Roman scoffed. He stayed facing the door for a second. I leaned back deeper into the sofa, crossed my arms over my chest, and let the smile settle onto my face. This particular family dynamic never stopped being entertaining, no matter how many times I witnessed it.
Roman turned around slowly.
The two looked at each other across the office. Rodion sat with the gun still aimed while Roman stood there with his hands loose at his sides.
“Go ahead,” Roman said.
I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “This never gets old.”
“Let’s discuss your mess here.” Rodion lowered the gun, though his eyes never left Roman. “You must think I don’t know you brought a blind girl into our territory who is currently working with the police.”
Great.
So there was a police connection.
That was exactly the kind of thing Bratva treated like an active infection. Once the police attached themselves to a name, they built files, and files expanded into places nobody expected until entire operations collapsed under them. Police interest never stayed contained.
Roman’s mouth curved slightly. “You seem well informed. Tell me more.”
“You’re going to Russia. I’ll run New York, clean your mess, and deal with the girl,” Rodion said with complete finality.
Roman stepped closer to him. “Are you planning to marry her?” His eyes narrowed. “The way you married the Italian one?”
Rodion got up fast and crossed the distance between them in seconds. His punch landed hard against Roman’s jaw, turning his head sideways.
Roman stumbled back a step and laughed. He straightened and wiped the blood gathering at the corner of his mouth withhis thumb.
“Never mention my wife again.” Rodion’s voice dropped lower, reaching that dangerous calm that usually came right before someone disappeared permanently.
“Why?” Roman stepped closer, directly into his space again. “Wasn’t she originally a lead to your enemies? And then what happened?” he scoffed. “You fell in love with the problem.”
Rodion grabbed Roman’s shirt and slammed him against the wall. Roman went with the impact easily, still smiling with Rodion’s fist twisted in his clothes.
“Does your wife know that your solution to problems is marrying them?” Roman’s eyes stayed fixed on Rodion’s face. “Do you want a second wife like our father?”
Rodion punched him again, and Roman absorbed the hit without losing the smile.
“I’m surprised you haven’t gone after Dmitri’s fake wife yet,” Roman continued. “Why not? Because he’s Luigi?” He tilted his head slightly. “Or because you already knew she comes from mafia blood?”
“That’s enough.” I stood up and adjusted my jacket. “Show some respect to the boss,” I said to Roman before looking at Rodion. “Is the meeting concluded? My schedule is tight.”
Rodion kept Roman pinned against the wall while silence settled across the office.
Then someone knocked. Before anyone answered, the door opened.
“What happened to the door?” Inna asked while looking down at the destroyed knob. “I brought coffee...” Her voice trailed off the moment she noticed Rodion holding Roman against the wall. “Are you fighting?”
“Get out!” Rodion barked, and Inna flinched.
“Watch your tone,” I warned Rodion, and the room went still afterward.
Alessia appeared behind Inna, carrying another tray. She took one look at the scene inside the office, then shifted her attention toward her husband. “Are we interrupting something?”
Rodion released Roman’s shirt and straightened. He walked straight to Alessia and took her hand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, where are we going?” Alessia didn’t move. “We just arrived, and now we’re leaving?”
“Darling—”
