5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

T oula

I was eating a bagel, sitting at the dining table in my family’s suite, when my father received the call I had been waiting for. The Italian dock workers had found Junior floating in the water that morning. The Russian had kept his word.

I secretly watched as my father gathered his most trusted men and told my mother to check on Irini. Hiding my smile, I pretended to focus on my breakfast, but it was hard not to jump for joy. I wanted to dance on the table and run around the room, screaming with excitement. Junior was dead, and Irini was safe. Instead, I forced myself to finish my breakfast, acting as if I didn’t know what was happening around me.

“Get dressed.” My mother pointed at me. I cocked my finger and pointed at myself, looking around to make sure she was talking to me. “Don’t play games, Toula. Move. You have two minutes.”

I didn’t know why I was being involved, but I didn’t ask questions. My mother was in a mood, and it was easier to follow instructions than to draw attention to myself. I didn’t need her taking out her frustrations on me, and she would, without even missing a beat.

In the quiet confines of my hotel bedroom, I finally let my smile form. I was ecstatic, but there was a nagging voice that reminded me I wasn’t innocent. I tried to silence it, but it yelled louder until I couldn’t deny my part in all of this. My mind betrayed me. Instead of seeking a penance for my crimes, I thought about the Russian. I wasn’t afraid of him demanding more from me to settle my debt. I wanted him to, sooner rather than later.

I walked behind my mother as she entered the bridal suite with her own keycard. Stepping into the bedroom, she stopped just inside the door. My mother and I were the same height, and I wasn’t able to see anything from behind her. It wasn’t until she walked into the bedroom that I witnessed the carnage. Nothing could have prepared me for this. There was blood scattered across the torn sheets in little red dots. Dread settled in my stomach as I forced myself to look at my sister. I had to cover my mouth to stifle any sounds of distress.

Irini was sitting against the headboard with her knees tucked tightly to her chest. I didn’t know how long she’d been like that, but it had only been eight hours since they’d forced her to retire for the bedding. She was holding the layers of her wedding dress while she rocked. Irini was silent, but her eyes stared straight ahead, and I wasn’t sure she realized we were in the room. Her wrists were bright red, and I saw the restraints that were still looped around the bedposts. The fucker had tied her, and she hadn’t had a way to fight back. I told myself she would have fought back if she could have.

My mother squared her shoulders and made a beeline straight for the bed. I didn’t have the heart to move. My feet felt like lead in my heels.

“Irini,” my mother shouted, smacking my sister across the cheek .

She probably thought it would snap her out of her catatonic state, but all it did was make Irini shrink back towards the headboard. Tension poured off of her body.

“What happened?” My mother tried again, smacking her on the other cheek.

There was no response.

“You better tell me what happened before your father walks in here and your punishment is worse than it’s already going to be.” My mother slammed her hands against her hips, her toe tapping impatiently as she waited for an answer.

“I know nothing,” Irini whispered.

“That’s a lie. Junior’s dead, and you were the last one who saw him.” My mother grabbed Irini’s red wrist, squeezing until Irini let go of the dress’s fabric. It opened, exposing her. Junior had sliced the dress and all of her undergarments down the middle. “Your husband was here. This doesn’t just happen.” My mother flicked her hand, separating the sides of the dress.

“I know nothing,” Irini whispered again.

“Do you want them to torture it out of you?” My mother wasn’t playing around. If I tried to step in, she’d just focus her wrath on me. I had made a deal for Irini’s safety, and now we were both in danger.

“I know nothing,” Irini maintained, her voice cracking.

“Toula, get her cleaned up. Maybe she’ll remember something with a scalding hot shower.” My mother’s heels clicked as she stormed out the door of the bridal suite. I breathed a sigh of relief when the lock clicked in place.

I walked over to Irini and sat on the bed by her feet. “Do you want a shower? You might feel better.” I tried to infuse happiness into my tone, but it felt as fake as the flowers in the painting on the wall. I hadn’t asked for this, or if I had, I hadn’t realized what the consequences would actually be.

Irini’s head turned towards me. “He said, I know nothing.”

A chill ran down my spine. I wasn’t sure if I had helped the situation or aggravated it. There was no going back now, but the sister that I would’ve done anything for was gone. She was a ghost of a shell.

***

I lya, the Russian

Three days had passed since the wedding, and there had been no talk of revenge on the streets. I’d ensured that the men present had kept their ears to the ground and their mouths shut, ready for damage control if needed, but there had been nothing. The Italians announced Junior’s death and then washed their hands of the situation. It was the best outcome for everyone.

I wasn’t worried that any of the other families or street gangs would seek revenge on behalf of the Italians. The only person with a personal interest in the situation was Don Petrakis, and he’d gained the most from his daughter’s meddling. The Greeks had already aligned themselves with the Italians, but the don had become a silent partner in their new casino. It was a win for him, and I would make sure that he didn’t turn me down when I asked for Irini. The Don would count his lucky stars when I sat in his office and offered my proposition. He wouldn’t figure it out until it was too late that he’d be losing the real prize: Toula.

There were rumors that the Yakuza were trying to gather evidence on the hit, but if they had anything concrete, they would have already been at my Pahkan’s door. With each day they didn’t show, I breathed a little easier. They would only try to blackmail us for silence if they had proof. Failure wasn’t an option. Failure meant death, and I planned on living a long life with my malenkaya lisichka.

I was sitting at my desk, watching the rain pound the window, when there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called, rushing through the list of suspects as the door opened. My men were at their assignments, and I hadn’t called for an emergency meeting. My brother had already dropped in a few hours earlier before heading out to check on operations. There was only one possibility, and I wasn’t sure how this would play out. As the door swung open, my Pahkan stood on the other side. I instantly stood to show my respect, stepping to the side to offer him my desk. He was the highest-ranking man in the cell, and I knew better than to be disrespectful, but a wave of tension rolled off of me. I wasn’t a weak man, but I couldn’t give him anything to hang me with.

“Sit. Sergei is on his way, and if you want straight lines, he’s going to need your desk.”

The Bratva had a long history of writing their crimes in tattoos for the rest of the world to read. I already had eight different black Xs inked on my knuckles, and my Pahkan had ordered one more.

He took the seat on the other side, crossing one leg over the other. Staring at me, he waited to see if I would fill the uncomfortable silence with chatter, but he should have known better. I’d never broken before, and I wasn’t about to start now. This was going to be a game of chess.

“I’m not sure I fully understand exactly what happened, or why you’re so determined to see this through.” He watched me, stroking the stubble on his jaw.

I still said nothing. He hadn’t asked me a direct question, and I wouldn’t fuel the fire by filling the silence with unnecessary words. He already knew about me, but I didn’t want any information that could incriminate Toula to be revealed. She wasn’t innocent, but I’d seen enough darkness to know I couldn’t let it consume her.

“As long as it’s Greek money on the line, and not ours, I’m not sure I care.” Pahkan steepled his fingers, his gaze never wavering. His eyes were sharp, like he was dissecting me. I didn’t move, preferring not to give him anything to extort.

“Ivan told me exactly how he finally got rid of the Greek guard who never pays on time, but I paid a visit to your madame. She informs me that the same guard is now your guest. It’s out of character for you because you never can stand Ivan’s seconds. In fact, you sent Rizzo to him, knowing it’s going to end badly. Cold and calculated is more your style. It’s why you’re not saying anything.”

He was right, but eventually, I would have to give him something, or he would have me killed for insubordination.

“You know, the Bratva put little stock in families, having them and building them. However, arranged marriages still happen with approval to better the cause. What am I missing?” He smirked, knowing he’d asked me a direct question that I couldn’t shrink from. Pahkan wasn’t a weak man either, and he’d easily read between the lines to the core if I gave him enough to hang me with.

“I saw an opportunity and took it, but I’ll have to play the long game before it pays off.” I paused, formulating my words before I continued. “The bride was a weak woman. She might have survived if the Old Man had followed through, but not Junior. She’d have been dead or wishing she was in a week. First daughters pay the most, so I saw my opportunity to use her to line our pockets.”

He didn’t believe me. “You’ll wait the one-year mourning period, but there’s no guarantee the don is going to accept an offer. ”

“Yes, I’ll have to wait, but in that year, I can reinforce our enterprises so that when I approach him, he’ll have no choice but to say yes. I have a source at the city commissioner’s office. They bought the land a few years ago, but they haven’t submitted the plans yet for the new casino. There’s plenty of time to add several restaurants to the blueprints.” I didn’t think that would be enough to persuade Pahkan, but it might steer the conversation in a different direction.

“If I were her father, I’d tell you no.” He smirked, shifting back in the chair and running his hand across his bottom lip.

I laughed. “It’s a good thing you’re not. You’d say no on principle, not even bothering to listen.”

He nodded. “Of course, I would. You’re not good enough for my daughter.” Pahkan didn’t have a family. This was all hypothetical. I didn’t hold it against him, but I also wasn’t happy with his assessment. I’d earned my position, dedicating years of loyalty to a cause I wasn’t sure I even believed in anymore. Irini wasn’t an issue. I could easily use her to my advantage, but I didn’t want anyone knowing Toula’s involvement, which was the only reason I had dismissed it.

“You’re not Don Petrakis. You’re smarter than he is.” I appealed to Pahkan’s vanity. “They hold true to the old world. It doesn’t matter that she’s been married before. If she doesn’t give me a child in five years, the don will have to pay retribution. He won’t be thinking about that when he signs her over to me.”

“You’re an honorable man, and I know your mother’s history. There’s no way in hell that’ll happen if her mental state stays the same. If he has to pay retribution, that sum alone will make all of this worth it.”

I watched his eyes as they darted back and forth, processing the outcomes. I didn’t want to ask if he was already counting the money. As my Pahkan, I’d have to give him his cut for his continued approval .

“This is going to be a long game indeed, but if it works, it’ll be very profitable. What happens if he marries Irini off to someone else, and you’ve wasted your time? I can still seek retribution from you,” he said.

He’d seek payment and then murder me as an example to the other bosses. We both knew the consequences if I failed. The conversation died, both of us just watching the other as the rain hit harder against the window.

There was another knock at the door, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Come in,” he called over his shoulder. This was my home, my office, yet I didn’t control this situation. I was just another pawn to be used as he saw fit.

The door opened, and Sergei walked in, his suitcase in his hand.

“Hold out your hands.” Pahkan leaned forward in his chair, waiting.

I placed my hands on the desk, letting him examine the Xs that were already there.

“Well, look at that,” Pahkan said, chuckling. “Your ring finger is open, but not for much longer.”

Sergei set his suitcase on the edge of the desk. Opening it, he prepared the tattoo gun with black ink.

I didn’t resist. This was the consequence of my actions, and it wasn’t like this was my first one. Laying my hand flat on the desk, I waited for it to be over. Sergei started with the outline of the X, but as he went to fill it in, Pahkan stopped him.

“Sergei, add a T next to the X.” He looked me directly in the eye. “You need to remember what’s at stake here.”

I hadn’t fooled him. On the outside, I was the epitome of cool, but on the inside, I was a raging inferno. If something went wrong, I wouldn’t just lose my life. My Pahkan would make Toula feel his wrath, and I couldn’t risk putting her in the storm’s eye.