Page 82 of Bound to a Monster

And having sex. A lot of sex.

Most getting to know each other.

“Half of Fed’s clients went elsewhere too,” Alex says after a little while. “And the dealers are barely working with us anymore.”

“Bunch of fucking scum.” Lev scowls at the last of the lingering mourners. “Goddamn vultures.”

“They had relationships with Dad,” Natalya points out. “Not with you.”

“I was winning them over.”

“And the ones you convinced are sticking around,” Alex says. “That’s the one small piece of good news.”

“Them and the soldiers.” Lev takes a deep breath and blows it out. “There’s also the less legitimate side of things.”

“I thought you were involved in all that?” I ask, frowning between him and Alex.

They exchange looks. “I was, and I still am, but my father kept a lot of that stuff a secret. After he died, we went through his books and his papers, and it turns out he had fingers in a dozen or more pots. There’s a whole legal dance I need to go through until I have access to his accounts and until the family’s money becomes mine. In the meantime, everything’s frozen.”

“Including the Canadian job,” Alex says, shading his eyes against the sun.

“Valentin’s going to give that to someone else soon enough.” Lev begins to pace. Fifty yards away, a big machine spools to life as the gravediggers begin to cover over their father’s grave.

Natalya watches them with a strange satisfaction. “He’s really gone now, huh?”

Lev stops pacing. He puts a hand on Natalya’s shoulder, and the pair of them watch in silence. Then he squeezes. “Can’t make you marry anyone else now.”

She laughs. It’s an ugly laugh, but some of the tension bleeds from the little group. “What do we do now then?”

“Win Valentin over,” Alex says. “Make him see that you’re not your father. You’rebetter.”

“We need a meeting, but he hasn’t been responding to any of my messages,” Lev tells him.

“Adriano can help,” I say, perking up. “Why don’t I ask my cousin? He’ll know what to do.”

Alex and Lev exchange a look. “I don’t want to owe him anymore,” Lev says.

“He didn’t do all that much during your little coup,” I point out and glance at Natalya. “Sorry if that sounds harsh.”

“It’s okay. Alex told me the story already.”

“She’s got a point.” Alex crosses his arms and turns away from the differs. “At the very least, it’s worth a try.”

“Reach out to him,” Lev says, taking my hand in his, holding it tight. “I’ll do my best to rebuild my father’s network in the meantime.”

“That’s a plan then.” I lean against his chest as Alex and Natalya walk toward their car. Lev hugs me back. I breathe in his smell and close my eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Your dad died. This was his funeral. It’s kind of normal to be upset.”

“I’m not normal.”

“I know, but?—”

“I’m fine,” he says again, except his tone softens. “Thinking about Stepan, that’s all. But I’m happy my father’s gone, even if there are complications.”

“We’ll convince Valentin. You’ll win over your father’s old business partners. It’ll be okay.”

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