Page 5 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

Sergei

Four Years Later

Dimitry, Nikolai, and I sat at a blackjack table of the casino in New York state, right outside Rochester. It was one of the only seven allowed casinos in the state. I owned two, the other five belonged to the O'Brady family. Patrick O’Brady was head of the Boston mob organization. Unfortunately for him, he was slowly losing footing over his territory and businesses.

He used to own all seven casinos, he lost two in a matter of six months. He was getting ready to lose another one, unless he could come up with a substantial amount of money to settle his debts. He stacked up a substantial amount fighting the Colombians. He won the fight but unless he could save his main source of income, he would lose the war.

“It would be a good investment,” I told Dimitry and Nikolai in our native tongue.

“Agreed, brother,” Dimitry answered, sticking to Russian. “But I have no interest in becoming O’Brady’s enemy. He runs his territory fairly and is a good man.”

“I bought out his other two casinos.”

“It’s probably the reason why he wanted to talk to us,” Nikolai commented. “He wants to make sure we are not coming after his territory.”

“It’s just business,” I claimed. It was true. I saw an opportunity and seized it. We have been relentless in growing our wealth. We have accumulated a small empire; not only in the States, but also in Russia, Europe, and all over the world.

“Gentlemen, thank you for agreeing to meet me.”

I raised my head and met Patrick O’Brady. He was in his early sixties, tall, grey hair and dark eyes and in good shape for someone his age. He really didn’t look like a head of the Boston mafia. He gave more the appearance of a legal business man and a family man. I knew for a fact he was the latter. He had a devoted wife and children he kept close. Everyone knew he protected his family fiercely and ruthlessly.

“What did you want to discuss?” Dimitry went straight to business. He hated wasting time. Nikolai and I were similar to him in that regard, although maybe not quite as blunt.

“I want you to back off,” Patrick O’Brady went into attack. “You got two of my casinos. That’s enough. This is my territory, and I don’t want you meddling in my business.”

“You are getting ready to lose your business,” I chimed in, leaning back, observing him.

I had to give it to him. He didn’t even flinch. “I got it under control.”

If I didn’t know for sure how bad his finances were, his sure demeanor could have convinced me. But I bought his bank notes and knew exactly how much shit he was in.

“You sure about that?” I challenged him.

He went to open his mouth when his phone rang. He glanced at it and the calm mask that I usually saw on him, cracked. He took a deep breath and muttered something under his breath.

He sent whoever was calling to his voicemail. But no sooner than he did that, his phone rang again. He glanced at his phone again but this time he answered.

“Don’t tell me she is in trouble again.” He almost sounded exasperated.

I shared a glance with Nikolai and Dimitry. Those two didn’t seem too interested but for some odd reason, my interest piqued.

“How is it that my three sons combined never gave me so much trouble as my one daughter?” He pushed his hand through his hair and suddenly the cold, gathered businessman was a frazzled father. “It’s barely been six months. How in the hell could she already be on the verge of getting expelled?”

I had to admit, I would have given a pretty penny to hear the other side of the conversation. Whatever was being said, he didn’t like it and was getting more agitated by the second. I knew Patrick had a daughter. She was the youngest of his children but honestly, I couldn’t remember anything else besides that.

“What boys, wife?” he pretty much shouted into the phone. “It is an all-girls school.”

I had to hide my grin. It would seem O’Brady’s daughter was giving her father a run for his money.

“I swear, Charlotte. I don’t know how three girls can cause so much trouble…. Yes, I heard many times now she is going through a rebellious teenage stage but what I want to know is when will it end.”

My lip quirked at his tone. A head of underworld crime and he was ready to pull his hair out by a rebellious young teenager daughter.

“One more incident and tell Scarlett I’m bringing her home,” he growled into the phone. “Love you too. Message me when you land.”

He pressed the end call button and flagged a waiter.

“Bring me a strong drink. For our guests too,” he ordered and sat himself on the other side of the table. I guess he didn’t notice the three of us still had untouched drinks. As a rule of thumb, we never drank alcohol if there was ever a potential for conflict. “You three better pray you don’t have a daughter,” he muttered, giving us a tired look. “I swear she ages me more than any of my sons.”

Nikolai smiled. “Girls can be quite stubborn.”

“Aye, you don’t say,” he muttered sarcastically. The waiter came back with the drinks and placed them on the table. Patrick took his glass and downed it in one swift gulp. “I should marry her off. Maybe that will settle her down.”

He was joking; I could hear it in his tone but the moment he said that an incredible thought struck me. It came out of nowhere but it was brilliant. At least I thought it was.

The background check on O’Brady showed him as a good father, a family man. Arranged marriages were often customary in our world. Dimitry, Nikolai, and I were never interested; the knowledge of where we came from and all we went through made it hard for us to relate to anyone. We joined this world to survive.

But what if I offered O'Brady a monetary fund to secure his business and his territory in exchange for an arranged marriage? Of course, I wouldn’t marry the girl now. She was a teenager, although how old exactly I wasn’t sure. I’d give them plenty of time, years. She can outgrow her rebellious stage under her father’s supervision. I liked it the more I thought about it.

It was a perfect win-win situation.

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