Page 35

“Won’t say. Only that it involves you and it’s going to be beneficial for you both. He was real insistent, and he’s none too happy I’m making him cool his heels. Tried to insult me, but he shut up the moment I got back in his space. He is not worth the waste of my breath. Yet. We took his weapons, and his men have been instructed to stay the hell outside.”

At least that’s something. He’d be an idiot to try and come in here and kill me so blatantly, but he’d try it if it won favor with his father.

My sources have kept me informed he’s chomping at the bit to take over for Timur. Hinting strongly that his mother deserves a break, and they should enjoy their final years traveling. He’s sure he can expand and make things more profitable all around with Timur out of the way and no longer holding the purse strings.

It’ll fall within a year, and Timur Belov knows it. Out of his sons, he’d have preferred Mishka to take over if he’d lived. A hitman’s bullet years ago ensured that couldn’t happen. Now, he’s been keeping Simeon at bay with paltry tasks and responsibilities. Shoring up alliances and routes. He’s trying to make it so that no one will ever overthrow him, but even he knows his days are numbered.

It’s also no secret he resents me for all the territory I’ve claimed. I have everything he wants, and while I play nice on some things, I won’t on others, and it’s costing him a lot of money.

Not enough, in my opinion.

“Then I suppose we should invite him in. Freya, Ко мне!” Zakhar grins but heads out to bring our guest inside.

Freya stretches to her feet and makes her way to my side. I want her out of sight when Simeon walks in. Let him think he’s safe.

Simeon Belov walks into the room with a confidence he shouldn’t feel. His stride is sure, his chin lifted and his back straight. Six two, with a clean-shaven face that shows off his sharp jawline and cheekbones, he’s handsome enough, but there’s no missing the calculation in the sharp green of his eyes. They take in everything, but they see nothing I don’t want them to see. When his gaze lands back on me, it’s assessing but cocky. He thinks he’s outsmarted me.

How wrong he is.

I don’t rise to meet him, giving him a cold stare. “You have five seconds to explain yourself before I kill you for daring to come here without an invitation.” I give Freya a quick hand motion, and she slips out from behind the desk, a low growl rumbling from her throat.

It’s a dark warning, and despite trying to hide it, Simeon is an open book. He wets his lips as he stares at the wolf who’s laser focused on him. If anyone should not be afraid, it’s him. The Belovs here and in Russia are well known for keeping dangerous exotic animals as pets, letting them hunt and kill anyone they see fit.

Timur hasn’t done that in a long time, and Simeon looks like he’s trying hard not to run. I almost wish he would.

“I… I’m, uh, coming to you, with, uh, a, uh, proposition.” I simply stare at him, and Freya inches closer. He swallows hard. “Look, it’s time for my father to go, and it’s my turn to take over. He’s old, looking at things the old way. He … he doesn’t see the potential. Not like me or you. You didn’t get to where you are, Ilya, by being careful and doing things as they’ve always been. You took risks, and my father, he refuses to see that. So I want your help to take him down, and we’ll work out an agreement that satisfies us both when I take over.”

I should be surprised, but I’m not. I am surprised he had the balls to say it aloud.

Zakhar’s scoff is loud and bordering on obnoxious.

Simeon shoots him a cold glare before looking back at me. “You can’t tell me that you don’t agree it’s my father’s time to go. He’s made no secret of hating your guts.”

“You think I care what your father thinks of me? Or you? Why should I help you at all?”

He stiffens. He clearly never imagined I would question him. The man really is clueless. “You and my father hate each other. Wouldn’t it be better to work with someone that can actually give you what you want? Create an alliance that will make us both unstoppable.”

“I’m already unstoppable, Belov. What could you possibly have to offer me?”

“The final ports you need to get your drugs out of the country. I also have border patrol in my pocket, so I can ensure no one will get wise if you send anything else out as well.” He gives me a smug smile, so sure he’s giving me what I want. “We both know that you’ve been wanting all of that for years and have never been able to claim it. Now, you have a chance. You help me take control, we both win. Simple as that.”

I tilt back in my chair, steepling my fingers as I look at him. My mind is already working on how to make this exchange work for my benefit. I also can see the flaws a million miles away.

“How are you planning on taking out your father? Many have tried and not succeeded. He’s received the favor of many Pakhans in Russia as well, which makes him a formidable opponent.”

“Is that why you’ve never taken him out? Too scared of the backlash if you lose?” His tone is taunting.

I give him a humorless smile, and his smile dips a little bit. “Your father and I have a truce going, Simeon, and you should know that. We don’t interfere with the other. I could crush him, and you, if I so chose, but I see no point in engaging in a ridiculous war. It also would not look good to other crime families to see two Pakhans fighting for supremacy, would it? You may think so, but I am no fool. I have crushed many other groups, and my territory is far bigger than your father’s. Both in size and profit.”

He swallows hard, rubbing at his neck before dropping his hands to his sides. His mouth turns down in a frown.

Simeon is not a forward thinker. He lives in the moment. A weakness Timur has never been able to rid him of.

“You want to overthrow your father, Simeon, grow some fucking balls and get it done. Prove that you have the power to take him down on your own before you start begging for favors.”

He mutters something under his breath then heaves a heavy sigh and admits, “Look, I can’t do it on my own. I’ve tried, but there’s more going on than I know. He’s been in contact with the Bratva Butcher.”

I still at the mention of one of the most feared men in the entire Bratva. He’s the boogeyman in the shadows who will slit your throat before you can even register he’s there. It’s rumored he runs a school of training assassins just like him. I’ve never looked into it, but I’ve avoided the man on principle. The vastness of his reach in Russian and neighboring countries isn’t something I want to deal with if I can help it.