Page 55 of King’s Promise

It’s impossible to know what events doomed two leaders in the Bratva. It could have been a heated debate over oil, the ruble exchange rate, or something more pervasive or as innocuous as offending an official’s wife. If I was a gambling man, I’d say the government was targeting Papa and Igor to make a public example of them: stay in line and keep your mouth shut or face the same consequences. The death squad doesn’t take hostages, so this means someone is capitalizing on recent events to take over from within.

“Why now? If Anya or I were targets, why today?” I ask more to myself than others in the room.

“Your wedding, brother. It has to be, we’re all here. We could all be a target. Clearly, someone wants to take our Bratva,” Dmitry sternly replies.

“The house is being fortified with guards. Dmitry, do you have the camera feed from the car accident?”

“I’m working on it.” He continues to tap away on his laptop. “Well, they wore masks, it appears Anya was sedated.”

I fly to the table and peer at the footage from the government’s cameras. “We need to find out if they are Russian.”

Pavel chimes in, “How else would someone take over from within if everyone is loyal? They would have to go to an outside source, we have money missing. Money buys mercenaries, or maybe they are in bed with the Irish?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the Irish have been making subtle hits near the horse track.”

“Gracie!” I worry for my gorgeous white racehorse whom I love. I dial the trainer, who confirms what I already know. Gracie is missing from the paddock.

“How can a horse go missing? Suspects on cameras somewhere!”

“Fuck,” Pavel exclaims; he had high hopes for the horse this summer. “The Irish want the racetrack, I assume they are hitting us on two fronts. Does this mean Sergei is working with them?”

I didn’t do enough to keep Anya safe, I’m responsible if she’s hurt. I push the dark thoughts from my mind, but my fears play like a horror movie in the background. What if she’s raped? Assaulted? Cut?

I pace the kitchen; no one can console me.

“I need answers! Now! Every minute counts.”

I can’t lose Anya. I just found her again after so many years. We haven’t had enough time together, I want more, so much more. I’ve been an ass, pushing her away to distance myself from the undeniable emotions which can only be love. I can’t wait to see her. I’m jealous of any man who looks at her with lust in his eyes even though I want everyone to appreciate her beauty.

She’s the woman who brought happiness back into my life after my father’s death. Her positive energy brings light into this otherwise sterile house. The flowers on the kitchen table are a reminder of how thoughtful she is making my home, our home. She adds more to this house than the expensive modern artwork on the walls. Everything I’ve done in my life is for a reason. Now, reason be damned. I will turn over every stone until Anya is safely in my arms again.

* * *

“Inessa,I’m asking you again, where is Sergei?” I loom over her, I would strike her, but I have a rule to not harm innocent women. Is she innocent? I wonder. I think she’s too daft to scheme with the Irish or Sergei.

“I don’t know.” She wrings her hands in her lap as she sits before me. My men are tossing her house for clues. Other soldiers are searching Sergei’s flat as we fuck around with her trying to get details we hope will lead us to Anya before she’s hurt.

“Katerynia!” I bark. “What do you know of Sergei?” Anya’s sister cringes as I grab her arm, ready to throttle her. “Your sister is being held somewhere. If we don’t find her, she’ll be killed. Sergei worked for your family for years. Don’t leave out any details.”

Her eyes grow wide, thinking I might strike her, and if she doesn’t speak in the next three seconds, I will. Right now, I’m a stick of dynamite with a short fuse.

“He-he…likes to eavesdrop on our conversations, he’s not as professional as the other guards. I let it slip you guys were getting married this Sunday.” She closes her eyelids, buffering for retaliation.

“Why was he allowed to be so lax?”

“I don’t know. We were more family in a way. Papa always defended him to Konstantin.”

My eyes flair and fixate on Inessa. She’s a simpering woman without a spine. “What do you know? Speak, now.”

I’m about to grab and shake her by her shoulders when she blurts out, “Sergei is Igor’s illegitimate son. No one knew, he has a different last name. I knew he was upset over his father’s death, but he’s not been himself. We gave him a flat, money, things to make him happy because I forbid Igor from claiming him. I didn’t want to be humiliated. He always went through his paycheck and the allowance Igor gave him,” she continues. “I wanted it to stop, cut him off, make him go back to Russia, but he was the son Igor wanted and overlooked his weaknesses. I thought he just wanted to fit in with us, but we were buying his silence.” Her head dips in shame. “I couldn’t say anything. I want my daughter back.” She sniffles as tears roll down her face. “I didn’t know he could be dangerous. He liked the girls, I thought he had a soft spot for Anya.”

“He did,” Katerynia adds. “Anya had a crush on him as a teenager and I thought it was weird how he always knew what we were up to when we’d sneak out of the house and stay up late. It’s as if he read our mind, now I think he might have put bugs in the house.” She stirs in her chair, “I mean, he debugs the house, who’s to say he didn’t plant his own?”

“Fuck,” I shout as I grab the nearest object, a lamp, and send it into a wall where it shatters. It’s symbolic of my life, it’s in pieces. Without Anya… I run my hand through my hair. I can’t lose her, I just found her again. I’m not ready for it to end.

“The will is to be read after your wedding, but you should know Igor left the business to Anya, that’s why she has to marry you. I guess his delusions about his son grew old and I made sure that was the last official will. I can’t live with that man controlling us the rest of our lives.” Inessa wipes the tears off her face with the back of her hand and sniffles. “I want my daughter, please bring her home,” she pleads as our eyes meet. We’re both lamenting what might occur, but I toss that mindset away. I will find her.

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