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Curiosity gets the better of me. “What are you talking about?”
Dad sits back in his chair, his heavy shoulders slumping. “It’s time, Sandra. You’re ready. Effective immediately, I’m stepping down as the head of the Antonov Bratva. You are to take my place.”
My heart skips a beat. I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear him say those words, but now that we’re here, I can’t believe it’s happening. “Seriously? But…”
“Do you know what happened when your guards informed me you’d been taken?”
“No, what?”
Dad presses his lips into a thin line. “I’m not as young as I used to be…”
Beside me, Uncle Luka huffs and rolls his eyes. “Your old man had a heart attack, Sandy.”
My jaw drops open, a chill rushing through me. “What? Why didn’t anybody tell me?”
“We’re telling you now,” Uncle Pyotr states. “And it wasn’t that bad.”
“This is a stressful and often thankless job,” Dad goes on. “I’m glad you’re safe, and I know you held your own. But I’m not sure how much longer I can do this. I wanted to hold off for as long as possible, and I’ll be here until you have full control of the reins to ensure a smooth transition, but this is what you were always meant to be. There will no doubt be whispers of your capabilities as my chosen heir, and that’s why you need to take the lead now and shut down any doubts.”
I take a deep breath. “You want me to go after Andrei Nicolaevich.”
“What better way to show your strength than to punish those who wronged you?”
I stand tall, determination stewing in the pit of my stomach. He’s right. I need to prove myself now more than ever. To my allies. To my enemies. To my own family and those who follow the Antonov banner. My kidnapping was just a minor hiccup, but I can choose to use it as an opportunity. A teaching moment, per se.
It looks like I’ll be seeing Andrei again, after all.
Chapter 10
Andrei
Imove quickly, setting up meetings left, right, and center with Moscow’s most notorious criminals. Thieves, smugglers, money launderers—the list is endless. It’s no small secret that the Antonovs have had a tight grip on all illicit activity in the city for the last two decades, raking in the lion’s share of profits.
But now that I’ve made a big enough splash, everything’s about to change.
The Antonovs are not without enemies, though many have been driven deep underground, biding their time. It took a little organization on my part, but in my experience, it’s who you know and not what you know that can give you a greater edge.
“Why have you called us here?” Akim asks, soaking his large feet beneath the water. “I’ll have you know I’m a very busy man.”
“As am I,” adds Ruslun, a man I’m convinced is made of nothing but bone.
I sit on the edge of the wooden riser, breathing in the steam of the bathhouse. I chose this location for a particular reason, the first being there’s no way to conceal any weapons given that we’re all in nothing but a towel wrapped around our waists. It’s a sign of mutual respect. I have nothing to hide, and neither do they. We’re here to discuss business—no need to worry about being shot or stabbed in the back. When you’re dealing with slippery characters, it’s best to ensure no one—not even me—has an advantage over the others.
The second reason I chose a Russian bathhouse is because this specific location sits in a sort of neutral zone. It’s not in my newfound territory, but it doesn’t quite belong to the Antonovs, either—another deliberate choice to show I come in peace, ready to negotiate.
“Were you really the one behind that Antonova bitch’s kidnapping?” Akim asks gruffly.
I nod. “Indeed.”
“And you got yourself a slice of the pie,” Ruslun comments, sounding rather impressed. “You’ve got balls, new guy, I’ll give you that. But why did you feel the need to drag us here?”
“Because I want to make a deal,” I say with ease. “I have plans to expand my territory, but I don’t have the manpower.”
Akim scoffs. “And what does that have to do with us?”
I manage a smile, all too eager to tell him. “I’m a very thorough man. My contacts have informed me of the bad blood between you and the Antonovs. They forced your people out of some prime real estate several years ago, isn’t that right?”
“Among other things.”
