire Bratva,” I growl.

Igor raises his eyebrows. “Really? So you’d like to announce to the entire Bratva the depths of your incompetence.”

My hands ball into fists. “I’m going to wipe out every single one of the Aguilars,” I vow.

“You’ll do no such thing. They were wronged, and in this case it follows that we try to appease them.”

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