Page 18 of The Pakhan’s Heir

“We’re not married,” Rikki says, pointing to himself and Kostya. “He motions his head sideways. “You in?”

Kostya finishes his drink and says, “All right, let’s go.”

Rikki pushes Gedeon, urging him to move. Both he and I get out of the booth, letting them out. They take the girls’ hands and walk toward the dance floor.

Gedeon and I sit back down and he says, “You should have gone.”

“No chance I was going,” I say immediately.

He smiles and nods. “Not for nothing, though, Alex, but at the end of the day, I think what you’re doing is noble. More than noble, actually. It’s the kind of decision that a future Pakhan makes.”

“Glad you think so,” I say.

“Everyone thinks so. All the brigadiers, the boeviks… I even hear the Sixes are into this move. The common consensus is that the sacrifice you’re about to make speaks to your commitment to this Bratva. We all appreciate it.”

I don’t respond at first. I take a drink, accepting the compliment, then I thank him and add, “I’m only doing what any true brother would do. This Bratva is my lifeblood, my legacy. I don’t plan on running it anytime soon, but when that day comes, it means a lot to me to know that my brothers are behind me.”

“We are. One hundred and ten percent.” He raises his glass and we clink them. “Tomorrow might seem like the worst day of your life, but trust me, man. What you’re doing is going to make us all stronger. With any luck, we’ll be running Manhattan before winter.”

That’s an interesting thought. A Bratva so big that we absorb all the other gangs on the island. The Dominicans and Italians. Even the smattering of black gangs will know not to fuck with us.

Yeah. He’s right. This is all about duty in the end. Not my own personal preferences. My brothers are counting on me. My father, my Pakhan, is counting on me.

So, after tomorrow, I’ll make it work with Nona. And whatever that looks like, we’re staying united for the good of our families.

You can always tell when the club is starting to wind down. The dance floor gets more and more empty and the music gets more and more lame. The bartenders start cleaning up and the hardcore drunks start stumbling out.

The four of us are about done as well. We leave in formation, Rikki in front, me second, Kostya and Gedeon bringing up the rear. The bartenders even wave us out.

We step outside in the chill of the spring night. At some point during our time here, it started raining, but it’s only misting now. The cement is as shiny as glass and the smell of rain is thick on the breeze.

“Spring weather,” Rikki gripes as he pulls the collar of his jacket up. Gedeon nudges him with a big smile.

“A little rain too much for the monster, huh?” he says in Russian.

“Fuck off,” Rikki responds in kind.

I glance up at the sheet of mist around us. We should have gotten a car service. I hear Kostya in my ear. “Boss, heads up.”

I look over at him just as he nods his head to the side. I glance in the direction to see two men watching us from the lot next door. They’ve got the same swagger as we all do, even in their long trench coats and hats pulled down over their faces. Both of them look away the second I turn my head toward them. I turn back to Kostya.

“What do you think?” he asks. “Feds?”

I shake my head. “They’re Bratva. Or at least another gang. Maybe Italians or Dominicans.”

“What’s up?” Rikki asks. I look up to see him looking back, alerted.

“We got an audience,” says Kostya.

Rikki gives a sly look over his shoulder and spots them. “What’s the play?”

There are several things we could do. We could ignore them, walk to the car, see if they jump before we get there. Or maybe see if they follow us.

I’m not really in the mood for cat and mouse games tonight, though. I’ve got a long day tomorrow of getting married to a stranger. I’ve neither the time nor the energy for whatever they’re looking to do.

“Geddy,” I say, “go get the car and bring it around. I’m going over and saying hello to them.”

“Hey,” Kostya says, grabbing my arm. “Let’s not spend the evening with Marius patching us up.”