Page 136 of Mountain Daddy

“I didn't know,” he says. “About the fire. About the children. Viktor handled that side of business.”

“Now you do know,” I push the rest of the photos toward him. “This is what your brother was. What he did in your family's name.”

Boris looks through the photos slowly. Deliberately. His face hardens with each one.

“These go to the FBI if we don't reach an agreement today,” I tell him. “Your family's name attached to fifteen murders. Including children.”

“You'd destroy us all.”

“If I have to.”

He sits back. Studies me. “What do you want, Vetrov?”

“Peace,” I say simply. “For my family. For myself.”

“You want me to forget you killed my brother.”

“I want you to acknowledge he deserved it.”

Silence stretches between us. Taut as piano wire.

Then Boris does something unexpected. He nods.

“If this is true,” he taps the photos, “then yes. He deserved it.”

Relief floods through me. Carefully masked.

“But a blood debt is still owed,” he continues. “Family for family.”

My hand moves toward my gun. I'm not leaving this place without assurance my family is safe.

“The debt is paid,” Ivan interrupts. “With Viktor's death. If what Nikolai says is true, your brother disgraced your family name. Brought shame to the Kozlovs.”

Boris considers this. Eyes never leaving mine.

“There's one condition,” he says finally. “We stay out of the mountains, you stay out of the city.”

Territory lines. Clear boundaries. It's more than I hoped for.

“And my family?” I ask. “They're untouchable.”

“As is mine,” Boris counters.

I nod slowly. “Agreed.”

“Then we have a deal.” He stands. “The blood debt is settled. Your hands are clean, Vetrov.”

I stand too. Don't offer my hand. Don't smile. Just nod once in acknowledgment.

“These never reach the FBI,” he says, gathering the photos.

“As long as our agreement holds,” I confirm. “But I need my name cleared in Chicago. Can’t have cops looking over for me.”

He pauses, one photo still on the table. The little girl. Sophie.

“My brother was sick,” he says quietly. “I didn't see it. I’ll make sure the FBI know he acted alone. Make sure they realize he wasn’t a part of the family. Hadn’t been for years.” He looks at me pointedly.

“I was shocked too, to hear he did this,” I say with a small smile. “Viktor was always deranged. The family never stood for it.”

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