Page 43 of Deadly Legacy
“He’s assigned as Dmitrii’s personal attendant,” Stepan added. “At his private tables.”
“Carrying Dmitrii’s drinks like some kind of pet.” Disgust twisted in Nikon’s gut as he thought of his youngest brother reduced to a living ornament.
“It changes nothing,” Grigorii said, his voice granite. But Nikon didn’t miss how his oldest brother’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly beneath the weight of his words.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Nikon saw Reuben’s eyes move between him and Grigorii, assessing the situation.
“Andrey might actually help us here,” Reuben finally said, his voice breaking the tension.
Grigorii turned sharply. “How?”
“He’s been working directly for him.” Reuben moved to stand beside Nikon. “He must see everything from the inside. Security, habits, weak spots.”
Alexei nodded slowly. “If we could somehow get a message to him...”
“He turned his back on this family,” Grigorii growled, his severe expression hardening further as he turned. “Let his ego and greed blind him. You think he wants to help us now?”
“We don’t know what he wants,” Reuben said quietly. “But people change when they hit rock bottom. And from what I’ve seen in those recent surveillance photos, Andrey’s definitely there.”
Nikon thought back to the recent images he’d seen of Andrey. His younger brother’s face had thinned, cheekbones prominent where they hadn’t been before. His eyes held a wariness that hadn’t existed when he lived under the Matvei protection.
“We keep an eye on him,” Nikon said finally. “If there’s an opening, we consider it. But we don’t count on it.”
Grigorii’s mouth tightened, but he nodded once.
“So we’re clear on the approach?” Alexei asked, glancing around the room. “Reuben coordinates from the Matthew Capital box. Wallace works the floor. We gather intelligence, look for vulnerabilities.”
“And after that?” The coldness in Nikon’s voice made his meaning clear.
Grigorii drained his vodka, setting the glass down with a sharp click. “Then we handle Dmitrii—quietly or permanently, depending on what we learn.”
The others filed out to prepare, leaving Nikon alone with Reuben. Their footsteps faded down the hallway, the study’s grandeur now feeling oddly intimate with just the two of them. Nikon could see the tiredness around Reuben’s eyes, and theslight stiffness in his movements that spoke of yesterday’s confrontation.
“You need sleep,” Nikon said, reaching out to straighten Reuben’s collar, a gesture that felt almost too domestic for this room of war planning.
“So do you.” Reuben caught his hand, his thumb tracing a pattern on Nikon’s palm. “But that’s not happening anytime soon.”
“Your father... you really think we can trust him?” Nikon couldn’t keep the doubt from his voice.
“Trust is complicated,” Reuben admitted. “But fear isn’t. And right now, Dmitrii scares him more than we do.”
Nikon nodded, accepting the assessment. “I’ll have Stepan secure the corporate box. Multiple escape routes, surveillance on all entry points.”
“I figured you would.” The corner of Reuben’s mouth turned up. “You don’t have to explain.”
“I’ll always tell you what I’m doing to keep you safe,” Nikon said, the words coming out more intensely than he intended. “That’s how we work best... together.”
Reuben’s smile softened, understanding in his eyes. “We do.”
Nikon pulled him close. One hand curved gently around the back of Reuben’s head as they kissed. The taste of vodka and jasmine tea lingered between them in that brief moment of intimacy. When they separated, Nikon’s thumb traced Reuben’s jaw before letting him go.
As Reuben left to coordinate with Alexei, Nikon turned to the one person who remained in the shadows by the door. “Sir.”
The security chief stepped forward, his face impassive as always. “Already on it.”
“Get me the complete blueprints of the Grand Ballroom. I want every service corridor, every back exit.” Nikon’s fingers drummed against the desk. “Nothing left to chance.”
“The gala security will be focusing on the main floor,” Nikon continued, his mind already mapping what little he knew of the building. “So we’ll need our people covering the service corridors and back exits.”
