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“No, you’re right, there is some trouble. You remember the attack at Anatoly’s club?”
“How could I forget? There was a lot of bloodshed that morning. I’m sure it made it to the local news stations,” I reply.
“Yes, well, Anatoly decided to get revenge, it seems.”
I let out a dry laugh. “I’m the one who was getting revenge. He has no reason to start stirring up shit again.”
Boris sighs. “I know, but he did, and it’s not pretty.”
“Spit it out,” I grumble.
“There was a bombing. He managed to take down an entire apartment complex like it was made of sand. One the one hand, there was nobody inside at the time, but on the other hand, it was Valerie’s old complex, which means he’s specifically targeting her now.”
The phone creaks in my hand as I squeeze it. I try not to show my anger because Valerie is in the room and she’d get worried, but it’s impossible to hide it when I speak. “I’m going to kill him. You hear me? He’s fucking dead. No more screwing around. I want you to find him and bring him to me so that I can put the bullet in his head myself.”
Valerie eyes me from beside the dresser, but she doesn’t say anything.
I turn away from her, lowering my voice as I whisper commands to Boris. “Everyone we have needs to know about this. Anatoly Chazov must be captured alive, and there’s a reward of a hundred-million dollars if he’s brought to me.”
“That’s… That’s a lot of money, sir. I think some of the men are going to be distracted from their regular jobs,” Boris stammers.
“Let them be distracted! Anatoly must pay. There’s no other way.” I hang up the phone, tossing it onto the bed and raking my fingers through my sweaty hair.
I hate my brother more than I ever have. He’s taken this way too far. It’s one thing to try to have me killed, but attempting to murder my precious Valerie is going to end with his body at the bottom of the ocean, encased in concrete.
“That didn’t sound good,” Valerie squeaks from the other side of the room.
I look over at her to find her wearing a long white dress with a yellow ribbon in her hair. How could anyone even dream of harming such a precious woman? Anatoly must have lost his mind.
My teeth are clenched so hard that I have trouble speaking. It takes me half a minute just to respond to Valerie’s concern. “That was Boris… There was a bombing, but nobody was hurt.”
“That’s horrible,” she says, rushing toward me with wide eyes. “Was it a terrorist attack?”
I shake my head. “Anatoly is no terrorist. He’s a fool with an ever-shortening lifespan.”
She gasps. “Your brother did this?”
My eyes lose focus as I nod. “He’s crossed one too many lines.”
Valerie grabs my arms and pulls them apart, placing herself against my chest and folding my arms over herself. She snuggles up to me, instantly taking the stress out of my shoulders. I wish I could stand here with her forever, but the world won’t stop just because I want it to.
It doesn’t matter how tired I am, I must keep going.
For Valerie.
For the baby.
Forus.
32
Valerie
Pasha is eager to get back to the United States after learning about his brother’s reign of terror there, but he won’t budge from our little Italian cottage until we find Julia’s necklace. I appreciate his dedication, but I’m concerned about what’s happening back home. I’d hate to return to find the entire city in flames.
Pasha attempts to downplay the severity of what’s happening, but I can hear it in his voice that this is difficult for him. He has to sit on the sidelines while chaos overtakes the city he’s put so many years and effort into. The north side used to be in shambles before he arrived, and now it’s a bustling metropolitan area with the best luxury apartments, shops, and clubs.
Seeing his life’s work threatened by someone who is supposed to be part of his family is difficult. I stay up late until he falls asleep at night, refusing to allow him to dwell on it without getting rest.
