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“Are you all set for the festivities?” Sergei asks as we continue walking to wherever Vanya is leading us.
“Enough, Sergei,” Ivan snaps, shooting him a warning glance before turning to me. “We’ll talk about that later.”
“In here now, come on!” Vanya urges, opening the door to the library. We all enter and take our seats across the study table, with Ivan at the head.
With each of my siblings gathered around me, I’m overwhelmed by a surge of emotions. Seven long years have passed since we last sat together like this, and the depth of our connection is reignited with every passing second. The familial bond that spans across time and distance is powerful, and I know there is nothing that can break it.
“Brother, we’ve missed you,” Vanya whispers into my ear, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. It’s hard to suppress my own as I hold hers back tightly.
“Life hasn’t been easy without you here,” Ivan admits, a solemn expression shadowing his features.
“Tell me what happened,” I urge, my heart heavy with concern for my family. The truth is, I would never have left had I been given a chance to stay and live life on my own terms. But the power dynamics within the Bratva are ever-changing and when I left, I was treated as any other traitor. There was no choice. Had Ivan allowed me to still be a part of the family while renouncing its functioning, Ivan would have been viewed as weak, and a weak Pakhan can never survive in this cutthroat world.
“In the wake of recent events, the power balance within the city has shifted,” Ivan explains, his voice low and steady. “While the war with the Bianchis ended in our favor, they’re returning stronger now under Mario’s leadership. Our rivals saw an opportunity to weaken us and took advantage of it. They targeted our businesses, our people…everything.”
“We fought hard to protect our interests, but eventually it became too much for us,” Vanya adds, her eyes showing traces of sadness. “We are left picking up the pieces of everything, including Vlad’s death and betrayal.”
I grimace at the mention of our dead brother’s name. Vlad, who betrayed us for nothing, suffered a gruesome death in the process. He left enemies in his wake, enemies who will soon come for us too, I am sure.
Sergei chimes in. “Mikhail, you need to understand—things have changed. One wrong move and we may not remain as powerful as we are.”
I feel the weight of their words, the gravity of the situation pressing down on me. My absence left a void during which our enemies struck against us, and now I must return to help Ivan carry the burden of my family’s legacy. Perhaps if I had been here, things would have turned out differently.
“Let me make things right,” I vow, steeling myself for the battles ahead. “We’ll reclaim what’s ours, and no one will dare stand against the Zolotovs again.”
“Your determination is admirable, Mikhail,” Ivan says. “But you must know that our enemies are more cunning than ever before. We need to be smarter and strengthen our defenses.”
“Tell me, what do you propose?” I fix my gaze on Ivan.
“First, we need to identify our weaknesses and address them. Our businesses have suffered in recent years, and our manpower has dwindled,” Ivan explains, his tone measured and thoughtful. “We have foes in every corner.”
“Have you considered forming alliances with other families?” I suggest.
“Speaking of alliances…” Sergei smirks, glancing toward the window, an amused look in his eyes. “Mikhail, have you seen the decorations they’re setting up for your wedding? It’s quite the sight.”
“Wait, what?” I stammer, caught off guard by his comment. My heart races as my mind struggles to process this unexpected revelation. Wedding? Whose wedding?
“Damn it, Sergei!” Ivan snaps, shooting him a venomous glare. “I wanted to break the news to him myself, in private.”
“Ah, my apologies, brother.” Sergei feigns remorse, but there’s a mischievous twinkle in his eye that suggests otherwise. “I just assumed he knew, since it’s his own wedding, after all. And to imagine it’s taking place in two weeks.”
“Can you go one day without causing trouble, Sergei?” Vanya snaps, before turning her attention to me. “Mikhail…” But she doesn’t finish her sentence, because while I’m in the room, it’s clear my mind is elsewhere.
My thoughts churn like stormy waves, barely able to contain my thoughts. A wedding? In two weeks? To whom? And why was I not informed sooner? The questions bombard me relentlessly, each one fueling the anger that simmers beneath the surface.
“Enough with the games, Sergei,” I growl through clenched teeth. “Explain yourself.”
“Relax, Mikhail,” Ivan says, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “It’s true—we’ve arranged a marriage for you as part of the new alliances we wish to form. It wasn’t something we took lightly, but given the circumstances, we believe it’s the best course of action for our family.”
“An arranged marriage,” I repeat, trying to comprehend this new piece of information. The concept feels archaic, a relic of a time when love and personal desires held little value in the grand scheme of things. But this is the Bratva, where loyalty to one’s family surpasses all else. If this marriage can secure our future and strengthen our position in the underworld, then perhaps it’s a sacrifice worth making.
“Who’s the bride?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ivan hesitates for a moment, sharing a significant glance with Sergei before responding. “Caterina Genovese. The Enforcer’s daughter.”
The name sends a shiver down my spine, and for a moment I am transported back in time—to stolen kisses in moonlit gardens, whispered secrets beneath silk sheets, and the intoxicating warmth of Caterina’s embrace. The memory of her, once a treasured secret locked away within the depths of my heart, now threatens to consume me whole.
The Genoveses have been our family’s rival for years, which is why Caterina and I had to keep our romance a secret. For four years, we loved each other under the shadows. While we’re the strongest Russian Bratva, they’re the strongest Italian unit in Philadelphia. Our feud goes back decades.
