Page 76 of Fortress of the Heart

I watch after her, wondering where the fuck she disappeared to these last few days. Aside from using the gym, she hasn’t even been outside. I am starting to learn that nothing is simple regarding Katiya Petrov.

I stride into my office to get a few hours of work done and look over some properties Dante has emailed me. A lot is going on at the casino, and I would have stayed there in my suite if not for Katiya being here.

I’ve so much work to catch up on, but exhaustion sets in.

And all I can think about is our meeting with Aleksi Petrov, it’s all set up for tomorrow.

It can’t come soon enough.

I need to get Katiya back to her side of the tracks, it’s safer there. If she stays here any longer and tries to kiss me again, I’ll give her what she’s asking for.

It was so fucking hot.

By the time the meeting comes around, I’m ready.

I meet Angelo at Fortress, and we decide to leave Dante and Fynn behind and take Enzo,Rocco, Santino, Darko, and several soldiers.

Where the Russians are concerned, we leave nothing to chance.

When we pull up to the docks, Santino says the area is secure. They have their man on the ground, but we have ours too, plus snipers if this goes bad.

We’re not expecting it to go wrong, but who fucking knows in this power climate.

When we enter the warehouse, Aleksi stands to greet us.

Angelo ushers him to sit, though they don’t shake hands.

Either side of him are his second in charge, Maxim, and another soldier, Dimitri.

There are several other guards who stand behind.

“Angelo, it’s been a long time,” Aleksi says.

“I’d like to say we’d be meeting under better circumstances. Sadly, that’s not the case here.”

“Last time I watched the news, you were dead, yet here you sit. Do you have troubles in your own camp?” he sneers.

He, like everyone else, knows we had big troubles in our camp. Nevertheless, that has been stamped out very quickly.

“To catch the big fish, Aleksi, one must wade the pond scum first. I’m sure you know all about it. Those who crossed us, family included, are all dead. Justice works swiftly on our side of the Charles.”

Aleksi is a big man in stature, has a strong, set jaw, and his hair is greying at the sides. He has an air about him that commands attention.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” He looks far from pleased.

Almost like the underground gambling and fighting ring that his brother, Katiya’s father, is involved with has escaped his attention.

“Come now, Aleksi, we go back a long way. My time is precious, as is yours, so you are fully aware of the illegal operations going on underground sanctioned by Yuri.”

He scratches his chin. “You may have heard that I parted ways with Yuri some time ago.”

Katiya’s father has never been a central part of the Petrov Bratva. Rumors have often floated around about family disputes, and for the most part we keep abreast of the more critical situations however, if it doesn’t directly involve us, then it’s not something we concern ourselves with.

It is odd, in any case.

“We had heard,” Angelo replies. “Which is why I’m perplexed at the reports I’m receiving about the underground operations on our turf, not to mention spreading rapidly through Boston.”

He’s as stoic as they come. This is why he has the nickname Aleksi“The Terrible.” You never see him coming.

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