Page 2 of Captivated By the Bratva

I lifted my hands at my sides and let them fall.

“Notbecause you’re not qualified,” he added dryly. “I know you are. Father had us all train in the same ways. Even though you’ve done things in the offices more than on the street, you are a Valkov brother. And you are trained and able to do everything we do.”

“Then why would you stop me from stepping up to help now?”

“Because I’ll be damned if I lose him and you. I’m not dismissing Kastava. He had to have found backers to help him build back up after I took Mila from him and thwarted his plans to end the Valkov rule. He’s a threat. And I won’t lettwoof my brothers be caught victim in whatever the fuck he’s doing.”

It almost sounded like he was ready to sacrifice Dmitri, but that couldn’t be accurate.

“I have others looking for Dmitri. Crews of soldiers are on it already. I sent men out to retrieve our brother the minute after I was informed Sergei fucking Kastava had dared to capture him.”

But not me.It didn’t matter how many times he insisted that I was qualified and good enough. He’d never put action behind his words. Why shouldn’t I think he viewed me as less than?

“In the meantime,” he said on a long sigh, “I do have something you can handle for me.”

I didn’t want to seem too eager. I schooled my features to avoid looking too excited with this change of news. Finally, after asking him for an assignment outside of the offices downstairs, he’d give me something? I’d already trained the soldiers to handle the surveillance I already did. They didn’t need me hovering and supervising nonstop. I trusted the men I’d prepared to handle those tasks.

“It’s something I can’t ignore, and in light of Dmitri’s capture, youarethe last brother available for this sort of thing.”

I crossed my arms, curious.

“Something I’d only trust one of my brothers with, due to the representation that’s required with this job.”

“I’m listening.” I fought the urge to shift my weight, impatient for orders and the chance todosomething.

“Gregory Petrov has been contacting me over the last few weeks with a concern he has about his daughter.”

I furrowed my brow. “Petrov? In Jersey?” The name sounded familiar. I couldn’t bring a face to the name for Gregory himself, but I swore the Petrovs were a smaller outfit that the Valkovs protected. Numerous smaller families fell under the umbrella of our protection. If I had to guess, the Petrovs helped with an element of the distribution of guns, but they weren’t a major or significant cog in the overall operations the Valkovs oversaw.

“Yes. Gregory Petrov. His daughter, Nadia, refuses to follow through with the marriage he’s arranged for her. Reports from Gregory himself indicate that Nadia won’t marry as expected, and he fears she is running and hiding now.”

Interesting. “He doesn’t know whether she is running or hiding?”

“No. She’s away at university, studying. It sounds like Gregory’s attempts to get her home and marry her fiancé are falling flat. He’s hoping that one of the Valkovs will make sure she follows along and does what’s expected.

While it almost sounded like a babysitting mission, I understood why Alek preferred one of us five brothers to handle it. Ifhe, thePakhanand boss of the Family, told Nadia to get in line and marry her groom, his word would be a direct order no one could disobey. Having one of us, his brothers and top men, would be just as strong of a message. Sure, he could send one of the soldiers to handle this, but that familial name and representation would be diluted.

“She has spoken out about marrying the man, and Gregory is at his wit’s end to make it happen. Apparently, her groom was chosen upon her birth, and if Gregory reneges, it won’t look for the Petrov name. Nor will it reflect favorably on the Valkov name.”

If Gregory went back on his word with this arranged marriage deal, the repercussions would trickle back tousby association.

And that was a headache we didn’t need right now.

I nodded. “All right.”

Alek studied me, rocking in place slightly to keep Alana asleep. “You’ll do it?”

I nodded again. “I’d rather be more helpful in going after Dmitri, but…” I shrugged. “I’ll do whatever you expect of me, Alek.”

He huffed. “Except stay… how did you put it? ‘Holed up in the offices behind the computer instead of fighting like our brothers do’?”

“I’ve always done that.” Even when our uncle Pavel was thePakhan, I was delegated to the offices to handle the books and whatnot. Taking over surveillance tech gave me a better sense of purpose than accounting ever did, but I couldn’t shed this unease that I was pushed to the background. Forgotten. Dismissed.

“Because you’re good at it, Maxim.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t do anything else,” I argued.

“I know that. I never implied that you were inferior to the others.” He rubbed Alana’s back, slowing in his motion and yawning widely.

---