Page 122 of Shadows of Obsession

"What did he want?" demands Maksim.

"To send you a message. Apparently you stole something from him and he wants it back," I say and don't mention Julia because I know my brother is impulsive when it comes to his woman.

"Piece of garbage," he spits into the phone.

"I might have broken his nose," I say while entering the house.

Anuska is making donuts again. The smell of vanilla and powdered sugar fills the whole house, and I know it's her way of apologizing again.

"Why the hell would you do that? Not that I'm complaining," he asks.

"He spoke badly about my brother," I say and know he gets that he's that brother.

We're not as close as I am with Niko, but with Niko I've had thirty years of bonding. Maksim is ours, and although he's more distant, I realize he enjoys having a family. A less conventional one, but a family nonetheless.

"I'll handle Aleksandr. When I took over everything in Russia, he got nothing. He has some legal businesses here that help him with money laundering so I couldn't exile him, but I think it's time to change my approach," he tells me.

"Do you have protection?" I ask because it's a valid concern.

Who knows what resources that weasel has set aside?

"I do. Thank you, Ro," he says, and it's the first time he's called me Ro, so I can't help but smile.

"That's what older brothers are for," I tell him, unable to resist rubbing it in one more time.

"For God's sake..." He hangs up.

When I enter the kitchen, Victoria is eating a donut with hearts in her eyes. Her phone buzzes, and she frowns at the message.

Before I can ask what's wrong, Anuska's voice catches my attention.

"Do you think we could send some donuts to Julia and Maksim?"

I've avoided talking to her, but when she looks at me with this face, penitent and pained, I can't continue being harsh.

"Fine. Tell Anton to send someone," I answer, and she hugs me.

I can't just get over the secret she kept from us for years, but I can understand that she was too afraid of repercussions. I let go of some of my resentment and put a hand on back.

"Ro, do you think we could invite Julia and Maksim to my birthday next week?" Vi asks enthusiastically.

"I'll talk to them, and if they're ok with it, of course," I answer her.

Who would have thought two months ago that we'd have three new family members.

Before entering my office, I take out my phone and call Ilya in Moscow. Maksim told me there were several soldiers executed who had been following Ivan's and Aleksandr’s orders without the pakhan's permission.

"Roman."

That's all he says and his tone is slightly impatient. I think I interrupted something.

"Ilya, I want to know how you're doing with the rat extermination and if you know why they multiplied?"

He understands what I'm referring to and gives me the answer with a sigh. "Still cleaning up, but the poison is set for all of them. Apparently, the food here wasn't enough anymore and they wanted what's there too."

Greed is something I can understand. It's common in my line of work, but this wasn't just greed and Ilya knows that too.

"Why here specifically?" I ask.

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