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“We were trying to keep him busy while you talked to Kata,” Aleksander explains, not sounding sorry for the deceit. I don’t blame him. Either one of them. They did what they thought was best for their family. Except that they were wrong. But at the time, they didn’t know better.
“The point is, your sons and I made a deal,” I continue, deciding to move on.
If possible, Dimitri’s eyebrows lift even higher, disappearing up his forehead. This might be all news to him, but I won’t let it go. Igor, Aleksander, Mikhail, and I shook on it. I like the terms we set and agreed on.
“I’d like to continue with that deal,” I tell him. “If you agree to it too, I promise I’ll help you.”
“First, I need to know what the deal is,” Dimitri forces through gritted teeth. His nostrils flare, his cheeks flushed. His anger isn’t my problem. He won’t dare to insult me again. Not when I hold all the power in my hands.
“As I told your sons, waging a war on the Gargarins is not an option. We need to avoid bloodshed and find a way to make peace. Otherwise, we all risk losing a lot of money,” I tell him. “I don’t want my businesses getting attacked again.”
Dimitri winces at my last words. He knows they were aimed straight at him. “I wish it could be that easy,” he replies.
“It can be.”
He sighs and shakes his head. “No, I’m afraid it can’t.”
Funny enough, it’s Katarina who loses her cool first. “For fuck’s sake, Papa, will you spit it out sometime before I go into labor?”
I suppress a smile, not wanting to offend Dimitri. His youngest son doesn’t have a problem with that, as a chuckle escapes him. But when he earns himself a glare from his father, any trace of amusement is quickly wiped off his face.
Dimitri gets up from his seat and takes a framed picture from the top of the fireplace. Without a word, he passes it to me. Even before looking, I already know what it is.
As I guessed, it’s a family photo of Dimitri, his wife, and his four kids. It must’ve been taken fifteen years ago or so. They’re all smiling at the camera, even Dimitri. Young Katarina’s hair is sticking out from two pigtails, and there’s a line of freckles across her face. They must’ve disappeared with age. She looks happy. My heart aches for the time when everything was easier. When our biggest burdens as children was schoolwork or what to play at the park.
“That’s what a family looks like when a man has nothing to fear,” Dimitri finally speaks, and points at the photograph. “Back then, people didn’t dare utter my name even in the safety of their own homes. They were too afraid.”
“Times have changed,” I reply, and give him back the picture.
“They have,” he allows, but his eyes are shining with eager excitement. “But that doesn’t mean we have to allow people to disrespect us. Not with you by our side.”
“Get to the point already,” I hiss, slowly growing tired of his droning. He’s not as talented a speaker as he’d like to believe.
“I want your guns and your men.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
I’m waiting for him to give me a new piece of the puzzle. Something that I can chew on.
“This has gone on for far too long. I agree with you that the war needs to stop. But I don’t agree with your plan on how to end it,” he says finally.
I narrow my eyes at him. Suddenly, the tie around my neck feels too tight. I don’t like the implication behind his words, and I’m losing my patience.
“Say it,” I challenge him. “Say the words, old man.”
Dimitri’s eyes flash at my disrespect. Good, he should get used to it. He’s not the top dog anymore. A new generation has arrived, and we’re ready to do things our way. Do we want peace? No. But it also doesn’t mean we can go out there with cocked guns.
Times have changed. People won’t stand for it anymore. That’s what he doesn’t understand. Modern technologies might’ve made everyone’s life easier, but not ours. Not when so much information can be shared in a matter of seconds.
“I want our men to pay the Gargarins a visit,” he says calmly. His breathing is coming in fast and shallow bursts. He might speak in a low voice, but he’s barely maintaining control over himself. I’m willing to bet my entire empire that no one has ever talked to him the way I’m treating him today.
From the corner of my eye, I notice movement outside the window. The black military jackets are confirmation enough—my brother’s men have arrived. Though they’re a bit late for my liking, they’re still on time to provide backup if Dimitri and I can’t come to an agreement.
With a newfound resolve, I open my mouth to tell him to go fuck himself, but Katarina takes my hand and turns to me. I frown and meet her pale green eyes.
“My father’s right,” she tells me, keeping her voice low as if she wants the words to be only for me to hear. “Yakov will never stop coming after us. Don’t you want him to pay for what he tried to do to me?”
I resist the urge to scowl.
