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“Both.”
“Lucky me.” I lean forward. “I’m ready to address the situation in person.”
“You didn’t leave any Russian brats alive, and as far as the Cartels go…that’s an ongoing situation.”
I swallow the first remark that comes to mind and sit back. Alexey doesn’t allow things to pass without consequence, so there’s clearly a tactical reason for waiting.
“The Don took out the Cartel’s leadership to satisfy another issue, and we’re going to see who fills the void and then make a move. Pest control is time-consuming and ultimately has little payoff.”
I grit my teeth and remind myself about the benefits of playing the long game. “Intellectually, I understand.”
“But you want to tear apart anyone remotely responsible for putting your wife in the middle of fucking attack.”
“Yes.”
“Nobody understands that desire more than me.” Alexey drums his fingers against the desk. “The Russian Vors will also pay. Not only because they’ve lost children, but because I’ve cut them out of the bidding for your wife’s real estate holdings.” He takes in a long breath. “Which is a fucking small price to pay given their offspring attacked us.”
“I assume apologies were made for the poor decisions.”
“Bullshit speeches about not knowing how far the kids would go.” He waves his hand. “I will not sell one square inch of your wife’s portfolio to anyone remotely involved with the attack.
I study my hands and nod. “Thank you.”
“Not necessary.” He looks out the window and smiles. “Nothing I love better than making people pay for their mistakes.”
I run my hand through my hair and feel a telltale pain in my shoulder. “Why are the Tarasov holdings so valuable? It can’t be about collecting rents from luxury brands.”
“Grigory did some research and discovered that the malls are vital distribution centers for the black market. The legitimate business front the backdoor deals for what goes in and out of the loading docks, and by any measure, that’s where the real money comes from.”
“And everyone thinks oligarchs are legitimate and so much better than the Bratva.”
“They just wrap their sins in finer silk and hire out the jobs they don’t want to touch.”
“How dirty was Viktor Tarasov?”
“Based on the information Grigory dug up, he was just as dirty as everyone else doing business in the Motherland.”
“I probably won’t mention it to my wife.” I rub my thumb over the monogram of our initials and know I will wrap her in ignorance before taking a knife to what few memories she has of her father.
“Has Lina mentioned what she will do with the fortune about to drop in her bank account?”
“I know she wants to fund a bakery for her best friend. Other than that, she hasn’t mentioned anything.”
“If she spends time with my wife, that could easily change because Gianna will talk her into funding an insurgency before the first bottle of wine is finished.”
“Is she still obsessed with the movie6 Underground?”
“Yes, and I’m certain she and Grigory are doing shit on the dark web.” He stretches his hands over his head. “Which should make us all uncomfortable given that they’re both geniuses.”
I exhale slowly. “Doesn’t the hero of the film finance coups that displace corrupt leaders?”
“Yes, and he also puts together an anonymous vigilante group that takes down tyrants.”
“Great.” Rolling my shoulders, I picture my wife and Gianna hatching plans to dispose of bad dudes during their watch parties. “A wives club that wipes out dictators.”
Alexey barks out a laugh. “Some women do book clubs, others correct society’s ills by playing on the dark web.”
“This isn’t something I’m gonna be able to complain about, is it?”
