Page 82 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

“Later,” I agree, nodding at him.

He rushes off without picking up his blocks and I sweep them aside before standing. The phone is insistent, so I pull it out and swipe to answer, seeing Demid’s number on the screen.

“Go,” I say, staring down at the blocks. The boy should learn to pick up after himself, but Ingrid will do it for now.

“Boss, I have an update,” Demin says plainly. He’s taken over reporting for the past five years, though his reports were going to Akim, not me. Throwing me back into the works has been an adjustment, but they’re getting used to it now.

“Well, let me have it,” I say, nudging a block with my toe. Calls like this are the bread and butter of my operation. Without information flowing properly, nothing works. When I’m in the know, things get done. And now, with Petrov hovering, ready to strike at any moment, and other enemies ready to pounce on my heir, I have to be at the top of my game.

“Good news or bad news?” he says, and I don’t have time for games.

“Just tell me,” I grumble, kicking a block. I walk to the window overlooking the garden out back and notice Felix, escorted by Ingrid, rushing out to where Raina sits with a book in hand reading. The two of them make my life complete. She just doesn’t understand it fully yet.

“The men are doing well. Petrov and the Chechens have pushed hard, but we’re towing the line. Under Akim’s leadership we haven’t lost a single soldier in months.”

“But?” I say, sensing the bad news will come next. There’s always bad news. It’s the dark shadow that hangs over my life at all times. I can never let my guard down, never breathe easily.

“But, we got a letter with your name on it.” He pauses, and when I don’t say anything he continues. “It’s written in blood, Boss. I’m not sure whose blood it is, but it’s fresh. And it’s a death threat for you and the child. Someone wants you both dead.”

I’m not surprised. I knew this would happen. My enemies have wanted to kill me since the moment they learned I was having an heir. I had peace on that front while he was missing, but now that he’s back I expect a resurgence in those threats, perhaps an intensification of them.

Akim walks in and stands next to me with his chest puffed out, waiting for me to finish this call and speak with him. I’d like his input, so I try to end it quickly.

Though, he’s been running things for a while now, and he’s struggling to relinquish control back to me. Reporting in on everything and getting directives on how to proceed—the way he used to do six years ago—seems something impossible to tolerate suddenly, which is why he’s now the last to know anything. Demid isn’t stupid enough to disobey my orders.

“Yes, well, send the note up so I can see it myself. But watch and learn. If there’s a threat, they’ll send more messages. Hopefully we can use them to track back to the source.”

“Yes, sir,” he says before he hangs up and I slide my phone into my pocket and turn to Akim.

“So,” I start, noticing the set of his jaw, the way his narrowed eyes track my movements. “Another threat. Did you know about this?”

I may have been in a depressive pit, barely eating, drinking myself into oblivion daily, but I was aware enough to know when Raina left, the threats mostly stopped. There were always the occasional attacks. That’s the life I was born to. But these outright, violent messages were all but gone. And this one—drawn in blood—is escalated exponentially.

“Another threat? No.” He sighs and purses his lips before continuing. “But I’m not shocked. I told you she’s in on this somehow, Bash.”

When Raina calls me that it’s attractive. But now, when Akim calls me that, I get annoyed. I am not his buddy or his equal. I’m his boss, and I’m not liking how long it’s taking him to come back around to respecting me the way he used to.

“You think she’s doing this? How would Raina ever assume she could hurt me? She’s defenseless.” I move away from him, leaving my back to him as I walk to the liquor cabinet in the corner of my office to pour a drink. I hate that my body is rebelling against my desire. I’d like nothing more than to never touch this again, not a drop of it in my mouth. But without it my hands shake, and my body won’t shut down. I have to ease off it.

“I think she’s connected, that’s all I’m saying.” He takes a breath and rounds the desk, standing between me and the window where he blocks the light, and I look up at him wondering what his angle is.

“A single mother with poverty and a sick dying family as her backstory?” I lift an eyebrow, downing the shot and setting the glass back down.

“How else do you think she stayed hidden so long, Bash.” I wince, but he keeps going. “She had your million and she paid someone somewhere. They had power, right? Enough to hide her…”

“You’re saying Petrov helped her then ousted her just to get me?” I almost laugh at how stupid it sounds.

“I think you have enough enemies one of them could’ve sent her. Just listen to me for once.” Then he huffs and runs a hand through his hair, which is uncharacteristically dirty today. He’s not taking good care of himself, and I wonder if I’m just noticing it or if this is new. It’s possible that leading this family was stressful enough for him that he’s grown burdened by it too.

“I think I can handle Raina. Why don’t you go rest? You’re a mess.” Something dark flashes in his eyes as I say that, and he scowls at me.

“I don’t want to rest. We’re in the middle of a war. I have to get out there and make sure Petrov⁠—”

“Wrong,” I tell him, turning toward my desk. “I have to get back out there and coach my men to back Petrov off. You have to do as I say.” The tension in the room crackles as I sit down in my chair, where Akim has all but taken up residence until recently.

“Your family just returned. Don’t you want to spend time with them?” That’s a new one, and I almost fall for it. I do want to spend time with my family, especially my son. But work is work.

“You may go, Akim,” I say bluntly, not pleased with how he’s resisting me.