Ivan snorted. “Look, no offense. I get that you’re an incredible human being and all that, but you must see how futile it would be. Demon would kill you. Demon would kill his daughter regardless of the cost.”
“What are you proposing then?”
Ivan slapped his hands together and smiled wide. “Proposing is a funny word, don’t you think?”
I shake my head. He’s all for the dramatics.
“You want to marry Lottie?” Rage asked.
“Not me personally, but I have a man who will take care of her.”
“She’s eighteen,” Rage said.
“So, Demon has washed his hands of her, and do you think it’s going to be difficult for me to get a marriage license? Hate to brag, but I am kind of the big deal in the Volkov Bratva.”
I had to wonder what the previous Bratva Pakhan would think of this. Ivan didn’t act or rule like any other Pakhan. I imagine it’s why he’ll be around for a long time. No one can truly know what he’s thinking all the time.
“Lottie doesn’t deserve this.”
“My man isn’t so bad. He’s a little rough around the edges but no harm will come to her as his wife. He’s my brigadier. Trust me, her life will be saved.”
Rage didn’t like it. I couldn’t blame him. Thinking of a daughter, I couldn’t help but imagine a little baby girl with Adelaide’s sweet features running around the house. It made me smile, just a little, and then I composed myself. Now was not the time to be getting fucking sentimental, or hoping for a future that might not happen.
“What do you need from me?” Rage asked.
“It’s quite simple, you need to find out where loyalties lie in the club, and when Demon dies, you kill those who follow him.”
Rage cursed.
“You need to become prez of the club,” Ivan said. “If you don’t, then I’m going to kill you all, and I’ll throw Lottie into the mix for good measure.”
The calm negotiating man was gone. In his place was the cold monster rarely seen. It had been a long time since I saw the real Ivan unleashed. There were times I had to wonder if I imagined seeing the cruelty within him. He would do it, even if it wasn’t his plan. If Rage didn’t agree, Evil Savages MC would die.
“If I agree with this,” Rage said, after a moment’s hesitation. “I’m not going to be your fucking toy. I’m not going to be at your beck and call.”
“Precisely. We will have an agreement and you could say we’ll be a family, of sorts.”
Rage sighed. “I want to see Lottie first.”
“Not until the day of the wedding,” Ivan said.
“I need to know she’s safe.”
Ivan clicked his tongue and then pulled out his cell phone, typing on the screen.
“Lottie,” he said.
There was a pause and I waited. Rage stepped a little closer, and I reached for my gun but Ivan shook his head at me. Seconds passed, minutes, and then he clicked on his cell phone and held it up.
“H-hello?”
“Lottie, sweetheart?”
“Rage?”
“Yeah, honey, it’s me.”
“Are you coming to get me? Please, Rage, please.”
Ivan tutted. “Now Lottie, tell the kind man, are you hurting?”
“N-no.”
“Good. Are you being fed?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good. That will be all.”
Ivan ended the call and Rage charged at Ivan, who with a quick jab of his hand had choked Rage, who fell to the floor.
“Lottie is safe and well. Do we have a deal?”
Rage had his hands against his throat.
Ivan tutted. “Come on, I didn’t hurt you that badly.”
It took Rage a few minutes but he got to his feet and agreed. Ivan held his hand out and Rage looked at the greeting. I waited. Rage shook his hand and stepped back.