Page 8 of Zafira

Her body turned cold as the echo of the last words he had ever said to her raced through her mind.

“So be it. I’m done defending myself, and I’m done being your emotional punching bag. You want me out of your life, Zafira? Then so be it... I’m gone.”

Why couldn’t she forget? She was supposed to have moved on. A year, twelve long months, and still, his words hounded her every day when life quieted down, and she settled into sleep. Much-needed rest that she never got since the hours were filled with memories, needs, and hidden desires she had been too proud to voice in the years since Viktor’s death.

“Comare?” Antonio’s concerned voice yanked her back to the present predicament. “Are you okay? You look pale?”

“I’m fine.” Other than with Bogdan, she had yet to share her emotions or inner fears with Antonio. He was trustworthy and loyal to a T, but as the saying went, once bitten, twice shy. Zafira would never open up to any man like she used to with Bogdan.

Her eyes sharpened on the screen as she watched the footage of the Czech police raiding the birthday party held for one of the deputies of the Solntveso Bratva. Two hundred partygoers were detained, which, as was usual at these affairs, included dozens of prostitutes. The event was held in the restaurant U Holubu, owned by Seymon Mochilevich, aka Uncle Seva, aka the Brainy Pakhan—also a longtime friend of Zafira. Seymon was a well-known Russian mobster who was regarded as one of the most powerful gangsters in the world.

“Who else was aware that the party was a cover for the meeting with me?” Zafira was supposed to meet with Seymon Mochilevich and Artem Melnyk, head of the Solntvesoka Bratva. Foot tapping on the floor, she leaned forward with her fists on the desk. “What the fuck is going on, Antonio? I thought you did a due diligence check before I accepted the invitation to come here rather than meeting in Moldova.”

“I did, Comare. Nothing indicated that the police or anyone else knew you were attending the party. Besides, they have nothing on you, so even—”

“There’s always a reason for a raid, Antonio. You know as well as I do that Luciano Maranzano escaped, and he’s out there somewhere with a burning desire to kill every last Guzun member of my family. He’s secured one of the widest networks across the globe he can now tap into for support. Someone like Artem Melnyk could be easily swayed to turn on one of his own.”

“Which is why I pulled you out of the restaurant the moment I got word that the police were on their way. According to my source, they had been tipped off that the Solntveso group intended to execute Mochilevich at the party over a disputed payment of five million dollars.”

“Mogilevic hasn’t arrived yet,” Zafira said thoughtfully. “Why do you think that is?”

“Could be that he’d been warned by a senior figure in the Czech police. You know he has a couple of them working with the Russian Bratva.”

“Or he could be siding with Maranzano, and the raid was used as a cover to assassinate me.”

“I thought you were friends since school?” Antonio watched her intently. “Why would he betray such a friendship?”

“Friendship means shit in the criminal world, Antonio. I’m sure you learned at least that over the years with us.” She sat down and crossed her legs with feminine grace. The dark blue silk of her evening gown rustled quietly in the room. “It’s become common knowledge that since Viktor’s death, someone has quietly built a highly structured criminal organization. Although only a selected few know I am the leader who is referred to as the Shadow Don, I don’t think Seymon likes that the Shadow Don is now described by agencies in the European Union and United States as the boss of all bosses of Russian Bratva and crime syndicates in the world.”

“Of course, a title he coveted. I didn’t think about that.” Antonio shifted his weight. “It’s believed you direct a multibillion-dollar international criminal empire, which is why the Federal Bureau of Investigation describes the Shadow Don as the most powerful and dangerous gangster in the world.”

Zafira shrugged. “You know I still operate in the shadows, Antonio, but it’s true. I have immense power and reach on a global scale. It took me years and hard work to secure valuable connections to prominent government, military, and law enforcement officials, not to mention powerful politicians around the world. To achieve that in a male-dominated industry wasn’t easy. No matter how many fearless female Bratva there are, women are still not given the time of day.”

“Yet your own children nor anyone at the Guzun Bratva know you are the Shadow Don who the FBI accuses of weapons trafficking, contract murders, extortion, drug trafficking, and prostitution on an international scale.”

“They’re reaching by adding prostitution to the charges. It’s the one thing I have no interest in exploring.” Zafira shrugged. “My children don’t need to know... not yet. Everything I have done over the years has been to protect them. First, from how volatile Viktor had become in the later years, threatening the continuation of the Guzun Bratva, which was hugely financed by my family at the time, and now, to keep them safe from Luciano Maranzano.”

“My lips are sealed, Comare.”

“Except, now it seems one of the trusted few has ratted me out. The question is, just when?”

“How can you be so sure, Comare?”

“The only reason Luciano Maranzano would want me dead is because I am the only one standing in his way to achieve his goal to become the supreme boss of all bosses globally.”

“But he shot you over a year ago.”

“Exactly, Antonio, which tells me whoever has sided with Maranzano has been doing so for years. Yes, he had a mole inside the Guzun Bratva, but he was also always one step ahead of us, the Novaya Volna Group. He knew what we were planning, when we intended to move, the decisions we made. Someone I trusted with my secret is either under the bastard’s spell or...” Her brow furrowed ominously.

“Or someone wants the power for himself.”

“Exactly.” Zafira grinned. “My bet is on the latter. Power and money are a hard taskmaster, and in our business, it’s what talks. Of the ones who know who and what I am, any of them would kill to take my place.” A delightful laugh escaped her lips. She was clearly unconcerned that someone taking her place meant she would have to die first.

“Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Maranzano realizes he has been played.”

“Well, look at that,” Antonio folded his arms across his chest. “They’re taking Artem Melnyk into custody.”

Zafira straightened. “I could use this. Since there is bad blood between Melnyk and Mochilevich, this is the perfect opportunity to cull the weak from the strong.” She shook a finger at the screen as if she was scolding the now subdued man being led to a police van. “You never bring out guns at a party where there are innocent women and children, Artem. Let that be a lesson.” Her nose inched upward.

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