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“I need your help planning the wedding. She’s from Ireland and she wants a ceremony that touches on her Irish roots,” I explained, holding my breath slightly as soon as I got the words out.
“Well, Maxim, you’ve got my attention and my interest. The Murphys would be honored to help set up a proper Irish wedding. We’ll make sure it’s everything she—and you—could ever want,” she said, her genuine warmth shining through with her words.
“Thank you, Ada. I knew I could count on you,” I replied, more than a little relieved.
“Of course you can. But be warned, Maxim, I’ll need to meet this girl who’s stolen the heart of the most feared Russian mobster in Boston. We need to ensure she’s Murphy-approved.”
Her words were playful, but the underlying message was quite clear. Ada took family seriously, whether by blood or by alliance. My family and hers had aligned through the marriage of my daughter to her brother, so that included me and my soon-to-be wife.
“Agreed. We’ll set something up soon,” I promised.
“Good. And Maxim,” Ada added, her voice turning serious again, “she’s under our protection too now. Anyone thinks to harm a hair on her head, they’ll have the Murphys to answer to as well.”
“Thank you, Ada. That means more than you know,” I grinned.
“Of course,” she replied.
“But there’s something more you should know. It’s about the Orlovs,” I continued.
I took a few minutes and apprised her of the situation between my family and the Orlovs, how I’d killed Gregor and how the bratva’s boss was demanding Riley as payment.
“Don’t worry, you have us if you need us. A strike against the Morozovs is a strike against the Murphys.”
“I appreciate that, Ada,” I answered.
“We’ll talk soon, Maxim. Give my regards to Riley.”
“I will.”
I hung up the phone and stared at it. I had one more call to make and it was going to be a difficult one.
I had to call my daughter and tell her too.
When I strode into the Iron Wolf Tavern later that day, there was already a glass of vodka waiting for me. Ivan and Sergei were camped out at our usual table with a bottle of our finest Russian vodka half-drunk between them.
How dare they get the party started without me?
With a grin, I slid into my seat beside them and Ivan slid a vodka in front of me. I threw back the glass, the sharp bite of the alcohol burning down my throat. With a grunt, I nodded to Ivan to pour me another. He did with a chuckle.
Sergei didn’t waste any time. “The Orlovs are getting bold, Maxim. They’re pushing into our territory with a ferocity we haven’t seen before. I’ll tell you one thing. I don’t fucking like it.”
Ivan nodded, his expression grim. “They’ve started leaning on local businesses, our businesses—extortion, protection rackets. And there’s talk they’re trafficking drugs too, trying to take over routes that have been under our control for decades.”
“We can’t let this stand,” I stated flatly. “It’s not just a challenge to our control; it’s a blight on our community.”
Sergei leaned forward, his eyes hardening. “We need to reinforce our presence on the streets. More patrols, more visibility. Let’s remind the Orlovs why this city has been ours for a lot longer than it’s been theirs.”
Ivan tapped his finger against his glass thoughtfully. “Visibility is good, but we also need intelligence. Maybe it’s time to plant a few of our people inside their operations, get a better look at their infrastructure.”
“I agree, but let’s put that strategy on the back burner for now,” I said, considering the logistics. “We’ll need to be careful about who we choose. It has to be someone they don’t know, someone who can blend in without raising suspicion.”
Sergei took a slow sip of his vodka, his gaze shifting to the crowd around us. “What about hitting them where it hurts? Their money. If we disrupt their cash flow, particularly the trafficking rings, we cut off a major source of their power here in the city and send them back to Chicago where they belong.”
“It’s risky,” Ivan cautioned. “But effective. We could use our contacts in law enforcement to stage a few raids. Seize their assets before they have a chance to hide them.”
“Good. I like it. Sergei, you handle the street presence. Increase our patrols, especially around the businesses they’re targeting. Ivan, increase surveillance around those areas. I’ll coordinate with our contacts in the police,” I commanded and the two of them nodded in agreement.
“Do we need to put it to a vote?” Sergei asked and Ivan shook his head.
