Chapter 4

FOUR

Dimitri

My brother appeared just as annoyed as he had for the past two days. I couldn't blame him. Since I'd arrived, I had done nothing but refuse to bend to his wishes, and Maxim wasn't used to anyone saying ‘no.' Maxim was seven years older than me, the typical older brother, the leader of the Volkov Bratva, and he had always carried himself with authority. He wanted me to agree to stay and play Bratva with him instead of chasing after a trafficker. I couldn't do that.

"Dima, you've played with your little motorcycle club long enough. I've indulged you with that hobby." His voice held an edge of contempt that he'd perfected since he'd taken the family over at twenty-one. "When I gave you Sergei's location, that was payment for your return to the Bratva." Maxim glared over at me. "It was to be an exchange."

He was referring, in particular, to handing over the location of the scum bag who thought he was working for the Bratva trafficking people — auctioning them for all sorts of sick fucks. Unfortunately for him, my best friend Maddox's woman stumbled across what he and his boss were doing and brought the information to us. We'd started dismantling their system immediately, even though I'd had to call in my brother, the pakhan of the Volkov Bratva, to make it happen.

I'd been making a life of my own without the Volkov name, without the influence of the Bratva for once. I enjoyed the family I formed with the Iron Brotherhood MC in Haverboro, Arizona. It was far from the luxury I'd grown up in, but I'd been happy — for the most part. Now, for the moment anyway, I was trapped again .

"I understood the arrangement, Maxim," I replied, bored. "Too bad the job isn't done. You were supposed to find Makarovich. Your bargain wasn't upheld now. Now I need to do it."

Maxim's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he struggled to contain his frustration. "Understanding isn't enough, Dima . You committed to the Bratva, to me, and you're not holding up your end of the deal."

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms defiantly. He was such a dick. I'd been gone for years, and he hadn't changed. It had been an impulsive decision when I'd run off at fifteen. Maxim had just turned twenty-one and had shot my father right in the head like it was nothing. Not that I gave a shit. I was glad. Maxim had seemed like an overbearing asshole and know-it-all then. Things hadn't changed.

"I'm not your puppet, Maxim. You helped you with Sergei because it was the right thing to do. I don't owe you anything." That wasn't true, but I was curious about his reply. I was only here because I did owe him. He'd delivered, and so would I. "Like I said," I emphasized. " Makarovich is still out there. Maddox and I don't want him still breathing. I'm going to find him and kill him." I might also need his plane. Well, it would make things more convenient.

Maxim's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through me with the intensity of a predator stalking its prey. "I looked for him, but he's off-grid right now. He'll resurface eventually, and then you can kill him. And," he pointed at me. "You owe me, Dima . You ran off to play outlaw with a bunch of bikers for years. It's time to come home."

I grit my teeth, struggling to keep my temper in check. Maxim had always been like this, using guilt and obligation to manipulate those around him. But I wasn't a scared little kid anymore, cowering under his authority. I was a grown man, capable of making my own choices.

"I didn't run off, Maxim. I wanted to make my way without the Bratva," I shot back, my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. "I wasn't going to be slaughtering women and children in basements. That won't be a life I choose. You should be able to accept that. It's not part of the discussion. You may not be able to find Makarovich, but I'll find him. I'll go to Colombia myself."

There was silence between us for a moment, tension crackling like electricity. Then, with a low growl of frustration, Maxim pushed himself away from the table, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"Fine, Dimitri. Have it your way," he spat, his tone dripping with disdain. "You'll do what you want, like you always do. But know that you will always be a Volkov, whether you like it or not." He paused and added, "You won't leave without men with you."

With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, no matter how far I ran or how hard I tried to escape my past, it appeared that the shadow of the Bratva would always follow me.

Over the last few months, the Iron Brotherhood MC had been rocked as we worked on handling one crisis after another. The latest connection had been brought to our attention after Helena Marsh returned to the MC. She'd come to us for help to take down a trafficking ring — we'd made a good start, and now it was up to me to shoulder the rest of the burden. Helena and Maddox were engaged and disgustedly happy. I couldn't let Maddox leave her alone in Arizona to accompany me. No, this was something I would do alone.

I'd been dishonest when I'd joined the Iron Brotherhood. Like many who joined MCs, I was looking to reinvent myself. Unlike some, I had money to burn in well-hidden accounts, so I had papers to hide my last name. For years, I hid in the little town of nowhere, Haverboro, Arizona — home of the Brotherhood. Unfortunately, that fiction had to end when Helena showed up with information that put her in direct danger and implicated someone in a bratva connected to my brother. There had been nothing else to do but to contact him directly. Of course, that meant opening up Pandora's box with Maxim. His help had come with strings. Sure, we'd been able to save Helena from a kidnapping — it was worth it.

I stared at the door Maxim had slammed shut, the echo of his exit reverberating. His words echoed louder, though, drowning out the silence that followed. I let out a long, slow breath, my frustration giving way to a gnawing sense of inevitability. Maxim had always been able to manipulate situations to his advantage, and this time was no different. His reach extended far beyond the confines of our family estate.

My thoughts drifted back to the Iron Brotherhood and the family I had built there. The club was more than just a collection of outlaws and rebels; it was a sanctuary where I could be someone other than the Volkov heir. My brothers there had only just become aware of my true lineage. I'd preferred it when they didn't know.

Helena Marsh's return set off a chain reaction of events that brought me back into the Bratva's orbit. The trafficking ring she exposed needed to be eradicated, and I couldn't do it alone. Maxim's resources would be indispensable, but they came at a price—my reluctant return to the world I had fled.

I needed to think. I stood up and paced the room, racing through potential plans and strategies. Returning to the Brotherhood was not an option without resolving the current situation. I had to face the reality that my brother was right; my ties to the Volkov Bratva could not be severed so easily. The trafficking network we were dismantling extended beyond national borders, and the fight was far from over. There was still Makarovich, Helena's boss, who I needed to track to Colombia. Maxim hadn't successfully tracked him further, so I'd go there next. My lips quirked up in a smile. Maxim wouldn't like that too much.

The estate was vast, and the grounds provided peace amidst the turmoil. As I walked, I pondered my next steps. I had to balance my loyalty to the Brotherhood with the Bratva. The only way to protect the people I cared about was to find a way to bridge these two worlds.

The following day, I contacted Maddox. The secure line buzzed momentarily before he picked up, his gruff voice greeting me.

"Dimitri, what's going on? Any updates?"

"Maxim is being a total dick, as expected," I paused. Maddox had been my long-time friend and confidant, but he wasn't familiar with Maxim and the pressures of the Bratva. Still, he was the closest I had to someone I could talk to. Finally, I admitted, "It's hard being back here. He hasn't changed much."

There was a pause on the other end. I could almost see Maddox rubbing his jaw, considering my words. "He's still your brother Dimitri, maybe not the best one, but Maxim cares about you. Not as much as we do, though. You're the favorite."

A small smile tugged at my lips. Maddox had always been a rock, someone I could rely on no matter what. He always helped me find perspective. "Well, truer words have never been spoken. I am the favorite. Thanks, Maddox." It did help to talk about it. Returning here made me realize what a strange world I'd grown up in. This frozen and isolated mansion filled with guards. It was no place for a child.

"So, you heard from your military pal yet? I'm going to head down to Colombia tomorrow. "

"I did. My buddy Ames called this morning. He is pretty certain Bogota is the area you need to be looking. He didn't specify why, but he sounded sure, and he's never steered me wrong. But, Dimitri, several active cartels are there, so it will be dicey. I'd suggest you keep a low profile. In and out." I could read the worry in his voice, and sure enough, the following words out of his mouth were. "I think I should come with you. It's not a good idea for you to be going alone."

"I won't be, Maddox. I'll take some men with him. I've got this, don't worry. I'll be in touch. Don't annoy Helena too much."

"Well, don't die. That'd piss me off. Bye, fucker. Be safe."

I hung up and felt better, having spoken to Maddox. When I met him, we immediately became friends, bonding over being orphans. Even though I had a brother left, I didn't talk to him, so it was like I didn't have one. Many men at the MC had estranged families for one reason or another .

We'd started our lives out very differently, but we had both been raised around violence. He was raised in foster care, mainly in violent homes. He hadn't divulged all the details, but I understood what he hadn't said. Maddox always seemed to get me and accept me for who I was. Even if now it seemed my friend was growing on a different path, I was pleased for him. He deserved it. For years, he'd watched Helena Marsh and wanted her. They were now on a path to be together, and it was everything he had wanted. He deserved happiness.

It was my privilege to ensure their happy future. My first job was to take out her sleazy boss. Colombia was the next stop. I needed to navigate this strange balance between the Bratva and the Iron Brotherhood, leveraging this connection.

I headed back inside. I needed to strategize with Maxim and kiss his ass a little, so I could borrow his fucking plane, which was going to hurt my pride. My brother might be an overbearing tyrant, but he had resources that I could use.