If exposed to the world, it would certainly alter the face of mafia power not only within the United States, but tentacles would reach other countries as well.
Dominick snorted, lowering his head and laughing. “I’ll be damned.”
“How can we be certain this is true?” Aleksei demanded.
“I believe I know,” I said and took a deep breath. As my father had always told me, things are not as they seem.
“If Konstantin has even a hint of this…” Miguel half whispered, not bothering to finish the sentence.
Yeah, tell me something I didn’t know.
When I heard yet another call coming in, I didn’t hesitate. The unknown caller forced a slight growl from my mouth. “Yes?”
“I have the bitch,” the man said, his Russian accent much heavier than I’d ever heard from Aleksei.
“Konstantin,” I hissed in an elongated fashion.
He chuckled. “Very good, Lorenzo Francesco. Hear me. If you want to see the woman alive, you will provide the keys to your kingdom. There is no room for negotiation.”
“And if you touch her in any manner, trust me, Russian. You. Will. Die.”
A wise man had once told me that a great leader was one who had managed to gain the respect of other great men. I’d never really given my father the kind of credit he deserved. Through all his rough tactics, what I thought was a dislike for his own son was actually the opposite. He’d been grooming me in ways I hadn’t appreciated.
All five members of the alliance had both strengths and weaknesses. We ran our organizations differently, our leadership skills all over the scale. At least we’d accepted early on that following the old ways, staying as bitter enemies, would be a hindrance at best. Perhaps we’d never fully trusted each other. Maybe if push came to shove, one or more of us would turn against the other.
Somehow, I doubted that would ever happen.
Especially now.
What we did share was our loyalty and honor to our families.
Every kingpin’s soldiers had been stationed in strategic locations, thousands of members of the Kadik gang identified. The Russians weren’t subtle in their needs or their wants. Now, everyone was merely waiting for the shit to roll. If we weren’t successful in locating Konstantin now, the firestorm would begin before the scheduled time.
Every family member of the elite alliance had been moved to secure locations, all heavily guarded. Only my father had insisted on remaining in his house after checking out of the hospital. He was well aware of the danger he was facing. I wasn’t certain whether to give him credit for his bravery or to believe he had a death wish. Either way, I was forced to respect his decision.
I’d released the hold on the ship coming into port, sending out selective data regarding the contents. I’d overblown the number of kilos as well as the estimated street value. I’d also lied about a second ship coming in. All because of a suggestion made by Aleksei. The take would seem like easy pickings for the Kadik gang. All I’d had to do was make a few phone calls. News would travel fast, including to Axel and Konstantin.
We’d all had a crash course during the long night on the Solntsevskayas, from their ancient methods to their continued rise to power. They’d crushed the majority of their enemies overseas. Fear continued to run rampant. While they’d tried several times over the last century to make headway into the United States and Canada, their claim to fame was positioning Aleksei’s father in Philly. What they likely hadn’t counted on was that Aleksandr Petrov had wanted a better life for his family, refusing to follow the true Russian Bratva methods of absolute overthrow and destruction.
The Petrov family was strong enough that it had taken years for the Solntsevskayas to position themselves. What Konstantin had done in hiding behind Axel had bought him even more time and the reason my turf was the first target made perfectly good sense.
What I still didn’t know was how certain information had been leaked. That was for another day.
I’d been impressed by Dominick’s obvious intelligence in using the computer to represent false sightings of the other alliance members within their own cities. The doctored pictures had been released in various methods. Without a doubt, Konstantin’s minions would be checking social media and news outlets.
Or so we hoped.
If what we’d represented was believed, we would have a huge advantage. We were taking a significant risk, but one we all agreed was in our best interest.
Aleksei had been a wealth of information, using every snitch and his connections within the ministry of foreign affairs in Russia. The police in his mother country had a wealth of details on the Bratva, although no physical manner in which to stop their growth. Aleksei had also learned much about Konstantin.
Including his biggest weakness.
He was a true sadist, his taste for kink legendary as well as brutal. His choice of meeting grounds during the single phone call? A posh and very dark kink club, one I’d been to several times in the last two years. I had no way of knowing if Konstantin was aware the business was nestled in my fold, but those employed knew better than to talk.
The Russian was obviously fucking with me, attempting to own what didn’t belong to him. The asshole certainly didn’t understand what I was made of.
He would soon find out.
I’d agreed to his initial terms, realizing the meeting was little more than a front. What was certain was the outcome.
At least in my mind.
As I entered the club, scanning the main floor, one of the bouncers gave me the heads up as to Konstantin’s location. The Russian had selected one of the private rooms, a perk for exclusive members, expensive for guests.
A telling statement for his enemy. The man was arrogant and assured of himself.
Just like I’d been at his age.
As I headed toward the elevator, all eyes seemed to be on me. There were a number of my soldiers in the club, although they weren’t easy to detect. The Kadiks were much easier to recognize in their leather jackets and dark jeans. I snickered as I walked directly toward a group of them, holding out my arms.
“I have an appointment with Konstantin.”
I was frisked, just like I’d assumed would happen. When they were satisfied I was unarmed, they allowed me to step into the empty elevator. As the doors opened, I could hear music playing from the speakers, the selection of classical an interesting choice for such a savage individual.
And there he was like a king holding court, lounging in an overstuffed velour chair, one leg tossed over the arm. Dressed in a flowing white shirt and lanky dark trousers, his appearance would be almost blasphemous if it hadn’t given me a chortle.
“Konstantin Solntsevskaya.” There was no sign of Sierra. I bristled at the realization. If he’d played me, keeping her in another location, I rip his eyes out with my fingers.