"Da," I hum, nodding.
"Da," Anatoliy says, wide-eyed.
A week later.
"I’m almost done,” Anatoly hums, typing on the keyboard.
I stare at my twin work on the PC, searching the dark web. He’s incredible at hacking and gathering information on the dark web.
“Da, I want to have all the current intel to give our Brat Lev on the svoloch’ that dared to execute the coup and killed our Pakhan.”
“Da, I pray that our Pakhan, Otets, did tell Lev about us because I don’t want to war with him.”
“Nyet, it’s all good. Pakhan left him the information on us and explained everything, and if Lev is half as great as Pakhan said, then it’s going to be good.
I take a long drink of Vodka and gaze out the window at the dark, cold night. I grab my silver cigarette case from inside my suit jacket, open it, and grab one, lighting it up and taking a drag.
The letter that Otets left us with his instructions runs through my mind.
Always be loyal to Lev and protect him from our enemies.
I only pray that Lev will accept us as we accept him as our Brat.
My cell beeps, and I pull it out. Anatoly’s cell beeps, and he grabs it. We look at the text.
Lev ~ Hey, we need to talk.
Czar ~ Indeed. Where and when?
Anatoly ~ Okay.
Lev ~ My apartment in thirty. Take an Uber and text me when you’re here.
Czar ~ Will be there.
Anatoly ~ Will do.
Lev ~ Text me when you’re at the curb.
Czar ~ Will do.
“Brat is here.”
I look at my twin, raising my brow.
“Da, so let’s go,” Anatoly says, grabbing his suit jacket.
It takes us a few to get to the safe house, the commercial building and stop on the street. I pull out my cell and text Brat.
Czar ~ We’re here.
Lev ~ Da.
A few minutes later, a tall man walks over to us. He looks like the man in the photo that Otets showed us. It’s Ivan, our cousin. We know all about him, but I can see that he doesn’t know about us.
“Privet, Czar, and Anatoly. I’m Ivan,” Ivan says, lifting his chin.
“Hi,” I say, lifting my chin.
