and-man

fucking targ

Konstantin asks as he takes

call me

that makes his smirk wither. "Sorry,

or. He's still never quite learned

r my breath. Then I shake my head in dismay. "Come on. The

I

n mutters, looking around the r

small, sparse, understated. The Orlov Bratva owns a hundred prop

his first meeting as don," I

his first council, but I watched my brother navigate this same chaos after our father's death. It's funny, i

ulikov greets as he

appointed as my Vors. All of them served

us quo. This will be his first sit-in at a don's council. The older men prete

seat

s. The table is round, which was an intentional choice. Maksim told me a long tim

o told me that a d

for both their opinions and mine. I

low him until the end of your lives or the end of his. As of three days ago, th

are the don's brother and the rightful heir to the throne of

mn nod. I figured they would support me, but it's reassuring to hear it out l

r his oath. "Don Orlov?" he ventures

against my nerves because of his

go, I was si

'm Don

of Mish

eely," I

time of grief, but there are some things that need discussing. Our position n

can answer. "Petyr Ivanov killed our don. That is

ng is a suicide mission

bt he's not thrilled about being questioned by the newest

osing is stupid,"

of eyes turns to me. "You are both right. We cannot let this go unanswered. But the Ivanovs are too stro

you suggest?

not swords. We buy up their resources. We bring them to their knees without them even

exchange

"What you're describing soun

. We will dismantle them from the inside. The

bold, perhaps one of the best ways to do that would be... with a strategic partnership.

e is looking at me. Then it clicks

arr

ion falls

Orl

. I'm a little full-up on

r future, perhaps? A marriage alliance will not only

my stomach. My brother should be here, right fucking here-but h

of this would have seemed l

all sicken

other'

sider Cyrille Orlov as a bride...? Marrying her would counteract

y one who remains pointedly silent. If they'd brought this up with

d sister-in-law as a political ploy?"

throw their support behind the son of the decea

bvious. Schism. Muti

hey wish to do that, they're welcome to. They'll find him less in

ir

fucking clear: my nephew is not a threat. My sister-in-law is not a pawn. I will not use either

or signs of dissent or disapproval.

v Bratva. Once we do, Petyr Ivanov will have nowhere to hide.

throat. "So once the m

ere will be no mourning period. W