Page 58 of Dark Bratva Christmas
“Yeah, I know.” My gut twists. I know there’s a call I need to make, although it’ll require a fucking apology with it. But fuck, I’m in a predicament. Boris Petrov is out to whack me…
The very same man who demanded I marry my brother’s widow.
However, as much of a mindfuck as it is, itisa relief to know that he's responsible because that means Catarina is more than likely safe. She was taken from my house because he wanted her. And I want her back more than I want to breathe, but there's slight comfort in knowing she's not in harm's way.
That being said, as soon as I lay eyes on Boris, I'll make sure every drop of blood is drained from his body. Nobody fucks with me ormywife.
If it weren’t for Nikolai’s footage, I’d be running blind. To think I might have ordered a strike against the Vitales for this if Boris’s men hadn’t slipped up on the footage... I’m sure that would’ve played into his hand beautifully.
And he would’ve won.
“Who do we call?” Nikolai turns to me. “I don’t have enough dealers to put together an army to fight a man like Petrov.”
I take a deep breath, my tongue sour as the words come out. “Then we strike a deal with the mischief-maker.” I push off and grab Nik’s car keys, gesturing for him to follow me.
“This is gonna get so messy,” Nik grumbles under his breath. “Merry fucking Christmas to me. I’ll be fucking lucky if I don’t get out of this with a bullet in the head for a gift.”
“That makes two of us,” I agree with him. “Just call the mischief-maker and tell him where to meet us—but not that I’m coming.”
“Fuck,” Nik breathes out, but then agrees, quickly confirming a meeting place with Mauricio.
We get in the car, with me behind the wheel this time. I drive us all the way into Italian territory, my stomach lurching as we pull off into an empty parking lot. The city is alive with Christmas Eve celebrations, and this entire situation only makes it more ironic.
This could easily become the worst day of my life. All I know is that if Boris can come into my house uninvited, then I can burn his to the ground.
“There he is.” Nik points to a blacked-out Escalade pulling in beside us. “He’s always early. I don’t know how you want to handle this…”
“Just keep his attention,” I command, gesturing to Nik.
He nods, slipping out of the car and walking up to the driver’s side window, where Mauricio sits behind the wheel. I note that he’s alone.
He trusts Nikolai. And while that works in my favor, it might end up harming Nik later. I purse my lips and slip out, knowing I’ll have to make this worth my friend’s time later.
Especially for distracting Mauricio to the point that I can slip into the passenger seat, Glock pointed at the mischief-maker of a mob boss.
“What the fuck is this?” he demands, whipping his head around to see me. “What are you doing, Russian boy? This is the wrong turf for you.”
“I’m aware,” I grunt, and then nod to Nik. He slides into the back seat behind Mauricio, our threat clear. “And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a damn good reason.”
Mauricio narrows his eyes at me. “I’m listening.”
“You bought arms from Nik, then gave them to Petrov.” I state the theory, which I’m pretty sure is fact.
His expression doesn’t move. “I do what I can to secure my territory. It’s nothing personal. I just don’t have the paperwork to prove who my father is. Yet.”
I nod, knowing that he’s talking about merging into something powerful and dangerous. “I hear you,” I say, very carefully. “Which is why you owe me now.”
He raises a brow. “Why the fuck would I owe you? You’re in bed with the Petrovs. The guns were probably for you.”
I fight the urge not to pull the trigger and kill him right then and there. “They were used to gun down every fucking man in my house. On Christmas Eve.”
Something flickers in Mauricio’s eyes. “That makes no fucking sense. You have a wife and heir—”
“Exactly. I needed to be out of the equation.”
“Oh, fuck.” Mauricio lets out a defeated sigh that sounds like he’s ready to take lead to face over it. “I had no fucking clue of the plan.”
“And that’s why you owe me your men today.” I give him a smile as his expression fades to concern.
