Page 46 of Bratva King's Secret Twins

“The Irish are still recoupingfrom their war with the Polish last year,” I say, but before Aleksandr can counter me, a knock is at the door. Aleksandr doesn’t keep his eyes off me as he yanks the door open and my secretary, a petite brown-skinned girl with a slick back ponytail and big glasses, peeks her head in. “Yes, Lily?”

Aleksandr's intense gaze shifts down to Lily, almost piercing through her. She startles when she notices him looking at her and grips my door frame harder. “Jeez, Alek,” Nadia scolds. “You’re going to give Lily a fucking heart attack. Stop looking at her like that.”

Nadia's voice is stern but Aleksandr doesn't flinch. Instead, he leans in closer to her. Lily was sort of a childhood friend of ours, always quiet with her nose in a book. After her father passed away four years ago, I paid for her to finish college at Yale with a double major in political science and British literature. She now works for us as my secretary, thanks to a hefty salary that I offered as an incentive, but why Alek is looking at her like he would bite her headoff is beyond me.

"Nik," Lily squeaks, trying to blend into the wall. "Mr. Doyle and a group of Irishmen are here."

"Thanks, Lil," I nod, and she gives me a tight smile before slipping out of the room. Aleksandr's eyes remain fixed on the spot where Lily had been standing instead of returning my gaze.

Nadia leans forward, pulling my attention back. "Well, boys, it's time to go down with the ship."

The boardroom is a battlefield, with the Irish positioned around the perimeter like a well-oiled army ready for battle. Their eyes are sharp and their muscles tense, exuding an aura of confidence and power. Many other men would shit their pants at the show of power they have, but I know I am the safest man in this room.

Nadia is a fucking beast who could possibly have the highest body count of murders in this city, maybe even this country. If provoked, we would unleash a wrath that these men can't even imagine. One whistle and five of them would be dead, while Alek crushes Doyle's skull in a headlock with a purpling black eye. We are not just murderers; we are sadistic killers who revel in every drop of blood spilled. And if these men dare to start something, it would only give us the perfect opportunity to release our pent-up frustrations towards each other, and maybe some of the frustration I had towards Gwen. Missing teeth and destroyed suits would be a small price to pay for the adrenaline rush of a good fight. I’d probably be thankful for the opportunity.

“Mr. Doyle, I see you and your men have made yourself comfortable,” I remark, smiling as I walk in, unbuttoning the middle of my suit jacket as I make my way to the head of the table, opposite Doyle.

Doyle snorts through his nose, looking over as his right hand man Edward speaks on his behalf, “Better safe than sorry, gentlemen and lady.”

“Oh Eddy, honey, we both know from my high school days I am no lady.” Nadia laughs, taking her comfortable position to my right and swinging her boots up on the desk. Edward gives her a short snort, and she gives him a wicked smile that on anyone else would be charming; on her, it's downright sadistic.

“Stop with ya’ flirtin’, Edward, we are here on business,” Doyle scolds, shifting in his seat.

“I always say business and pleasure go together.” I smile, and Doyle growls, flexing his muscles, before spitting on my floor and leveling me with a glare. The room is silent for a moment, but I continue to smile. “Don’t you worry, the cleaning lady will get that.”

Aleksandr jumps in, “I am sure you have been aware of the increasing pressure from the Yakuza on our operations.” His voice is steady and commanding as I lean back my chair, eyeing the Irish leader across the table.

Doyle nods, his expression serious. “Aye, we’ve been keeping tabs on them. It's strange, though, for them to come after you.”

“Why is that, Doyle? We are the biggest fish in the pond,” Nadia chides in a teasing manner before pouting her bottom lip out at him.

Doyle's nose flares, and Edward cuts in, “Your father Boris always had a close relationship with the Yakuza. You both have had a truce for years, and we don’t understand why they would back out of that deal if your transition to power was so smooth.”

Aleksandr shifts in his seat, his eyes narrowing. Nadia's body stiffens slightly but she masks it with a whistle. I, on the other hand, come up with a lie quickly. “It’s precisely because of that relationship we’re in this mess. They know our weaknesses. They think they can dismantle us.”

Nadia catches onto the lie quickly, tapping her fingers against her thighs, her eyes cold. “We need to change the game. A truce between us and the Irish, and possibly the Italians, could turn the tide.”

Doyle clicks his head to the side, his tone skeptical. “And why should we trust you? Boris was intimate with the Yakuza. What makes you different?”

I lean forward, my gaze intense. “Because Boris is no longer calling the shots. I am. And I intend to protect what’s ours and our allies at any cost.”

Nadia kicks her boots off the table with a wide smile. “Besides, you don’t think we came here without incentive, did you?”

“You’ve wanted the Upper East Side for a while, right?” I say with a smirk because Doyle shoots up straight in his seat.

“What about it, Nikolai?” Edward’s eyes narrow.

“Join us and we’ll call it neutral territory for just us,” I say.

Doyle smiles toothily, leaning in forward. “Let negotiations begin then.”

By the endof the meeting, we agreed upon a temporary truce with a neutral Upper East Side and we gave them 10% of our property in the Bronx. The minute we were sure they were out of earshot, Nadia turns on me. “Is that it?Did you fucking know Dad was in bed with the fucking Yakuza?”

I wring my hand through my hair, my eyes wide. “No, I did not fucking know!”

“So, this war is starting on behalf of Dad?” Nadia growls, her lips tight and eyes murderous.

“I would bet money on it,” Aleksandr responds calmly. Nadia lets out a guttural scream, breathing heavily, and I walk closer to her.

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