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"Sir," my new secretary timidly interrupts my thoughts, poking her head into my office. "There’s something else you should know. I overheard something today that might be of interest to you."
"Spit it out," I snap, impatient and on edge.
"It’s the investors," she whispers. "They have been talking to some people about opening poker dens in Philadelphia. With others, not us."
My blood runs cold at her words. The thought of Popov, Russo, and the others going behind our backs threatens everything we've built. The Zolotov family cannot afford such betrayal.
"Are you certain?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. The last thing I need is to appear weak in front of my staff.
"I… it could be a rumor," she replies, her eyes wide with fear. "I heard about it from some people in the office, but I can’t be certain."
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," I say, dismissing her with a wave. As soon as she leaves, my mind races with thoughts of retribution. How dare he? And Russo... where does he stand in all of this?
Just as I'm about to call Damien for advice, my phone vibrates in my hand. It's Ivan, the head of our family and the man I respect above all others. My heart pounds in my chest as I answer the call.
"Hello?"
"Boris," Ivan's deep voice rumbles through the line. "Come to my house. We need to talk."
"Of course, cousin," I reply, concealing the tremor in my voice. "I'll be there shortly."
"Good," he says, hanging up without another word.
A thousand questions swirl through my mind as I prepare to leave. What does Ivan know? Is this meeting about Popov and the poker dens? Has he discovered what happened at our office the other day? Or is it something worse?
***
I grip the steering wheel tightly as I navigate the slick streets of Philadelphia, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. The rain pelts down on the windshield, but I hardly even notice. Ivan's voice echoes in my mind, demanding my presence at his house. Does he know about the scandal in our family's business?
My knuckles turn white as I consider the consequences of my actions. If Ivan has somehow discovered the truth, how will he react? Will he blame me for not being vigilant enough?For not being able to control Lev? Or worse, strip me of my authority, forever tarnishing my reputation within the Zolotov family?
The uncertainty of not knowing makes me want to reach Ivan’s even faster. To beat the traffic, I take some bylanes. As I turn a corner, the streetlights flicker ominously, casting eerie shadows on the deserted road ahead.
And then it happens.
Out of nowhere, a dark figure steps into the road, forcing me to screech to a halt. My breath catches in my throat as I realize I’m not alone.
My gun. Where’s my gun? I realize I must have left it in my office.
I lock my doors and begin to drive, honking at the figure to move. He doesn’t. As I get closer, I realize the man is masked.
Before I can react, more figures emerge from the shadows, surrounding my car. Panic grips me as I assess the situation, my heart pounding in my chest. Are these men here to attack me?
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I reach for my phone to call for help. But before I can even dial a number, the car door is suddenly wrenched open, and a strong hand pulls me out onto the rain-soaked pavement.
I stumble, trying to regain my footing as I come face to face with my captors. Through the dim glow of the streetlights, I can make out a familiar silhouette.
“Ivan?” I ask, confused.
Suddenly, I'm surrounded by laughter and shouts of "Surprise!" My eyes widen as I take in the scene before me: Ivan and members of the Bratva beam with delight as they remove their masks.
"Happy birthday, Boris!" Ivan booms, clapping me on the shoulder. "Did you think we'd forgotten?"
"Uh… thank you," I stammer, still reeling from the unexpected ambush. The weight of my earlier fears lifts slightly, but a new worry gnaws at me. Ivan doesn't know about the business issue—and I can't bring myself to ruin this moment by telling him.
"Come on, cousin," Ivan says with a grin. "Let's celebrate your special day. Have you been working so hard that you forgot your own birthday?"
I force a smile as I'm swept into a waiting limo that suddenly pulls up. Members of the Bratva stay behind, and Ivan and I get in.
