2. Matvey

2

MATVEY

"Nice of you to join us, brother."

At the sound of my voice, the rest of the vory turn as one to the conference room's door. Sarcasm drips thick from my tone, but Yuri takes it without a word. He lowers his gaze, gives a quick bow of apology, and rushes to take his place at my side, not once dropping the beaten dog aura.

At least he has the decency to look sorry.

I can't say I'm fond of his newfound habit of his—disappearing into thin air at a moment's notice. Being late to meetings, late to summons, when we both know perfectly well the difference a split second can make in a crisis.

When you're Bratva, you don't get the luxury of being late.

Or of not being there at all.

"Anybody care to catch up my second?"

A few uncomfortable glances are exchanged. Gora clears his throat, while Ipatiy shuffles on his chair, opening and closing his mouth like the world's fattest goldfish, neither one sure if it's their turn to speak.

Finally, Ivan rises. "The updates are few." His clear voice echoes in the conference room. "We've ruled out the last of the neighboring states. So far, the search has been fruitless."

Quick, concise, to the point.

And most of all, merciless.

One month. It's been one whole month since my child—my daughter— was spirited away by her mother. Without a sign, without a word. Only a shitty letter goodbye.

I keep replaying the contents in my head: April's accusations, her reasons, her traumas.

Excuses, all of it.

That's what I keep telling myself, at least. If April truly felt that way, she would've said something. Should've said something.

What if she tried, though?

I silence that annoying voice at the back of my head. Trying isn't good enough. It isn't a good enough excuse to take my daughter away from me.

You left her out of the blue, that stubborn voice presses on. You told her you loved her, then went to marry another woman. You let her think Petra was pregnant with your child.

You didn't trust her with the truth. So what did you think was going to happen?

"Expand the search," I order. "Get as far as the West Coast if you have to. I want them found, and I want them found now."

Stanislav clears his throat. " Moy pakhan… if I may, there's still the matter of the D.C. deal to fix…"

"Did I fucking stutter?" I snarl. "I said now. Everything else can and will goddamn wait."

"But—"

"This meeting is adjourned." With that, I storm out of the conference room.

Yuri and Grisha hurry after me. "Motya?—"

"Don't you ‘Motya' me. Where the fuck have you been?"

Yuri reels back as if slapped. Grisha moves discreetly to shut the door to my office as my brother stammers out a weak, "I…"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Grisha shake his head in disbelief. "This isn't looking good for you, Yurochka . You realize that, I hope?"

"Shut up," Yuri growls.

"Sneaking here and there, always late to everything. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had something to hide."

I slam my palm on my desk. "Quit yapping, both of you."

I don't appreciate Grisha's tone, or his accusations. Truth be told, I've been fed up with him for a while.

But Yuri isn't making it easy to defend him. "You will explain yourself, brother," I say. "Because if you can't?—"

"I was in Jersey."

Grisha's eyes go wide. I suspect mine do, too.

I take in the full implications of his words. Then, without glancing away from my brother's face, "Grisha, leave us."

"Pardon?"

"Leave us," I repeat. "Now."

A moment's hesitation. "Yes, pakhan. "

The door opens and closes. Just like that, we're alone.

"You've been looking for her."

He doesn't deny it.

" Blyat' , brother," I sigh.

Leave it to goddamn Yuri to go above and beyond the call of duty and act like a thief about it. I rub my temples. All of a sudden, exhaustion overcomes me. "Sit with me."

Yuri takes the chair across from me. I rest my elbows on the desk, head propped up in my hands. It's at times like these that the lack of sleep finally comes knocking. "I've been putting too much pressure on you."

"No!" Yuri denies quickly. "You haven't, Matvey. It's understandable that you'd be…" He bites his lip, looking for the right words.

"A lunatic?" I venture.

"In a hurry," he rephrases diplomatically. "To get this settled as soon as possible."

"So? Did you find them in Jersey?"

Yuri goes quiet. That's all the answer I needed.

"Fucking figured," I mutter. "It's your third sweep. If you were going to find them there, by now, you would have."

If possible, Yuri's face darkens even more. I reach for the glass cabinet behind my back. I take a bottle of bourbon and two glasses, then pour.

"Drink," I command.

Then I knock back mine.

The alcohol burns a path down my throat. It's not enough to ground me, but at least it dulls the senses. Mutes the noise of my ever-spinning mind.

Then I remember the last time I had this drink with her.

Neat, right?

"I have another job for you," I tell Yuri.

He looks up at me from his glass, still untouched. "Anything."

"I need you to tail Grisha."

His eyes go wide. "Grisha? Why?"

"Just following a hunch."

"You don't think he's involved, do you?" When I don't answer, Yuri pales. "Matvey, you can't possibly?—"

"Think," I hiss. "There's no way she could've disappeared on her own. Not when she'd just given birth, and with a baby in tow at that."

"But Grisha's loyal to you."

"Is he?" I rise and start to pace. "He was the only one who knew where she was. He'd been arguing with me all week about my choices, about how I treated—" I grit my teeth. Even now, I can't bring myself to say her name out loud. "He was unhappy with me. And maybe he was a little too happy with her."

"Matvey, this is crazy," Yuri protests. "Grisha never showed any interest in?—"

"Then how?!" I roar. "He had the means and opportunity. He had plenty of motive, too, even if he didn't care for her like that."

Or did he? Just the thought is enough to send my blood boiling: my third-in-command, setting his sights on my woman. The mother of my child.

How much time together did they have? How much time did I leave them with? With the excuse of standing guard, or being invited in for tea, or?—

"Motya, this is insane." Yuri springs up, taking me by the shoulders. "He may be an asshole and a half, but he'd never betray you like that. I've never seen him so much as ogle the waitresses at Hedoneros, let alone think he'd steal Ap?—"

"Do not say her fucking name!"

Yuri backs off, hands up in surrender. "Fine," he concedes. "But you have to know this is madness. You're chasing shadows."

"Better than chasing nothing at all."

I don't know what my brother sees on my face then. Whatever it is, it must be enough to make him reconsider. "Alright, look," he says, "I'll tail him. I'll do it. But Matvey, I won't find anything. She…" A pause. "Maybe she just needs time. Maybe she'll come back on her own."

"‘Maybe' isn't good enough."

I force myself to calm down. Count back from ten, or whatever it is normal people do. Not like I'd fucking know.

Finally, I exhale and turn around.

"Do it, brother." I place both hands on his shoulders. "Follow that mudak and call me the second he steps one toe out of line. Right now, you're the only one I can trust."

Yuri swallows thickly. "Yes, Motya."

"Find them. Bring them home to me."

There's a flash of hesitation. "I'll do my best," he promises.

Finally, I allow myself a smile. The shadow of one, but that's already a small miracle. "I know you will."

Then I go back out to search some more.