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“Yup,” Kade says. “I’ve lived there all my life. It’s a huge old place. My brother lives with us, and my father’s men, in their quarters . . .”
“You mean your uncle’s men,” Vanya Antonov says.
He’s sitting cross-legged on a stack of mats with Bodashka and Silas, not warming up, just watching Kade and Tristan.
Kade frowns, tossing back his dark hair.
“It’s the same thing,” he says.
“No it isn’t,” Vanya says, sliding off the mats and standing up. His hands are tucked in the pockets of his gray gym shorts, but the set of his shoulders and the tilt of his jaw is anything but casual. “Ivan Petrov isPakhan,not your father. Ivan owns that monastery, and all those soldiers. Your father’s just a lieutenant.”
“I never said otherwise,” Kade retorts, patches of color coming into his cheeks. “They’re brothers.”
“But Ivan’s the eldest,” Vanya says, taking another step toward Kade and dropping his hands to his sides.
“What’s your point?” Tristan says quietly, no longer shadow-boxing.
“My point is that Dominik Petrov came to the meeting in Moscow as if he were boss. He’s been doing a lot of things as if he were boss. Giving orders. Making changes.”
“What the fuck do you know about it?” Kade demands.
“I know your father has been taking money out of the Gazprombank,” Bodashka says to Kade, likewise rising. “A lot of money.”
Bodashka’s father isderzhatel obshchakain St. Petersburg, head accountant just like my father. He has connections at all the major banks, so Bodashka’s assertion rings with truth.
“Are you making an accusation?” Kade says.
The three older boys have all stood up from the mats now and formed a half-circle around him.
“I’m not the one saying it,” Vanya informs Kade, his voice low and insinuating. “It’s everyone in Moscow. They say your father is overstepping. Doesn’t know his place. Just like Adrik when he was at school, thinking he was an Heir when he’s only an Enforcer.”
“Don’t talk about my brother,” Kade hisses, tendons standing out in his neck. “Or my father, either.”
“I’ll say whatever I like about them,” Vanya scoffs.
“Leave him alone,” Ares says sharply.
He’s crossed the gym to intervene, which is strange because he generally avoids conflict at all costs, unless Leo Gallo drags him into it. This is the first time I’ve seen Leo tagging along instead, following his typically peaceful friend.
Kade doesn’t appreciate the rescue. He throws Ares an angry look as if he’d prefer him to stay out of it.
“My father is an honorable man,” Kade spits at Vanya. “You know nothing about my family.”
“I know more than you think,” Vanya says, with an air of holding back some secret.
The threat only makes Kade angrier.
“My father has run St. Petersburg flawlessly while Uncle Ivan’s been in America. The business prospers as it never has before. And the dispensaries in America are raining money!”
“Yes, soyour fathersays,” Vanya hisses, his eyes narrowed to slits. “It’s him making the reports, after all . . .”
“If you have something to say, then say it!” Kade cries. “And I’ll break your fucking jaw for you!”
“All right, I will. I think your father is a lying fucking thie?—”
Kade rushes at Vanya and I run forward at the same moment, intersecting the two before they meet. I put my back to Kade and shove Vanya so hard that he stumbles backward, falling on his ass on the mats.
Instantly, Bodashka and Silas surge forward, as do Leo and Ares.
