Page 32 of Rafi

But it’s more than just isolation that’s pressing on me. It’s the weight of my family. My father, whose name I’ve spent years trying to distance myself from, and Igor, whose presence has always been an unsettling specter in my life.

Igor was the shadow in the corner of every room I entered as a child. Where my father’s anger could be explosive and terrifying, Igor’s danger was quieter, subtler. He didn’t shout or break things—he made you feel like you were breaking yourself, crumbling under the weight of his scrutiny.

I still remember the way he used to look at me, his gaze lingering just a second too long, his smile never reaching his eyes. And now Igor is here. In my city.

All I know is that Igor’s presence isn’t just a threat—it’s a declaration. He’s here for a reason, and I won’t rest until I uncover what that reason is.

19

RAFI

Don’t you think it’s time to let your brothers know what’s going on?

Mason’s question echoes in my head, relentless, biting at the edges of my sanity like a dog with a bone. Admitting the mess I’ve stumbled into would mean admitting failure—a bitter pill I’m not ready to swallow. My brothers have tried their hardest to keep me out of the family business, to protect me from the evils of this world. And I just shat all over their protection; to confess what I’ve gotten myself into is to admit my own stupid defiance.

Still, I can’t ignore the nagging truth: if Jayson hadn’t had the presence of mind to involve Kanyan tonight, we might not even be having this conversation. It was Jayson who reached out, recognizing the danger I was walking into long before I did. His quick thinking brought Kanyan and Mason Ironside to the docks just in time to intervene, saving me from what could have been my last mistake.

The scene at the docks still haunts me—the heavy air, the ambush, the sheer chaos of it all. I went there armed with a tip from Tayana, hoping for answers but walked straight into a trap.The Russians were ready, their numbers overwhelming, their intent clear. It was only the intervention of Kanyan and Mason, riding in like dark knights, that pulled us from the jaws of certain death.

Even then, my first thought wasn’t gratitude—it was fury. Just knowing that she was in danger and I could be too late to get to her did things to me that sent my mind into overdrive.

The shelter was under attack. The same calculated brutality I’d faced at the docks was unleashed on her. Windows shattered, walls scorched with gunfire—it wasn’t just an assault; it was a message, one written in blood and violence.

I didn’t need to think twice. She was in danger, real and immediate, and I had to get to her. I’m a protector by nature—it’s in my blood, as much a part of me as my family name. No matter my anger, no matter the suspicions gnawing at the edges of my mind, I wasn’t about to let her fall victim to the same forces that nearly took me.

So I did what came naturally. I whisked her away, shielding her from harm, whether it came from the Russians or her own recklessness. I made sure no harm touched her, not through the bullets aimed at her or any negligence on my part.

Now, as I sit in the Moreno compound, safe for the moment but far from secure, the weight of it all presses down on me. The attack wasn’t random, and neither was Tayana’s involvement. She’s at the center of this storm, and whether she’s the eye of it or the cause, I can’t yet tell.

One thing is clear: I can’t keep this from my brothers forever. They deserve to know what I’ve gotten myself into, what’s at stake. I focus on the path ahead. I’ll protect Tayana for as long as I need to, and I’ll uncover the truth about Igor’s involvement. I’ll face the storm head-on, just like I always have. And when the time comes to bring my brothers into the fold, I’ll make damn sure it’s on my terms.

“So, all this was because you were chasing a lead on Maxine?”Mason’s voice slices through the tense quiet, his confusion sharpening the edge of his words.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” I snap back, the exhaustion in my voice betraying how many times I’ve already explained this.

“You’re absolutely sure it was Maxine?”

“For the fourteenth time tonight,yes.It was Maxine. Sitting next to Igor Aslanov.”

The room goes still for a beat, the weight of that statement pressing down on everyone. Kanyan, leaning forward with his forearms resting on his knees, locks his jaw, working it back and forth like he’s chewing over the implications.

“We don’t have an in with Igor Aslanov,” he finally says, his voice flat and resigned, while his mind keeps working.

“No, we don’t,” Jayson interjects from his spot in the corner. He’s been so quiet, casually leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, that I almost forgot he was there. “But I know someone who might.”Goodbye, Leo.

All eyes swing toward Jayson, and for a moment, he just stands there, letting the attention settle on him. Then, with deliberate ease, he uncrosses his arms and steps into the center of the room, his thoughtful gaze fixed squarely on Kanyan.

“Weren’t you the one who said, after the attack at Brando’s wedding, that Rudy Cavallo despises the Russians? He refuses to deal with them, which means he’s probably got someone drip feeding him information so he can stay ahead of them.”

A flicker of something crosses Kanyan’s face—pride, maybe. Jayson’s observation is sharp, and he’s right on the money. “Good point,” Kanyan mutters, inclining his head toward him.

“I’ll get Rudy on the phone,” Mason says, already pulling out his phone as he walks toward the window, the glow of the screen lighting up his face as he dials.

“Who’s Rudy Cavallo?” Tayana asks, breaking her silence.

“Another family head,” I answer tersely, not bothering to look at her. My focus is still on Kanyan and Jayson.

“What can you tell us about your uncle’s habits?” Kanyan asks Tayana, his tone measured but expectant.

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