AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you. In the time since that alliance was initially agreed upon, several things have come to light about Anton Kozlov that have made me exceedingly uncomfortable with the match, especially when it comes to my daughter’s wellbeing.”
“Has the wedding not actually happened yet?” Ada asked, and Maxim shook his head.
“No. Our agreement was that it would take place this coming weekend. In order to cement the pairing, both of our families facilitated spreading several rumors that it had already transpired to ensure their safety up until the time of the ceremony. We didn’t want anyone to have time to order a hit on either of them while the planning stages took place,” he explained.
“And you think Anton is not good enough for your daughter?” Ada assumed, her voice questioning but still kind, and Maxim nodded, his own expression touched with resolute fury that didn’t seem to be directed at her, but at Anton. I tensed anyway, my guard rising a bit. He made no move to leave his position on the couch, though, and I eventually relaxed as best I could.
“No. There were several things that were kept hidden behind multiple firewalls that remained a secret from me until only yesterday, when one of my men broke through them after weeks of work. Gathering intel on Anton had taken a backseat to gaining footing here in Boston. It’s proven more difficult than I anticipated, so much so that it made sense to pair with the Kozlovs so that my men could stand a chance. I know things I cannot unknow now though, and I can’t willingly allow my daughter to wed a man like him. She deserves a man of honor, not the likes of that lowlife,” he spat. He took another large swig of vodka, emptying his glass in the process. Ada lifted a hand and ensured it was quickly replaced with a much fuller pour this time. He nodded in appreciation to the attendant, which I respected as well. He was a gentleman.
“Why don’t you tell us what you know?” I requested gently.
“My men uncovered a series of transactions traced to offshore accounts between Anton and a high-end escort service. He is a regular user of the service. That in and of itself wouldn’t be so much of an issue, I understand every man has needs, but we also uncovered several mistresses he has here locally. From the looks of things, he’s made no effort to cut those off. In addition, there were an alarming number of incidences of domestic abuse that had been swept under the rug. All this being said, I am no longer comfortable putting my daughter in his hands, and I want to ask for your help in ensuring that the wedding does not occur like it’s supposed to in a few days,” he explained.
Ada sat back and took a sip of her own whiskey, her expression thoughtful. She glanced to me, and I leaned forward and brought a question of my own to the table.
“How do I know it was the Kozlovs that bombed my penthouse and not some twisted maneuver meant to garner faith with me in establishing yourself here in my city?” I asked pointedly.
Maxim nodded, apparently pleased at my direct approach, and raised his glass to me. “I respect your forwardness, Shane. It tells me that you’re just as much of a man as your father was, and that your family will have no problem thriving under your leadership. That is not how I deal with my enemies, though. I’m sure the two of you compiled your own profiles on me before I walked through that door,” he answered, grinning a little. His demeanor remained cool and collected, yet his ominous message was palpable anyway.
“That is true, Maxim. Your personal calling card is much more subtle than a bomb,” Ada answered. Her answering smirk was calculated and as equally ruthless as Maxim’s.
We both knew what he’d meant. The Russian bratva boss was known for carving his enemy’s name into a bullet. He was also known for not being afraid to pull the trigger himself. Maxim was a man that refused to shy away from challenging things. If he gave a difficult directive, he was more than capable of seeing it to completion on his own. His reputation more than preceded him.
“Indeed, it is,” he said with a smile, his cavalier mercilessness bleeding through. He glanced between the two of us and raised a brow.
“The Murphys and the Kavanaghs are allies, Maxim,” Ada explained, catching his curiosity.
“I had heard rumor of this only this morning, but I wasn’t sure of the validity of such an alliance. You two would know.” Maxim swirled his drink, his gaze curiously observant as it moved back and forth between us.
“Shane asked for my hand in marriage, and I agreed that it would be a good match that would work in both our favors,” Ada continued. She lifted her chin and looked down at Maxim in a subtle way, saying without words that she knew how powerful such an alliance would be. Even through the union of both bratva families, they wouldn’t begin to approach the strength of my family and hers combined.
“You have my deepest congratulations,” Maxim offered, raising his glass in her direction.
The alliance of the three of us together was nothing to shake a stick at though. If we could barter such an agreement today, the city would be ours.
“I want to ask for help from the both of you, then, if I may,” he continued. I could tell he was choosing his words carefully.
“You want us to intervene in the marriage in some form without implicating you in the process,” Ada stated.
“Yes. That would be ideal.”
“You did save both of our lives last night, so you have my gratitude for that,” Ada responded.
“Mine as well,” I added.
“Where is Irina now?” Ada asked. I could see the wheels turning in her head.
“She is in a hotel downtown that’s currently under Kozlov control. Part of the agreement was that she would remain with their family during the planning process, and that wasn’t a problem because the communication had been open, and there wasn’t any apparent risk to her safety until I discovered all the hidden intel on him.”
“That makes things a bit more complicated,” Ada stated. She took a long, slow sip of her whiskey, her expression thoughtful. Watching her in her element like this was just as enjoyable as tearing every piece of clothing off her body. I shifted a bit, trying to ease the pressure from the painfully hard spike between my legs.
She was going to get fucked good and hard when I finally got her to myself.
“Indeed,” Maxim sighed.
“Complicated, but not entirely impossible…” she said with a pointed grin. Her face lit up, and I could tell that she’d already come up with a solution to a problem that seemed destined to end in an excessive amount of bloodshed.
That’s my girl.
