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I’ve paid Naomi’s boutique millions over the years, but this is the first time I’ll meet her.
I hope she appreciates my loyal patronage. She must because the door buzzes open immediately.
“Andrei!” Sonya stands in the middle of the shop, wrapped in yards of white satin. I give her a quick peck on the cheek and check around for her guards. She is the pakhan of the largest Bratva on the East Coast, and I see no guards.
“You’re here alone?” I whisper.
“They’re outside.”
A blonde with upswept hair rushes toward me, and I almost yank out my gun until I realize she is holding out her hand. “Welcome to my boutique. I am so happy to finally meet you, Mr. Barinov.”
I nod solemnly. “You’re welcome. Is there somewhere private I can talk to my sister?”
“Please use my office.” Naomi strides quickly ahead of us, her hair bouncing as she leads us into a room of candy-colored pink walls. The delicate writing desk is situated in the middle, and a light scent of roses wafts over me as I sit awkwardly in a dainty chair. I place my hands on either side of the desk as if to steady myself. The legs of my chair creak slightly under my weight.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she says.
I smile tightly. “Just privacy.”
Naomi’s smile stays on her face until the door shuts. Meanwhile, Sonya leaps on me before I can scold her for going out in public without too few guards.
“So, you’re not going?” she scowls. “You’re a fool for not going.”
I scowl back. “Don’t you have another wedding to plan?”
Sonya saunters over and plops down into a chair. “I’m seriously considering eloping. Can you blame me?”
I try to hold it back, but laughter rips out of me. Sonya’s eyes widen at my response as she leans back in the chair.
“What?” I ask her. “What is it?”
“I was expecting you to be yourself—angry, broody, and mad at the world.” Her expression turns serious. “If you don’t show up for that baby, there will be consequences. Andrei, Paige still loves you. I can see it in her eyes. The world can see it in her eyes, but you can’t because you won’t go near her.”
“Enough. One of us must be pakhan, and I doubt you’re fit for the responsibility.”
Sonya sticks her tiny nose in the air. “Vanya will help me.”
“Vanya is your guard!” I lower my voice. “Pakhans don’t marry their rank. In a year, you’ll ruin what I’ve accomplished.”
“Don’t you dare take your frustration out on me,” she says playfully. “Don’t forget. You are speaking to your pakhan.”
She closes the door and leaves me in a place I don’t belong. I sit there inhaling deep breaths, wondering what I’ve done.I’ve fucked up. That’s what I’ve done.Hard work has left me with nothing, but there’s only one thing I really want. I stare at the time on the phone. There’s still time to make it there if I leave now.
Abruptly, Natasha hurries into the office dressed in black. She stands out like an inky beacon in this frou-frou cloud of pink. I stare at her, not comprehending where she came from but glad that she’s here.
“You left your GPS on,” she answers before I can ask. “A smaller Bratva is provoking our guards at our club and saying we owe them money. I need help to stop it before it gets worse.”
“I can’t go, Natasha,” I strain to speak calmly. “Tell Dmitri—I mean, tell Sonya to send someone. The Karamazov like that shit.”
She looks at me for a moment, her face a collage of disbelief and confusion.
But I feel a mix of anger and temptation deep inside. I want to go. I want to be in control. I know what to do to put the upstarts down. Knock them to their knees and make them beg for their lives. My breathing picks up as if I’ve run a hard mile. It’s too easy to backslide into my dangerous old life. I grip the desk until it shakes.
If there is a chance to get Paige back, I must go clean.
“All right,” she says quietly. “Sonya will handle it.” And with that, Natasha is gone.
I never thought I could say no. It won’t ever be easy going clean. Paige returning the money not only impacted her life but mine too. It increased the reputation of the Barinov Bratva, and, in an odd way, gave me protection from those who could actually hunt me. I can walk down the street like any other man.
