Page 31 of Beguiled

I didn’t like the Irish patriarch, but he wasn’t a stupid man and his instincts were decent. Plus, as uncle to Kirill’s wife, he was practically family. Right…

“They have been a thorn in our side long before even your uncle stepped foot in New York. However, their skirmishes were weak and without organization up to this point. Easily crushed.”

Dimitri’s father, a man I’d never met, had broken away from his close ties with Vladimir Chertov, my birth father. They’d disagreed on how to handle business and instead of one killing the other, Dimitri was uprooted and had finished his formative years in the Big Apple.

Now we were one big happy family.

With extensions.

“Should I assume they’ve built a stronger presence and are eager to test their new power?”

“An excellent way of putting it. They are an interesting clan, electing their leader instead of following any birthright protocol.”

“I didn’t know they had a new leader.” Now my cousin’s concerns held more merit than before. At this point, I’d act as if I didn’t know. Usually, I could garner more information that way.

His eyes slanted in my direction, locking onto mine. “They are about to. Vardan Zargarian is young, hungry, and some say unstoppable. He’s also an excellent businessman, already amassing a fortune from his expertise in trading stocks. Imagine, a stockbroker becoming a mafia leader. He’s a recent implant from Chicago, some say recruited for his connections and his… let’s just say proclivities.” He moved to a small office he kept on the premises, moving inside. There was barely room enough for his desk and chair along with another on the other side.

One thing I did admire about him was his disregard for luxuries.

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning he’s called the Butcher. Or at least he was before coming to the United States in his mid-twenties. Once here, he’s been squeaky clean and has deep pockets and powerful friends from the Midwest up and down the East Coast.”

“An interesting premise. You’re suggesting he’s eager to take a larger portion of the pie.”

“I am and having a businessman as a leader is the wave of the future, my friend,” he countered. “The old guard once condemned computers, saying they would lead to easier detection by the FBI. Now we rely on them for everything from hacking into our enemies’ systems to keeping our bank records on the up and up. Let alone internet banking, something else that we once thought ridiculous. Cash in hand was the only way to go. Credit cards were stretching it.”

We both chuckled because he was right.

“Then there were legitimate companies being added, money made on the up and up. Pens competed with weapons. The diamond industry instead of cocaine. Whiskey instead of heroin. It’s a mad world, son.” He moved behind his desk, sitting down. “I’m not getting any younger. I’ll need to select a successor soon. Who knows. Maybe my niece’s husband.” He grinned, expecting a response.

Russians and Irish rarely mixed, Kirill and the love of his life notwithstanding. He was also fishing for information just like I was.

“Are you suggesting we purchase various stocks?” I asked, immediately thinking of what Saige had told me.

“I am. You’d be surprised how much money can be made with the right financial advisor working with you.”

When he sat back, I was surprised he was staring off into space. Whatever was on his mind had rattled him more than I was used to seeing. The was no love lost between us, but I’d learned to appreciate his methods.

“Why are you telling me all this, Sean? As a warning?”

“Yes, mostly. I assure you even our limited business activity together has been noticed. If he wins the election, then he’ll be eager to make a statement about his new authority immediately. Taking over another syndicate will pave his way into the history books.”

“Are there any contenders?”

“There’s one, another young man enshrouded in mystery. However, we’ll see how the polls are reacting as they get closer.”

It was fascinating that the world of crime syndicates was being run like American politics. I wasn’t certain I liked what I was hearing. “Let me ask you a question. Did any of your informants get wind Mikhail clawed his way back into town?”

His laugh was far too practiced. “So you’ve heard that rumor?”

“We pay attention.”

“Yes, well, your traitorous brother does like playing ghost, showing up when he’s least expected.”

Which meant I should have more confidence in the rumor.

“Understood. I believe you know Kazimir well enough to know he doesn’t consider the Armenians a threat. However, he will pay handsomely for any information leading to Mikhail.”