Chapter Twenty-Four

Istare at the ceiling, reaching over to pull the comforter up over Lina's naked body. As I lie there, my mind races with thoughts of the upcoming trip. The weight of the task ahead looms over me, but I can't help but feel a surge of determination. I refuse to let Igor's actions go unpunished. He took everything from Lina, shattered her sense of security, and left her scarred, both physically and emotionally. He took her from me.

I glance over at Lina, her body still entwined with mine. Despite the restless night, she looks peaceful in her sleep. I stroke her hair, hoping to bring her some comfort, even in her dreams. Vasya, our precious syn (son), continues to sleep soundly in his bassinet, unaware of the chaos that awaits me. And I intend to keep him sheltered from the chaos. The one thing I vowed to Lina, which I intend to keep, is to protect our children from the dangers of this life. While I may be the Pakhan, my children and zhena (wife) come first.

Our private plane to the US departs in under four hours. I can't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. This journey across Russia is just the first step towards finding Igor, towards bringing him to his death. We have limited time, false visas that will expire in a week, and the pressure to find him weighs heavily on my shoulders.

While lying there, surrounded by my two most important people, I long for a different reality. A reality where we can stay here, safe and content, without needing to chase after my father. Yet, I know life doesn"t function like that. I can't let Igor's actions go unanswered. He must face the consequence. That consequence being death.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The comforter over Lina's naked body provides a sense of warmth and protection. All I want is to shield her and the boys from any harm that may come our way. I understand the importance of being strong and confronting future challenges, but all I want is to stay here with them.

As the alarm sounds, jolting us both from our restless slumber, I realize that the next week will indeed be a nightmare. Not just for myself but for Lina too. I am leaving her, not alone, but without me, to care for our boys and to be the voice for me while I am gone. I'm ready to face this thought, to fight for my place as Pakhan and ensure that Igor pays for the pain he inflicted on Lina. We will board that private plane, we will track him down, and we will make sure he doesn't escape.

I lean over and press a gentle kiss to Lina's forehead, silently promising her I will do whatever it takes to protect her and our syn's (son"s). Despite the stress and chaos that may lie ahead, I am determined to navigate the road for the sake of our family. Vasya cries and I can't help but feel a pang of guilt in my chest. "I'll get him and bring him into bed so you can stay under the covers." I whisper to Lina, so she won't have to get up and find clothes.

Making my way over to his bassinet, I watch as his eyes open and he searches for someone to hold him. "Vasya," I coo, and his eyes land on my face, though I know he cannot see me that well. "Tvoy papa lyubit tebya.(Your daddy loves you.)" I scoop him up into my arms, cradling him. He snuggles against my chest, finding comfort in my embrace. As I carry him back to our bed, I can't help but feel an immense need to protect him. I will do whatever it takes, to keep him safe from the darkness that lurks in our past.

Lina watches me with tired yet trusting eyes as I settle Vasya beside her. She pulls the covers up, creating a warm cocoon of safety around our little family. Vasya nestle against her bare breast, latching on and suckling. I crawl behind her on the bed, wrapping my arm around her, and holding her close. In this moment, I find solace in the intimacy we share, in the love that binds us together.

But as the minutes tick by, the reality of our situation seeps back into my consciousness. The urgency of my mission presses against me, reminding me we can't stay hidden away forever. We have a limited window of opportunity, and we must act swiftly and decisively.

I disentangle myself from Lina's embrace, leaving her to feed Vasya and rest, even if just for a little while longer. Reluctantly, I get up, realizing it"s time to go. I dress quickly, my mind focused on the tasks that lie ahead. Lina packed me a small duffel bag last night, along with all my weapons and paperwork. On Lina's bedside table is her gun, loaded and ready to be used if she were to need it. I think back to last night when I gave it to her.

"I can't leave you both unprotected. We have plenty of strong, capable men here to keep all three of you safe. Dmitriy even has a gun in his room." I tell her, handing her the 9mm. She tried to argue about Dmitriy having a gun in his room, but I shut that down, as I spent ample time training him, and I trust him to protect his mama and brat.

"Don't worry, Vasya, while your papochka is away, your mama will protect you." Lina leans over our syn who is lying on his stomach on our bed. "I am the Pakhan's wife, after all." She looks over at me, giving me a wink.

I cast one last glance at Lina and Vasya, they've fallen back into a peaceful slumber, a stark contrast to the turbulence that awaits me. I promise them silently that I will do everything in my power to protect them, to ensure their happiness and safety.

As I exit the room, apprehension fills my being. The journey ahead will be arduous and fraught with danger and uncertainty. But I will not falter. I will not let fear dictate my actions.

I didn't want my leaving to make Lina emotional, so we said goodbye last night. I spent hours after Vasya and Dmitriy went to sleep, worshiping moyazhena (my wife). It felt as if I was going away for months with how many times I had her last night. We collapsed in bed naked, not bothered enough to put clothes on.

Down the hall, I peek into Dmitriy's room and he is fast asleep in his bed. I make my way over to him and sit at the very edge. I study his face as he sleeps, and while he may not be my blood, he is my syn (son). "Dima," I whisper, placing a hand on his head. His eyes flutter open, moving up to meet mine.

He asks with a groggy voice, crackling as he speaks, "Are you leaving now?"

"Da (Yes). You"re in charge while I"m away. You protect your mama and tvoy mladshiy brat (your little brother)." I lean down and kiss the top of his head.

"I won't let you down."

I know he won't.

Exiting through this door has never been more difficult. I look back at the front door. In a week, upon my return to this house, things will be different. I will officially be the Pakhan, and my family will have the closure it needs to move on. I will ensure securing my syn"s (son"s) legacy, and we will all be able to start the healing process. Oleg and Ilya are waiting in the car, and when I climb in, they both look at me.

"Ready, brat (brother)?" Ilya says.

"Let's get this shit done." I look back at my home, where my family will await my return. I send up a silent prayer to God.

Do not let me fail. They need me.

Filled with a sense of purpose, I make my way towards the waiting plane, ready to embark on a mission that will serve as the means to hold my father accountable for his crime. For the sake of my family, for the sake of the love we share, I will not rest until justice, my form of justice, is served.

The closer I get to boarding the plane, the more I realize the immense responsibility that is resting on my shoulders. But I also feel a glimmer of hope, a flicker of determination that fuels my resolve. I am ready to face whatever lies ahead, to navigate the dangerous road that awaits us.

As I board the plane, I carry with me the love and protection I feel for Lina and Vasya. They are my driving force, my reason to fight. And with that, I buckle my seatbelt.

The engines roar to life and I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the challenges that lie ahead. I look over at Ilya and Oleg, knowing they must be feeling something similar to what I am. Oleg and Ilya had to leave Mila, Alexei and Raisa. We risk leaving them if we get killed or caught.

Their immediate willingness to join spoke volumes, despite me never asking them to do so. My closest friends have always been by my side. Every single kill we have made, we've done together. Only this time, they won't be killing my father with me. That honor will be Lina's and mine.

The memories of my father weigh heavily on my heart. I will not let him breathe the same air Lina does for much longer. Even if he is on another continent. As the plane takes off, I gaze out of the window, the ground shrinking beneath me. A mix of excitement and nervousness courses through my veins, but I know I must stay focused.

The plane soars high through the clouds. I silently make a promise to myself. Once he is dead, I will change the bratva. No more old outdated rules. If my men want families, I will support them. Our money-making approach will remain constant, while my father"s notions of "newer opportunities" will remain as mere ideas. We will never sell drugs or women.

With each passing mile, I mentally prepare myself for the fight that lies ahead.

"San Francisco extends it's welcome to you, Mr. Igorov."

I walk down the plane"s steps and see a group of men waiting for me. "Your Dyadya(Uncle) has made sure that your father has always had someone protecting him while he has been stateside. But not to worry, we have been keeping a close eye on his little outfit of men."

He extends his hand to me, and I take it. "Your name?" I ask as I firmly shake his hand.

"Nikolai, but you can call me Kolya. Those are my men. Well your men, but I was appointed to lead them," he gestures to the four men behind him. "They are loyal to you and will accompany you every step of the way. They are willing to give their lives for you, Ser (Sir)."

Oleg and Ilya make their way out of the plane, bags in hand, and Kolya leads us toward a group of blacked-out SUVs. "We are ready to follow whatever you say," Kolya states as he opens the door for me. I climb in and the twins slide in after me. Kolya and another man enter as the door closes.

"Is everything going smoothly here, stateside?" I ask as the engine revs to life and begins to move down the tarmac.

"Mostly, yes. We have had some trouble with the district attorney's office here. One of our men got involved in a "situation" but we managed and bribed the judge. We just need to be a little more cautious with you here, we don't want to tip them off that the Pakhan is here. They have a persistent investigator that hasn't given up on the previous case."

My face must show concern as Kolya smirks. "Nothing to worry about. If he becomes a problem, we'll just kill him. The bay is a perfect place to dispose of bodies. A tasty treat for the sharks if you will."

Fantastic! What the fuck did we just walk into?