Page 49 of His Juliet

“Shut the fuck up,” I muttered.

I hadn’t told anyone besides Sienna and Matteo about Juliet, but obviously I hadn’t been as discreet as I’d thought. Mafia men were notorious gossips.

I tuned the guys out as I drove to the Pakhan’s house. The last time I was in Chicago, it was to stop the wedding of Sofiya’s sister, Mila, to Arben, the former head of the Albanian Mafia. We’d thought that was the end of the Albanian conflict, but then the fucking Butcher came to our city.

I pulled up to the gate in front of the mansion and rolled down the window to speak to the guards.

“Looks like the Beast’s castle,” Alessandro said. All of us threw him confused looks. “You know, fromBeauty and the Beast.” When none of us responded, he crossed his arms, sat back in his seat, and muttered, “It’s a good movie.”

I rolled my eyes as the guard waved us through the gate and up a winding road to the mansion, which looked like it was built specifically to intimidate anyone who walked through its doors.

A line of people met us outside—all wearing black suits and all armed. In front was Dimitri Ivanov. The last time I saw him, he’d had a buzz-cut. Now his blond hair was grown out and a short beard lined his square jaw, not that it softened his appearance in any way. He was huge, his shoulders and chest broad, and he had small scars on the backs of his hands, just like I did. I’d heard rumors that brass knuckles were his weapon of choice.

“De Luca,” he said, lifting his chin. “Welcome.”

We shook hands, both our grips crushing the other.

“This is my second, Maxim Petrov, my sovietnik, Nikolai Antonov, and my enforcer, Sergey Sokolov.”

I introduced my men, and we headed inside to begin our negotiations.

* * *

“Russia isthe world’s largest producers of rough diamonds. We have an agreement with several Russian diamond exporters who want a greater foothold in the black market here. Opening up access to New York City and upstate trading routes would go a long way toward distribution.” Ivanov sat at the head of a long table. The room’s furnishings were almost gaudy in their opulence, remnants of the former Pakhan’s style. I wondered if Dimitri would change things. How much did he take after his father?

“What are you willing to give us in return for trade route access?” I asked.

Dimitri’s expression was cold as he studied me. “We assume you’ll want a percentage of sales.”

I inclined my head.

“But that’s not what we’re offering.”

“Is that so?” I arched an eyebrow.

“You need our help to defeat the Albanians since you have been useless at eliminating the threat so far.”

My men and I were on our feet instantly, hands on our weapons. Dimitri’s men pulled their guns, but the Pakhan remained seated, looking completely unbothered. He said something to his men in Russian and they lowered their weapons.

“That’s why you’re here, is it not? You need support against the Butcher and the rest of the Albanians,” he said.

I sank back into my seat, my men staying alert and standing behind me. I fucking hated admitting to a weakness, but Ivanov was right.

“And if we did?” I asked.

“I would be willing to offer a number of my men to your cause. In exchange, you will give us access to the New York trade routes without taking a cut of the diamond trade for the first five years.”

I scoffed. “Five years for a handful of men?”

“Five years for reestablishing control over your city. All eyes are on New York, waiting to see who will emerge victorious. And right now, I wouldn’t bet on your odds.”

“Your sister is in the city. Are you telling me you’ll let the Albanians take over and put her life in jeopardy?”

“If your Don can’t protect his wife,” he said with a sneer, “she’ll come live here whereIcan.”

I forced my face to remain expressionless even as my blood boiled and my heart pounded at the insinuation that we couldn’t protect our own. It was a good thing Matteo wasn’t here because Dimitri Ivanov would be dead for that insult and our families at war.

“Big words for a man who abandoned his sister to be mistreated by your father for years,” I said.

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