Page 62 of Ruthless Lullaby

"I fucking hope so," I say. "He’s been doing okay so far. He’s not going to fuck up this one. But I’ll be watching his every move, just to be sure."

"Can I be honest with you, boss?" Pavel says.

"Tell me."

"The kidney situation is the least of my worries," he says."I have other things on my mind."

I frown. "Like what?"

"Look, boss.” Pavel clears his throat. “We've been in some pretty shitty situations in the past and we always found a way out, right?” he shoots me a look. “We'll get that kidney to Shirkov in time, I’m sure of it."

"Yes,bratok, but it’s not every day we sink an entire fucking cargo ship," I scoff. “We don’t have the luxury of handling this casually.”

"And I’m not suggesting that we should," Pavel says. "We’ll leave nothing to chance, boss. I’ll contact some people in Bangladesh as a backup plan, in case Maurice fucks up. We’re gonna be fine, boss, I promise.”

“Right.” I glance at my second in command. “What’s bothering you then?”

“Right now… I'm more concerned about your position.” Pavel hesitates, giving me a side-eye. “You’re a single man with no strong alliances. It makes you vulnerable. Shirkov knows this too."

I frown, not entirely following his train of thought. "What does that have to do with the kidney situation?"

Pavel sighs, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. "Shirkov is allied with his wife's family, boss. The Sokolovs. A very powerful clan, with deep ties to the government and the criminal underworld. If they decide to make a move against you, we are under a bigger pile of shit than we’ve ever been."

I wave a hand dismissively, even as a cold knot of unease settles in my gut. "It won’t get there, Pavel. I can handle Shirkov and his in-laws." But even as the words leave my mouth, I know I'm being naive. Fucking Pavel has a point as usual. The Bratva is an ancient organization, steeped in tradition and rigid hierarchies. A man without a wife, without an heir to carry on his legacy is seen as weak, unmoored. An easy target for ambitious rivals and hungry wolves.

I lean back in my seat, rubbing a hand over my face. "Blyad… you're right," I admit grudgingly. "Iamin a vulnerable position. If Shirkov decides to use this kidney situation as an excuse to come after me, we’ll be fighting a war on two fronts."

Pavel nods, his expression grim. "Exactly, boss. And with all due respect, you're not getting any younger. You need to think about the future of the organization, about securing your legacy."

I feel a flicker of annoyance at the implied criticism, but I know it’s just my ego. My second in command is only speaking the truth. As thePakhan, it's my responsibility to ensure the continuity and strength of the Bratva. And right now, I'm failing in that duty.

I stand up abruptly, pacing the room like a caged tiger. My mind is racing, weighing options and discarding them just as quickly.

Yes, I need to secure that kidney for Shirkov, and hopefully bury the hatchet with him for good. But what good is a truce if I’m seen as a weakling? It’s not like Shirkov or any of these Bratva-fuckers can be trusted. If they think I’m vulnerable, they will find an alibi to come after me and my empire. I must start thinking long-term, shore up my alliances, and strengthen my position within the underworld.

And I know exactly what I need to do to make that happen.

I stop in my tracks as something dawns on me. There's only one way to kill two birds with one stone, solve both my immediate problems, and my long-term vulnerability.

I must get married. I just need to do it sooner than I had planned.

I turn back to Pavel, my eyes glinting with a new sense of purpose. "I’m going to get married, Pavel. And I think I know just the woman for the job."

Pavel frowns at me. "Not your chief accountant, right?"

I level him with a steady gaze. "Not that it's any of your fucking business, but yes. That's why I brought her here."

Pavel shakes his head, his expression a mix of disbelief and apprehension. "Boss... she is a nice girl and everything... but she’s from another world. You can't form an alliance with her family. In your position, you need-"

I cut him off, my tone brooking no argument. "I don't care about the Bratva's old-school ways, Pavel. That woman is mine, and I will marry her. It may not lead to an alliance, but it will be a solution to our problems. Just wait and see."

Pavel stares at me, his head still shaking in disapproval. "Boss, you know I'm loyal to you. Have always been. But allow me to disagree with you on this one. You are about to make the mistake of your life."

A smirk tugs at the corners of my lips, one that holds both certainty and determination. "No, Pavel," I say, my voice unwavering. "I'm about to make the best fucking decision of my life. And it’s you who has to trust me on that."

Chapter Twenty-Four

Maron

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