Page 22 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

Artem’s right. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. Starving myself won’t change anything. It won’t make Maxim show mercy, and it won’t help me find a way out of this mess. Slowly, I move toward the table, sitting down and picking up the fork. The food tastes bland, but I force it down anyway, knowing that I need to keep up my strength.

I push the plate away when I’m done, my appetite already gone. My mind races with thoughts of escape, of what’s next, but for now, all I can do is focus on one thing.

Surviving.

Chapter Eleven - Maxim

The click of chess pieces echoes through the quiet room as I move my knight across the board, eyeing Timur’s side with calculated focus. He’s a decent player, not as skilled as me, but enough to make the game interesting. Artem leans against the wall, arms crossed, observing our game with mild interest. It’s a rare moment of calm, the three of us in my house, sharing a quiet evening. For now, at least, everything is going according to plan.

“You’re going to lose, Timur,” I say, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth as I make my move.

Timur snorts, leaning forward to study the board. “We’ll see about that, Boss.” He shifts one of his pawns forward, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

Artem, who’s been watching in silence, finally speaks up. “By the way, there’s some news about Kace.”

I glance up from the chessboard, intrigued. “What is it?”

“He’s going nuts looking for Sophia,” Artem replies, a faint smirk on his face. “He has no idea where she is, and it’s driving him insane. He’s putting pressure on all his men, but they don’t have a clue.”

I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. The satisfaction of knowing Kace is spiraling is a sweet, lingering pleasure. “Good,” I say, my voice laced with amusement. “Let him squirm. It’s only the beginning.”

“He’s desperate,” Artem continues. “There’s talk he might start making reckless moves soon if he doesn’t find her. Word on the street is, he’s losing control.”

Timur shakes his head, glancing at me. “Reckless or not, Kace is still dangerous.”

“He’s not dangerous,” I counter, my tone dismissive. “He’s weak. Desperate men make mistakes, and Kace is no exception. His downfall is already in motion.”

Timur moves a bishop, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. “Check.”

I glance at the board, seeing his move but not letting it distract me. I’ve been waiting for this, the moment when Kace Preston would finally start losing everything. Taking his daughter was just the first step. Breaking him comes next.

Artem chuckles softly. “You know, I almost feel bad for him. He’s running around like a headless chicken.Almost.”

“I don’t,” I reply coolly. “He deserves every second of it. Let him burn.”

We fall into a comfortable silence, the pieces clicking against the board as Timur contemplates his next move. Then, out of nowhere, Timur’s voice shifts, his tone more serious.

“There’s something else we need to talk about, though,” he says, glancing at me. “Don Fernando.”

The mention of the Italian Mafia boss makes me pause, my attention sharpening. I glance up at Timur, seeing the seriousness in his expression. “What about him?”

Timur leans back, his hands folded together as he speaks. “We’ve been so focused on the Americans and the smaller gangs, we didn’t pay attention to the Italians. Fernando’s growing in strength and size. Fast. He’s got a skilled labor force now, and his numbers are multiplying. They could challenge us if we’re not careful.”

Artem snorts, shaking his head. “The Italians know their place.”

Timur isn’t amused, though. His expression remains serious. “I’m not joking. Fernando’s not like the others. He’s clever. He’s been building his empire quietly, keeping out of our way, but he’s getting stronger. My sources are telling me we need to start paying attention to him before it’s too late.”

I nod, considering his words carefully. Timur has a point. Fernando has always stayed on the periphery, not causing much trouble, but that’s changing. My own sources have been whispering about his growing influence for months now. The Italians may not have been a threat before, but that’s no longer the case.

“I’ve heard the same,” I say finally, moving my queen across the board with a calculated swipe. Timur grimaces, realizing he’s about to lose. “Don Fernando’s been making moves, but he’s smart. He’s staying just out of sight, waiting for the right moment to make his play.”

Timur rubs his jaw thoughtfully. “If we don’t do something soon, he might become a bigger problem than we anticipated. He’s already poaching some of the smaller families we used to do business with.”

“That’s why we need to keep an eye on him,” I reply, my tone measured. “Let him think he’s gaining ground. When the time is right, we’ll deal with him.”

Artem shrugs. “If he steps out of line, we crush him. Simple as that.”

“Simple, but dangerous,” Timur counters, shaking his head. “We can’t afford to be reckless. Fernando’s not like Kace. He’s patient. He won’t make stupid moves.”

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