Page 5 of Ruthless Vows

We’re both seated around a round table, with him at the head of it, of course.

“To what do I owe this visit?”

“The Mincettis,” I start. “I’m meeting the Don today in New York. I came to make sure I won’t be running into any surprises or traps.”

“And how can I guarantee that?”

“By assuring me that you haven’t had any altercations with the family in the past. Can you guarantee I won’t be met with hostility?”

The Pakhan strokes the beard on his chin. “I can’t guarantee anything, Ivan. But I will say that I’ve never had the pleasure of relating with the Mincettis. The New York factions and ours have made a point to stay out of each other’s business. Until now,” he adds meaningfully.

I lean back in my seat, flicking an eyebrow up. “We need to establish alliances. Making a deal with the Mincettis will be good for us.”

“You said that a couple of months ago when we were negotiating with Ramirez. And now look at us.”

“Ramirez and the Italians have been helpful.”

“Catering to their drug supply as well as ours hasn’t exactly served as a boon to our resources, has it? If anything, we’re struggling to maintain our own supply. I warned you this would happen, Ivan,” he says darkly.

“The Mincettis have contacts that’ll open up a lot more possibilities for us. We just have to build a relationship with them. It shouldn’t be too hard.”

The Pakhan stares at me for several seconds before saying with a snarl, “I still don’t like this.”

“Is your biggest issue the fact that the Mincettis are Italians or that their Don is a woman?”

He glares at me for the question, despite us both knowing that I’m spot on in my observation. The Bratva is an organization that values the upholding of traditions above all else. And the Pakhan is an embodiment of those traditions. They don’t see women as fit to lead.

Those archaic ideas don’t concern me. If she found a way to the position and has managed to keep it, then she deserves it.

“Careful, Volkov. You’re constantly toeing the edge of the plank. Maybe one of these days you’ll fall off it.”

That’s a threat if I’ve ever heard one. The Pakhan and I have a love-hate relationship. In the sense that he hates how powerless he is in relation to me, but also loves me for doing his job for him on multiple occasions.

I rise to my feet, having gotten what I wanted.

“The good news, Pakhan, is that if I fall, the Bratva falls with me,” I say easily, unfazed by his threats.

The old man is a like a wolf with no bite. He curses at me in Russian, his eyes narrowed in a glare as I make my exit.

My men and I head for the hangar, where my private jet is already waiting to take me to New York. I have no doubt that the meeting with the Mincettis will go well. When we arrive in the city, we make the drive toward the headquarters, which is a clear display of just how much power they wield.

Katerina Mincetti is just as I expected—a fierce, beautiful woman, and one who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. I can see how she’s the head of a family in the Cosa Nostra. She listens to my requests and makes some of her own.

By the time negotiations are complete, it’s solidified that I made the right choice. Her family’s resources are exactly what the Bratva needs. And thanks to her Russian roots, she’s more inclined to provide us the assistance we need. We’re nearing theend of our meeting when her phone starts to ring. She shoots me an apologetic look before getting to her feet to answer the call. When she returns, her brown eyes are shadowed with worry.

“Mr. Volkov, I have to apologize. I had dinner reservations made for us at a Chinese restaurant in the city, but I won’t be able to go with you. There’s an emergency at home,” she informs me apologetically.

“It’s not a problem. We’re done anyway,” I say, getting to my feet. “You can cancel the reservation.”

She shakes her head, offering me a small smile. “I think you should go regardless. You’ll be spending the night in New York, right? The restaurant is new and if I’m remembering correctly, you’re a big fan of Chinese food.”

I ponder her words for a moment before deciding to agree. It wouldn’t do me any harm to have dinner at a nice restaurant. And she’s right. I do like Chinese food.

“Alright. I’ll check it out. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Mincetti.”

“You can call me Katerina. And it’s nice to meet you, too. You’re actually not as bad as I thought you’d be.”

“Not a lot of people would agree with that statement.”

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