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Little hacker.
“She did. And don’t forget she committed a crime worthy of punishment.” I give a short nod.
“How many days, brother?” someone asks. I don’t bother to see who it is.
“Three.”
If I don't get married, I forfeit the alliances and connections a marital statement makes. Marriage can be a powerful force, yes. In some cases if we marry an influential family, we gain access to resources and support, but in this case, it symbolizes unity and loyalty within our group. Marriage means that we immediately strengthen the sheer number of our group.
This time, Volkov won’t be able to make a move. He would never suspect I’d marry a penniless fugitive.
The destruction of our assets, the possibility of attack from our enemies, the potential threat they could leverage against the few people that mean anything to us. Even my tribe of panthers isn’t enough.
We’re on the cusp of war if I don’t have a wife, a war we’re not equipped to win.
“I’m having her followed, only to see where she goes and what she does. I know where she’s sleeping tonight. Her temporary refuge.”
Aleks smiles. “Perfect.”
My phone rings. My mother’s ringtone.
I hold up my hand to indicate silence. My brothers practically hold their collective breaths.
I put the call on speaker.
“Yes.”
But it isn’t my mother on the other line.
“Mikhail. How are you?"
Volkov.
Aleks narrows his eyes.
I clench my fist. "Fantastic.” He waits for me to reciprocate the bullshit formality, but I don’t.
"Fine, fine. I was just sitting here with your mother. We were having a nice dinner."
I grit my teeth and force myself to stay calm. Bashing this phone against the wall is a childish move that won’t solve anything.
My mother. Of course. She doesn't know who Volkov truly is, and there's a part of her that still trusts him. He's family, after all, but she doesn't know what he's capable of. How he only values family inasmuch as he can use them.
I keep my tone light. “Mama. How are you?”
“I’m well, Mikhail. I miss you. Come for dinner, soon?”
I look at Aleks as my mother continues talking. On the conference screen, Nikko makes a fist, Lev scowls at the camera, and Kolya’s body tightens.
We all know why Volkov is there. It’s a silent but very real threat. If I don't get married, he attacks. And yes, we lose money and assets but he's not above kidnapping or hurting my mother. He won’t give a fuck about retribution.
I have to get married.
“We were just looking at the calendar," Volkov says. "I've suggested a little trip back to Mother Russia. You know we have family there. Your mother says she misses it, Mikhail. Your father never allowed her to go back to Russia."
Of course he didn't. Enemies, history, former lovers. Russia was ripe with memories of my father’s past. My mother, though…
"It's hard to believe it's been thirty-seven days since your father's death," he says. "I offer my condolences." He speaks in Russian to my mother, and I clench my hands into fists.
