Page 33 of Zafira

“No. In the end, she truly didn’t know that Maranzano was the one pulling the strings. That he had been the puppet master all along.”

“Exactly. All Izolda did was play along in an effort to keep you and your family safe... or so she believed.”

Arian shrugged. “I let her go, Bogdan, because in the end, she’s safer on her own. Being with me comes with the promise of getting hurt or death.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Bogdan growled but didn’t pursue the matter as Arian’s expression turned dogmatic. “One thing I didn’t mention earlier. We did find a connection Merak Cermak had.”

“Don’t fucking tell me Izolda and—”

“Enough, Arian! For fuck’s sake, she’s your wife! No matter what you try to make yourself believe, you love her, so stop always making her out to be the bad one.” Bogdan exhaled slowly to calm his anger. “The connection I’m referring to is between Marek Cermak and Boros Sidorov.”

“Boris? What the fuck would the First Vice President of the Chez Republic have to do with that useless bastard?”

“You forgot who killed Viktor, Arian.”

Arian turned pale. “Boris Sidorov. Are you saying Cermak was behind our father’s death as well?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. First, Viktor got killed by Boris, who had a known association with Cermak. He then forced the woman you loved to marry him, and now there’s a hit out on your mother—and the assassin that almost cashed out on it confirmed he was the one who’s behind it.”

“Why would a man in his position take the chance of anyone knowing he’s corrupt? Surely, he wouldn’t personally have approached this Black Death assassin?”

“It appears he was becoming frustrated that your mother survived the assassination on her at your wedding and escaped the raid at that restaurant. It was specifically set up to put her behind bars. He had enough on Zafira to lock her up for the rest of her life.”

“Bullshit. We’ve always made sure Mother is protected. There’s nothing out there associating her with the Guzun Bratva.”

“There’s more to your mother than you realize, Arian. Perhaps, soon, she will disclose her course to you. For now, just believe me when I say, if he had physical proof of what she was about, she would rot in jail.”

Arian stared at Bogdan, his eyes turning glacial. “What do you know that I don’t, Bogdan?”

“All in due time, Arian. For now, we need to find out what Marek Cermak has against your mother and make sure she stays out of the line of fire.”

“I’ve already instructed Antonio to increase the protection detail at the farm. For now, keep her inside the house at all times, Bogdan.”

“Yeah, that’s easier said than done,” he grumbled.

“Don’t think for one moment I’m going to let this go either. You alluded to Mother being involved in something. I want to know what it is. Do you understand?”

“Got it, Pakhan,” Bogdan said as he got up and headed to the door, where he stopped and looked at the younger man with a stern expression.

“It’s time to make right with Izolda. You know you were wrong, Arian. Be a man, face your fears, and admit why you didn’t go after her when she left. Do you honestly think she’s safer away from you? Or does it make you feel better about using her the way you did? Yeah... deny it all you want. You used her, in more ways than one. You never apologized for that, Arian.” He shook his head.

“Make it right. Be honest. Tell her your fears, but more importantly, tell her your dreams. That’s what will tip the scale. Your love and need for her in your life.” He held up his hand to stop Arian’s protest. “Don’t bother denying it. You’ll only be fooling yourself.”

Bogdan walked out, relieved to notice Arian’s shoulders sagging as a sign of acknowledging what he had said. All he could hope for was that he had gotten through to Arian. Izolda and he belonged together. They had loved each other from when they were very young.

“Just like Zafira and I.”

The words falling from his lips shook him. He had just preached to Arian while he was rowing the exact same boat.

“Well fuck me,” he said as he started the truck. “I guess it’s time I took a piece of the pie I dish out and do something about that.”

He pulled away in a cloud of dust.

“It’s time Ms. Guzun realizes I am the man for her—the only man and the one who will love her until his dying day.”

Chapter Sixteen

Penthouse suite, Berd's Hotel, Dimitrie Cantemir Boulevard, Chi?inau, Moldova...

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