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“Go to work,” I tell them. “I’ll make a call to Moscow.”
When they leave, I finally close my eyes. Even though I’m furious, I must keep a cool head.
Left alone, I slump into the chair and stare out the window. The sun is out, but all I see is a red cloud of rage. Without wanting to, I’ve gotten myself stuck between two dangerous families. My connection with Katarina will ultimately force me to pick a side. Unfortunately, there’s only one right answer, which is also the one I hate.
I take a deep breath to steady myself before I dial the number of the Foreign Intelligence Service in Moscow.
“Nik,” my older brother answers on the first ring. “Things must be bad if you’re calling me.”
“Vasily,” I greet. “It’s been a while.”
“Whose fault is that?” he muses. “You’re the one who refuses to stay in touch.”
“Well, now I have no choice,” I remark, moving the conversation to the reason why I called. “I need your help.”
“Name it.” Vasily’s voice is cool and matter of fact.
“New York is on the verge of a war,” I say. “I need a team to help me clean up a mess.”
“What kind of a mess?” I can imagine him shaking his head and narrowing his eyes.
“A bloody one,” I reply. “I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the empire I’ve built. If the wrong side wins, I’ll need enough manpower behind me to make them think twice before they come after me.”
“How many men do you need?” Vasily asks directly, which I appreciate. There’s no time to lose.
“At least a dozen.”
“I’ll double the number and send them on the first plane.”
“Thank you.” I’m grateful that he’s coming to my aid despite years of not talking to each other.
“Not so fast,” he interjects. That would’ve been too easy. “I want something from you too.”
“What’s that?”
“An invitation to your wedding.”
In the space of a few short moments, I realize what happened.
“Katya told you,” I scoff. “Pray tell, how’s our baby sister doing?”
“You know her.” He chuckles. “Always meddling in others’ business, but she’s been a star nonetheless. She’s on a fast track to becoming a judge.”
“That’s impressive.” I whistle. “I hope neither one of you will arrest me at my own wedding.”
“We’re family,” Vasily says, as if that automatically gives me immunity. “We’d at least wait for you to get laid first.”
“Just help me stay alive until my wedding day,” I tell him, and breathe a sigh of relief.
“I will,” he promises. “Don’t be a stranger, Nik. We might not be in the same business, but we’re still family.”
“I know,” I reply. “Thank you.”
Vasily hangs up first, and I let out a sharp breath of air. He’ll send more than enough reinforcements from Moscow to keep Gargarin and Sokolov’s war from claiming casualties on my side. That also will make it easier to punish the ones who tried to kill me.
Time will tell what I do. But first, I have to talk to Katarina about her father.
THIRTY-FOUR
