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Konstantin is torn about letting me change the subject, but he must realize that he’d be fighting a losing battle because all he does is sigh deeply.
“What’s the solution?” he grumbles.
I raise my eyebrows. Waiting. He’ll get in three, two, one…
Konstantin’s face slowly twists into horror. “No…” he whispers. “No. Misha, no.”
“Yes,” I say firmly. “Petyr is vulnerable right now. Not only have I taken over his company, but he thinks he’s just killed my wife. He’s going to be expecting me to come at him hard to finish the job.”
“Which is why he’s gone underground. You don’t need to do this!”
“Exactly. I’m guessing he’s not going to resurface for a while. Not until he has a plan of action to strike back at me. Which means I need to beat him to the punch.”
“Brother, this is the Babai we’re talking about.The Babai.The name alone should make your skin crawl. Those fuckers are deadly.”
I lean forward, elbows on my desk. “Precisely. So why not turn their brand of poison on Petyr? They’ll take out everyone he associates with. Complete annihilation, erase him from the earth. Everyone who’s ever shaken his hand will die right along with him.”
“You’re placing too much faith in their ‘code,’ man. The Babai have been known to change allegiances on a whim. They’re aliens. Unpredictable. ‘Wild card’ doesn’t even begin to cover it, Misha—you’re flipping the whole damn chessboard over!”
I wave him away. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ll certainly be paying them enough. Petyr doesn’t have the funds to counter my offer.”
“The Babai aren’t always an investment, Misha. They’re a death sentence.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” I demand as I jerk to my feet, voice crackling with authority. “I’m not some random civilian off the street. I’m the pakhan of the Orlov Bratva. I am Misha fucking Orlov, and I will not be denied.”
Konstantin drags a hand through his hair. “They could decide to go to our enemies in search of a better offer.”
“Then I’ll make them one they can’t refuse.”
He takes a deep breath to steady himself. “Fucking hell. You’re serious about this?” He mutters another curse.
“I want this over, Konstantin. I’m not about to sit around and twiddle my thumbs while we wait for Petyr to gather strength and resurface. That could take years. This has to end sooner than that. The Babai is the means to that end.”
My cousin drops his head into his hands for a long, quiet moment. “Fine,” he breathes at last without looking up. “I’ll make inquiries. Get a location on them.”
“Thank you, brother.”
“Don’t thank me.” He leans back in his chair, shaking his head. “I’m not sure I’m doing you any favors.”
“It’ll all work out.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll make sure the Babai die before I do.”
9
PAIGE
The greenhouse is my favorite room in the house. I like being surrounded by flowers and trees—blooming, living things. I like it even more when I’m surrounded by family.
Cyrille and Ilya are pressing petals between the pages of an old encyclopedia. They’re doing it on the table where, not so long ago, I signed my name on my marriage license.
It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago. How much has changed since then…
Nessa sits down on the sofa next to me, her ankles crossed delicately. “I bought you something.”
I blink from my thoughts. “For me?”
