Page 30 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

Sergei

The last week and a half with Scarlett were the best days of my entire life, hands down. There was nothing that could trump them, not the first winter in the warm apartment Dimitry secured, not the bite of the pastry Dimitry stole after we had nothing to eat in days, not the first million I made. The way she wrapped her arms around me, leaned her body against mine… made me feel alive and at home. She was home.

Scarlett and her girlfriends arrived in Moscow several days ago. Of course, I followed. I didn’t like a day to go by without seeing Scarlett. I had become a schmuck who drooled over his woman. There was dread in the pit of my stomach at the lies I told her. I kept telling myself it was to allow her to fall in love with me. To like me before she shut down all our chances at a great future together.

“Sergei, are you listening?” Michail complained again. This was the second time he asked me that in the last twenty minutes.

I needed to focus on resolving this clusterfuck that Irina and her husband caused. We succeeded in intercepting the ship and rescuing the people they were transporting. Now, it was a task to get them all returned where they belonged. The problem was Irina had another shipment of humans passing through in the next few days. They kept that one a secret.

I couldn’t help the irritation at cutting the day short with Scarlett. I wanted to enjoy my dinner with her and take her back to my bed. Instead, I had things to deal with. Including Vlad who was on his way here. I didn’t want to talk to the bastard but here we were… he was five minutes away.

“Yes, I’m listening,” I finally answered. “How many more do we have to arrange their return?”

“We are down to the last twenty,” he replied, letting me get away with my distraction. “What is your plan for Irina and her husband?”

I didn’t have a solution for them yet. By now, those two must have realized we intercepted their shipment. I’d expected them to call me out on it, scream or call for a war. Instead, it was quiet, like a calm before the storm.

“First, we have to find out details about this other shipment they have,” I told him firmly. “That is our priority.”

I knew Bartek and Irina would try again. But I couldn’t just hunt them down and kill them. Although that seemed to be the simplest solution. It would cause a war between us and the Polish or who knew who else. Those two were up to something.

“You don’t mean to let them get away with this?” Michail hated human smugglers. Considering what happened to his sister, it was completely understandable.

“No, we won’t let them get away with it. I don’t have a plan on how to deal with them yet,” I answered Michail. “But they have to be dealt with. Otherwise-”

I got cut off by the buzzer on my desk with the announcement, “Vlad is here. Coming your way in one minute.”

“Thank you,” I told my front man, then turned to Michail. “We’ll find a way to get Bartek and Irina eliminated.” We had to, otherwise we’d have this shit on our hands too. “If Vlad is not gone in five minutes, come up with some kind of emergency. I am not in the mood for this motherfucker today.”

Michail nodded, got up, and opened the door to leave my office. Just as he was exiting, Vlad showed up.

“Vlad,” Michail greeted him curtly. The other didn’t even deign to acknowledge him, which grated my nerves even more. I knew Michail didn’t give a shit, but still, it pissed me off.

“Shut the door behind you,” Vlad ordered Michail as he sat himself in the chair where Michail sat mere moments ago. The latter ignored him, his eyes shifting to me. I gave him a slight nod although I’d rather contradict Vlad right now.

As soon as the door closed, he went on the offense.

“This business going legitimate will be a big dent to us,” he started immediately. He didn’t look great. There were shadows on his hollow face, bags under his eyes. His hair was all white and thinned out. It was beyond me why the idiot wouldn’t just take retirement and enjoy his next ten, twenty years, however long he had left on this earth. I was barely in my mid-thirties and I was ready to enjoy my life outside the rússkaya máfiya.

I didn’t answer him, just sat back watching him. Vlad was like a snake in the grass, striking you when you least expect it. I bet Boris never thought his best friend was going to betray him like he did. It was good for Dimitry, Nikolai, and I, but it made me uneasy around him. One day, he’d do it to us. I was glad to get out of this bullshit. I had some good men and we’d all be fine managing our businesses legally. Life in the mafia aged you fast. My goal was to have a long life with Scarlett by my side.

“Well, aren’t you going to say anything?” he spat out agitated.

“No, I have nothing to say,” I told him.

“So you don’t agree with pulling out?” That fucker was desperate to break the bond Dimitry, Nikolai, and I had. He was always sneaking around, trying to turn us against each other. He had no clue what loyalty was. Even when I fucked up, my brothers had my back. I knew they joined Boris’s mafia because they thought I wouldn’t survive another winter in the orphanage. Even if they turned their back on me, I’d never betray them.

“Well?” Vlad sounded agitated.

“I agree with my brothers,” I finally answered him. “And I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

“Do you realize this will slash all the profits and make us look weak with others?”

“Who are the others?”

“Everyone!” He was getting worked up.

“Let them try us and we’ll show them how weak we are,” I retorted dryly. I wished he’d just go away.

---