Page 75 of Forgotten Vows
“I guess the motherfucker’s alive after all.”
Emil scowled. “That’s all you can say?”
I shook my head, rolling the chair away from the desk. Emil stepped in to tap on the keyboard, already calling someone from our cyber-security force to come get the laptop. They’d track the IP address. They’d investigate where Konstantin might be. I wasn’t as familiar with cyber things like this, but I had a strong hunch that Konstantin would’ve been careful and sent this under layers of deception and protection to throw us off the most obvious trail. Still, we’d check it out thoroughly.
“All I can say is that I’m not fucking going anywhere.” I stood to pace.
“Obviously,” Luka replied.
Fury encompassed me at the notion that Konstantin Petrov seriously thought he could just show up and play games like this.
“I’m not running. I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere.” I had to repeat it. To believe it. And to stand by it. I left Raisa once because of the anger this man directed at us for getting together.
I refused to do it again.
“I am not falling for this bullshit.” I looked at them both, feeling like a wild beast trapped in a cage. “I will protect them no matter what he threatens.”
“Which isn’t going to happen.” Luka crossed his arms. “He can’t convince anyone that Lev is a bastard. You are my nephew. He will be as well.”
“We’ll prove it with blood tests,” Emil said.
“No, no, no.” Luka scowled and shook his head. “Konstantin knows Lev is yours. He wouldn’t have worded it like that if he doubted paternity. What he’s saying is that he’ll convince the federation that Lev should be a Petrov because Raisa is the mother, not that Lev should be a Dubinin because you are the father.”
“What are you suggesting?” Emil asked.
“We convince those other assholes to think otherwise.” Luka lowered his arms.
I liked the direction he was taking this. It made more sense than playing games with Konstantin. “I’ll call a council meeting.” These large gatherings of the highest Bratva leaders didn’t happen often. But when lineages were questioned and matters of someone being a rightful heir were contested, it took a group of them all to decide who belonged to which family. Dubinins were at the top of the group. Petrovs were always a lesser family. But we both belonged to the same circle of influence.
It wasn’t often that Luka would be willing to go the diplomatic route, but it was an option.
“Do it,” he said. “You can force the heads of the families to vote.”
“How do you think they’ll side?” Emil asked. “Fuck.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t remember the last time an heir was contested.”
“Many might side with him. Just to avoid the later complication of being on his shit list.” Luka gave me a stern look. “But more will side with us when they know of your engagement to Raisa.”
An engagement that hadn’t come to be yet. Of course, I’d marry her. I’d been debating which ring from the family vault to propose with. “I agree.”
Emil laughed once. “Well shit. We can just tell them all that they’re already married.”
I gave him a look that could kill. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”
He shrugged. “Hey, it could work. We had witnesses.”
“That can be a backup plan,” Luka replied dryly.
“Well, fuck it. We’ll all stand with him.” Emil lost the smile and was serious once more. “Raisa belongs here. With us. So does Lev.”
“And theywillstay here,” I said, getting a nod of approval from Luka. “Even if we have to kill Konstantin to make sure that statement sticks.”
“I’m going to start making the calls,” Luka said.
“I’ll keep going with this email and track it,” Emil added as we all moved to leave the room. “Not that it’ll do much good, but we’ll check.”
“And I’m going to check on them.” I hadn’t forgotten that Lev was ill, so weak and sad and asking where his mother was. The initial punch of fear that came with that email faded as I came down the stairs and saw Raisa cuddling Lev on the couch. Gabriella sat with them just as concerned.
The second Raisa looked at me, serious and nervous…
