Page 14 of Merciless Queen

After the past two months of constant training and moving into Papa’s role, I’ve also learned a lot about myself and the organization. Trust is invaluable in this position, and I’ll only surround myself with people who have mine.

In the past three months, I have changed plenty. No longer the woman who bowed to her father’s whims. Who bit her tongue and smiled when she was ordered to. That was who I was. Papa’s pawn, moved around the board according to his command. Playing pretty to lure in a suitable husband.

That’s the persona I was still portraying when I entered the meeting room three months ago and demanded Papa’s headsrecognize me as the new Pakhan. How silly I was even then, to entertain the notion of having to prove myself to anyone when this position is mine by birthright. Mine, and I don’t need to justify why it is.

It’s that woman they’re all expecting to enter that room, but I’ve transformed. Because contrary to what they all believe, I’m fucking smart. Ihadto change, to become someone I’ve always wanted to embrace, in order to make the other necessary organizational modifications. The Bratva can’t continue how it’s been functioning. There’s better paths, and it’s those I’ve begun paving, making this meeting a mere formality and nothing more.

When everyone behind those double doors doubted me, I rose to the challenge. Dozens murdered at my hand. Every bank statement from every single account the Bratva has—offshore ones as well—I’d read. Every email sent, every deal signed, I’ve reviewed. I learned the organization inside and out and rose to every single challenge thrown my way.

“Da,”I answer whoever asked it. So lost in my thoughts, I’m not paying attention to anything but one fact: success.

I move toward the doorway, hands brushing over both my thighs. My favourite knife is strapped into one holster, and the gun that shot my first kill is in the opposite one. Both of these will be used tonight, and after reviewing all the files I have over the months, shit about some of the men inside came to light. My next mark had a target on his forehead the second I saw his signature.

By my right and one step behind, Dimitri reaches for the door. He’ll always be my right-hand man, and after today, it’s official. Anastasia and Lev bring up the rear. Lev, already pissing off his father by aligning with me and not inside with the “others,” and Anastasia, since I’m now being blamed for her new involvement in the Bratva—as though she wasn’t already.

“Do you remember,” she murmurs, “the text I sent you that day in response to yours, when you were in New York?”

“Vividly.” It was in reply to a picture I texted her of me lounging by Erico Rossi’s outdoor pool, waiting for him to eventually emerge from his office and find me in his wife’s place.

Anastasia:

When will you have the life you want rather than the life your father wants for you?

“Just happy you’re chasing the life you deserve,” she comments.

The twins have agreed to take on the duty of being my two Spies, effectively replacing Ivan’s position. One Spy watches over my security group and handles the day-to-day operations, which will be Anastasia since her knowledge of the Bratva in general and her gritty insights into what’s been going on will be valuable. That’s on top of the extra job she’s willingly and happily taken on: managing the transition from trafficking to brothels.Andwhile she still continues her ballet performances because she genuinely enjoys them.

Lev is managing the support group, which handles all the criminal activities the Bratva has their hand in. His technical skills will streamline so many of the processes, and he’s already respected among many of the employees he’ll be overseeing, making it an easy and ideal match.

Dimitri opens the double doors, silencing the bustle of talking inside. No one’s sitting, and my uncle stands by the head of the long table, apparently trying to claim direction of this meeting.

But there is no meeting needed. Three months ago, I agreed to a trial to prove myself, and if I wasn’t up to standards by now,they would have already gotten rid of me. The fact I’m still alive speaks volumes.

“Plemyannitsa,”my uncle greets, shoving away from his leaning position over the long table. Calling menieceis a power move on his part. A way to make it known he isn’t viewing me as an equal.

“Ivan.” I stalk the length of the table alone, my Elite remaining by the door, ready to take the seats of the others when they clear out. Once at the head, I nudge my uncle away with a hard stare and a firm stance. My heels are so high—courtesy of Anastasia’s closet—but chosen for a reason: to put me a couple inches taller than him.

I flick my fingers his way until he gets the hint and moves away, his sneer a mixture of respect and hatred. Once he’s completely gone, I face all the others, sharp blood-red nails making a rhythmic scraping along the table’s surface.

“Let’s get this underway, why don’t we? It’s obvious you all will list every reason I shouldn’t continue as Pakhan, so shout them out now.” I make a show of spreading my hands apart, palms up, granting them the floor.

No one talks. They all stare at my uncle. Cowards.

“This isn’t right, Vanessa,” Ivan pleads for the group. “We have already decided three months ago that no matter how much you are your father’s daughter, we must consider the rest of the world. How will it look to the other crime families if a woman is leading us?”

I purse my lips in fake consideration. “They could see us as an example. Maybe more women will step up.”

He rolls his eyes. “The Bratva isn’t a place for you to spout your feminist shit.”

I let the insult slide off me in order to still pretend that they need convincing of my suitability, even though it’s long beendecided. They’ll have to put a bullet in my head before I step down and hand Papa’s throne off to someone else.

“While Papa enjoyed managing the Bratva from the safety of his office, behind thick, brick walls and bulletproof windows, and having his Brigadiers control the soldiers,” I scan those very same Brigadiers, “Ihave not. Over the past three months, I met with every single person in the Bratva’s employ. I’ve witnessed and contributed to the betting pot of the underground fight rings myself. Have toured every drug facility we own and signed off on dozens of skin trade deals.” I despised signing off on them but did so only to continue playing the part needed at the time. They’re being closely tracked ever since the women have left our sight and intercepting them is already in motion because after I’m done appeasing these fuckers, they’re being brought home. “And I’ve personally saw to the execution of dozens. Other than not having a cock between my legs, give meonereason I’m unfit for this job.”

Silence.

One second passes.

Two.

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