Page 86 of Dark Desires
Relief washes over me, but I try not to celebrate too obviously.
“That will be rectified, however,” he says. “Once Alexei is out of the picture, the Bratva will have nothing to offer your family.”
“But why Stephania?” I ask.
Christian’s expression darkens slightly. “Omar is my heir. Marrying Stephania solidifies my claim to Chicago. The Mexicans and the Chinese—they’re watching, waiting. They won’t move until I’ve dealt with the Bratva. Once Omar is joined with the Mancinis, the Ivanovs will be isolated, easy to take out. This marriage is the final piece.”
My head spins. Christian isn’t just after Alexei—he’s trying to dismantle the Bratva in one move.
“My son and I have had something of a rocky relationship. He’s never approved of this life he was born into. It’s always created something of a distance between us.”
“No shit,” I say. “You’re a murderer, and he’s a decent guy.”
“Decent, yes.” He chuckles, like he can’t imagine that word being part of his world. “A bit of a, how-you-say,Boy Scout. But he’s my son. And I know he has feelings for this cousin of yours. If I were to ask him to join the life he’s abandoned, he would likely say no.”
“But if you can offer him the girl he’s crazy about…”
“Exactamente,” he says. “His romance with Stephania is no secret. And I’m going to use it to bring both your family and my own back into the fold. Together, we’ll destroy the Ivanovs and run Chicago.”
“Let me guess,” I say. “After Alexei’s dead and Stephania’s married off, I get a nice little retirement package?”
“A retirement package?” he asks.
“You want to control the Mancinis, right? Well, there are two people in the way—my dad andme. I may not look like much to you, but rest assured, I was raised to deal with people like you. I have fully embraced the life I was born into, unlike your son.”
He chuckles. “You must give your poor father heartburn with that mouth of yours. No, I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do with you. I could kill you, sure. But killing a pregnant woman is beneath even me. So, maybe if you, as you Americans say,play ball, I might be willing to send you out of the country.Everything you have will be mine, of course, but you’ll have your life—and the life of your child.”
Part of me wants to tell him he’s full of shit, that I know he’s going to kill me no matter what.
But I bite my tongue. If I push too hard, he might decide I’m not worth the trouble.
I need to survive for the baby, for Alexei.
Christian rises from his chair, pacing slowly as he speaks.
“Do you know what I admire most about myself, Isabella?” he asks.
“Your humility?”
“Funny. No. My ability to see the bigger picture.” He stops in front of the window, his hands clasped behind his back. “This ability has allowed me to grow the De la Rosa cartel into one of the most powerful in the Western Hemisphere. But my son...”
He sighs, shaking his lead. “Little did I know that he would have such a turn.Breaking bad—that’s an expression I hear, here in the states. The idea makes sense. Easy to imagine someone might be tempted by what my sort of lifestyle can offer. Butbreaking good?” he laughs, as if the idea is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “That’s something else entirely. I can’t believe it.”
He goes on. “Omar’s arrest was inconvenient. But it’s not the end of my plan. I’ll get to him eventually.”
“So, what? You’re just going to use me as bait until this is all handled the way you want?”
Christian turns, his expression cold. “Until I get what I want. You’re insurance, Isabella. Either your father will hand him over, or Alexei will come for you. And when he does...”
He doesn’t finish, but the threat is obvious.
“And you think Omar’s going to be fine with it? That he’s going to join you?”
His eyes narrow, and for the first time, I see a flicker of something—anger, maybe even regret.
“Don’t mistake me for a fool, Isabella. Everything I do is for my family. Omar is my legacy. This war? It’s about securing a future for him.”
“Funny way of showing it,” I snap. “Kidnapping a pregnant woman and threatening to kill the father of her child doesn’t exactly scream ‘Father of the Year.’”
