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But…I know he’s leading up to something.
“But the gala’s our biggest event, Aleksandr. We can’t cause mayhem and bloodshed, or no one will come again.”
My nostrils flare. “You think our reputation is more important than my wife’s honor? More important than retribution for what she’s suffered?”
“Sitdown,brother,” Mikhail orders.
I look down. Didn’t even realize I’d gotten to my feet.
Mario shakes his head and pulls something out of his pocket. “Mikhail, may I?”
Mikhail checks the wind direction and the distance between them, then finally grunts. A second later there’s the sound of a lighter followed by a flare of orange and the sweet, heavy scent of weed.
“Take a hit, Aleks,” Mario orders, holding the joint out to me.
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“You need to clear your head.”
I draw in a deep breath of night air. “Your fucking secondary smoke’s enough.” He chuckles and takes another hit.
“Are you willing to listen now?” Mikhail asks with deceptive calm.
I refuse to back down. “We aren’t kids anymore. You’re thepakhan,but I’ve stepped into your position in your absence. We won’t settle this by beating the shit out of each other.”
There was a time when our parents left all of us to Mikhail, and as the older brother he kept us in line. But that was then, and this is now.
I stare him down. “Someone raped my wife and fucking destroyed her as a result. When I find out who that was, wildhorses won’t keep me away from delivering the justice that’s owed. But I’ve waited this long. I can be patient and not cause a scene. Fair enough?”
Mikhail holds my gaze, his lips pursed, before he finally nods. “That’s all I’m asking. No slitting throats near the fondue.”
Mario snorts and Mikhail thoughtfully strokes this chin. “Harper asked for nonlethal cases, Aleks. Are you going to involve her in any of this?”
I shrug. “That was only her first taste of her power. We’ll see if that request still holds.”
“So you’re going to leave their final retribution in her hands?” Mario shakes his head. “What if she misses?”
Mikhail snorts. I smirk myself. “She never misses.” I get to my feet. “I want to get back to her and Ivy. Fill her in. Make our plans. Today, Aria said she’ll work with Mom and Polina to get the gala moving.”
Mario blows out a breath of smoke. “Never a dull moment with you Romanovs.” He drops his arm onto the armrest and inclines his head toward me. “You’re in a unique position now, aren’t you, Aleks? One child that came as a bonus wedding gift. Short of Aria having twins, you’re more likely to pull ahead.”
Mikhail grumbles but I can’t help but grin.
Mario can’t stop stirring the pot. “In my family, we fight over cannoli. In yours, you fight over the bambinos. Mama would be so fucking jealous, you have no idea.”
Mikhail laughs but when he asks Mario to tally all the grandkids the Rossis actually have, it’s no small number.
“Listen, I have to get back to Harper and Ivy,” I say, stretching. “I’ll be in touch later today.”
I’m processing through every possible scenario in the car on the way home. It’s the way my mind works, calculating possibilities and surprises, and the aftermath of the decisions we make.
I call Harper.
Her phone goes to voicemail.
It’s early but that usually doesn’t mean anything…
She’s probably still sleeping, I tell myself, especially if she’s next to Ivy and doesn’t want to wake her up.
