Ivan's expression doesn't change, but I see the muscle in his jaw twitch.
Lucian continues. "We also want the European routes Dimitri established under your name."
Nikolai shifts in his seat, his gaze moving to his father. Lev's hands are flat on the table, his fingers spread wide. He looks like he's holding himself back from lunging again.
Ivan takes a deep breath, rubbing his chin. His gaze drifts to the window.
Then he shakes his head.
"If I simply let my nephew's death go," Ivan says slowly, "and hand you Los Angeles and Europe after Dimitri's treason, I look weak."
He pauses, his fingers stilling on his jaw.
"Even if those areas were unauthorized by me and established by my brother, they have our name on them."
He turns back to Lucian, his eyes sharp.
"And if you don't take blood for what my family did to Elena, you look weak. We cannot afford weakness."
Lucian nods absently, his gaze fixed on Ivan. His fingers tap once, twice on the table.
I lean forward, folding my hands.
"I'm sure we can figure something out," I say, my tone smooth, diplomatic. "Neither of us wants to go after the other. If anything, maybe we build on something."
Ivan's gaze shifts to me. He studies me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Maybe," he says slowly. "But I can tell you this. If we walk out of here with just a handshake, our soldiers will be at war within six months. There is too much bad blood left unaccounted for."
Lucian glances at me.
"Like you said, brother," Lucian says, turning back to Ivan. "Maybe there is something."
He pauses.
"And you're right too, Ivan. It's all about how it looks."
Lucian stops, his fingers drumming once more on the table. Then he sighs.
"We make our arrangement a merger, then," Lucian says. "Not a surrender."
I see Ivan's sons exchange glances. Nikolai's brow furrows. Lev's jaw tightens.
Ivan's gaze doesn't leave Lucian.
"Okay," Ivan says, leaning forward slightly. "On the subject of empires, let's build one. Dynasties together. The Volkovs and the Ionescus."
"And how the hell do you propose we do that?" Nikolai asks, his voice flat.
Ivan turns to his son, then back to Lucian.
"I'm what they call old-school. I need something tangible," Ivan says. "And we're giving up a lot. So I need something that cannot be broken without spilling both of our blood."
"What's that?" Lucian asks.
Ivan leans back, his expression unreadable.
"You want my territory and my loyalty?" Ivan asks. "Then you will marry into it. My daughter, Natasha. She will unite our empires, and to the rest of the world, we become untouchable."
