It was mutually beneficial. As a politician, Igor had access to sensitive information, influence over law enforcement, and the ability to sway political favor.
With his help, I expanded my operations without worrying about the cops or the government getting in my way. In return, I made Igor a very rich man.
A corrupt politician and an organized crime leader turned out to be a match made in underworld heaven.
Igor’s connection to the minister all but guarantees my legitimate company will be awarded the deal.
Here is how we both benefit: casinos attract billionaires, foreign investors, and oligarchs—people we can sway, buy, or blackmail. This means power, legitimacy, and influence.
For Igor, it’s his ticket to climbing higher on the political ladder.
With the power and influence the casinos bring me, the Zhukov Bratva will finally put me on equal footing with the Belov Syndicate. They’ve ruled Russia for far too long, their reach stretching far beyond their territory. I’m sick of it.
After today, the Syndicate will understand one thing: I’m done playing second to anyone.
As I step up to the entrance, one of the guards points me toward the back gardens, where Igor likes to spend time when the weather’s good. I cut through the sprawling home, as luxurious on the inside as it is on the outside.
Stained glass doors imported from France open to an impeccable garden where Igor is tending to his prized roses, pruning them with care.
“Nikolai.” He greets me without looking up, his back still to me. “What brings you here so early?”
Sliding on my sunglasses, I make my way toward Igor. He’s in his late fifties, heavy-set, balding, and shorter than my six-foot-three frame, but his presence demands respect. “I’ve got news. Thought you’d want to hear it right away.”
“First, come and admire my flowers.” He waves me closer without stopping his pruning. He once told me that tending his garden clears his mind—a bit of peace in a chaotic world. Ironic, considering the man might wear the mask of a respectable government official, but there’s a ruthless criminal beneath his polished veneer.
Igor gestures to a cluster of roses, their petals a soft ivory. “Beautiful, aren’t they? Reminds me of the ones my mother used to grow.”
I raise an eyebrow but stay silent. Sentimentality isn’t my thing, but I let him have his moment. Igor finally steps back from his flowers, brushing a speck of dirt from his fingers. “Now, what’s this news you’ve brought me?”
“I dealt with the Belov Syndicate problem. They’ll soon agree to the casino deal.”
Igor pauses, his shears hovering over a stem. He shoots a curious look my way. “How did you convince them? I thought they only allowed family to operate in their territory.”
I shrug, a hint of a smirk growing on my face. “I made myself family. Sofiya Ivanova, Roman’s sister-in-law, is my wife.”
He raises an eyebrow. “How the fuck did you do that? I’m assuming Roman didn’t hand her over to you on a silver platter.”
If I’ve learned one thing dealing with Roman over the years, it’s that he’s fiercely protective of his wife and sister-in-law, especially after all the shit they've been through. He’d do anything for them. And in this case, his devotion is his weakness.
“Not at all. Roman doesn’t even know yet.” I let out a dark laugh. “I’ll spare you the sordid details. For now, what’s important is we have something over the Syndicate. If Roman wants Sofiya back, he’ll agree to our terms.”
Later today, Vadim will send Roman a package containing a copy of our marriage certificate, video footage of her on my jet, and a picture of the ring I’ll soon require her to wear. I’m sure I’ll be able to hear Roman cursing me out all the way from New York.
His fucking problem. He reaped what he sowed. If the Syndicate doesn’t want to share power with me, I’ll have to take it from them. I haven’t worked this hard and sacrificed this much to stand down.
Igor whistles between his teeth as he clips a flower and hands it to a gardener he has standing by. “She’s a very beautiful young woman if I recall. Met her once, a little while ago. A dancer, is that right?”
“That’s right.” I choose my next words carefully. Igor sees women as things to own and sometimes as things to break. Sofiya may mean nothing to me, but I don’t like the idea of him playing with what’s mine. It’s why I plan on keeping Sofiya far from him. “It’s a marriage on paper, nothing more. I don’t care what she does, only that she’s useful to me.”
His grin is wolflike. “Come on now. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the benefits of possessing such a young and innocent creature.”
My fists tighten at my sides, and I do my best to keep my voice even. “Like I said, a wife on paper. If I need to fuck, I have plenty of women on speed dial more than willing to do the job.”
“But breaking her in is part of the fun, Nikolai. If you want to light a fire under Roman, a picture of his sister-in-law bound and gagged with your dick up her ass would do the trick.”
Anger blazes up my spine. He has a point, but I don’t much like that idea.
He snips a dead leaf with more force than necessary, his expression hardening. “But I’m glad you know better than to let her get close. Women make you weak. Roman is proof of that.”