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LUKA
“Is he gonna lose the arm?” I turn to Dr. Igor Razkov with a smirk. “Should we just cut it off now?”
“Fuck you,” Nikolai grumbles, shifting on the table in Doc Igor’s private office. He has his own “practice” set up not too far away from Boris’s estate in Surfside, which was really convenient for us. Taras took Boris and Nik over, while Natasha and I went to see her family.
I glance at her huddled together with Tori on the pool deck. After the girls gave me the third degree about my relationship with Natasha, her mom finally told them about Ivan’s villainy.
They’d been shocked and devastated over his death at first, and Natasha wanted to spend a little time comforting them before running off with me. I’d hoped spending the extra time there would help her process the emotions ravaging her mind and heart, but I know from experience that the only real cure is time.
“He’s very lucky. If the shooter had actually paid attention, he could have done major damage to the area surrounding his heart.” Doc Igor peers at the neat row of stitches he’d just sewn and nods. “They look good. Don’t move around too much, otherwise you’ll tear them open.”
“I know the drill,” Nikolai says, leaning back on the table with a deep sigh as Doc Igor leaves the room. He looks over at me. “Hey, did you talk to Boris yet about that list and what it all means? All those names?”
“I’m going to see him next.”
“You think the Brotherhood is an enemy? That maybe they’re the ones who killed Dad and Dima? Maybe this Brotherhood didn’t want Resnov in control?” Taras asks, his brows furrowed with concern.
“If they pulled off that attack, they’re gonna pay. Nothing will break us, do you understand me? Nothing. And nobody. We rebuilt ourselves once, and we’ll do it again.”
Nikolai’s fists clench around the paper. “Yes, we fucking will,” he mutters.
A few minutes later, I push open the door to Boris’s room. His face is red and swollen, his chest wrapped tight with white tape.
“You thinking of retiring yet, old man?” I joke as I walk inside.
He flips me off. “Sit.”
I sink into a chair next to the exam table, leaning forward. “Tell me about the Brotherhood. Was Dad involved with it? Or was he trying to battle against them?”
Boris shifts slightly to face me, his face pinched with pain. Stubborn bastard never acknowledges it, though. He barely winces, but I can tell from the way he clutches the side of the table that he’s hurting pretty badly. “The Brotherhood 7 is a secret society of European and American families. But your father wasn’t only a member. He was the founder and leader. Years ago, when he was building up his arms business, he knew he needed allies across the world. There were a lot of groups who were threatened by him. Resnov was just one example. So he established relationships. Partnerships. And the Brotherhood was born. He didn’t speak of it much since all activities and deals were top secret. But I do know that there are a lot of people who want to crush its future plans; plans he intended to carry forward before he died.”
“What about Dima? Was he part of it, too?”
Boris shakes his head. “Your father kept it completely separate from your family. That’s why he wanted me to get that envelope to you. Dima was never supposed to see it. Based on what Ivan said before, Dima had his own plans for the family once your father was out of the way, and I think your father knew it.”
“What about the list? Are those people part of the Brotherhood, or are they against it? Natasha was at the top. Was she seen as a threat to the Brotherhood?”
“Natasha’s father was an enemy of the Brotherhood, as are his associates. I believe that because of Ivan Resnov’s plans to destroy your family, she might have been seen as a threat, too. Just by association.”
“And now?” My mouth twists. “Is she still at risk?”
Boris shakes his head. “Ivan is dead, and so are his intentions. You’re marrying her, making her part of your family. That will save her and her family from any outside threats.”
So now I have to find this Brotherhood and convince them that my future wife is actually an ally and not a twisted psychopath like her father. “How am I supposed to find the other members?”
“News travels fast in our world. My partners in the Red Ladro syndicate are your allies. They have far-reaching influence across the world, and can help you find the Brotherhood. But Luka, you need to find the people who put the hit on your family because they’ll come back to finish the job. They will smell blood in the water and attack unless you strike first. Don’t let them find you first. And you need a number two. Promote Nikolai. He is your best option.”
Boris leans back against the table, breathless. His chest shudders as he drags in oxygen.
I trust Nik more than anyone, so I nod my agreement, opting against any more questions for now. “Listen, you rest for a while. I’ve got some things to take care of.”
I stand up and walk around the table toward the door when Boris’s eyes droop closed. My phone buzzes against my leg and I pull it out, staring at the unknown number on the screen.
It might be one of the feelers about Val I put out while I was waiting in the car at Natasha’s house. I find an empty room and close the door behind me. “Yeah?”
“Luka, it’s me.”
My eyebrows fly upward. “Jesus Christ, Val. Are you okay? Where are you? I’ll come and get you right now.”
She’s silent for a second, and I hear her sniffle before she speaks again. Her voice is teary but resigned, and that makes the hairs on the back of my neck spring to attention.
“I’m only calling to let you all know that I’m fine. Please don’t look for me, okay? Just know that I love you all so much and that I’m sorry.”
Click.
