Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Mikhail

I holdher until she falls asleep. Aria is in greater danger than she’s ever been. Not only have we outed her to our enemies just by showing up at the gala last night, but she’s pregnant. And unlike our original plan of finding out about her pregnancy in private, I took her to a hospital.

Volkov will have his revenge.

When she brings our child into this world, Volkov’s world is effectively over.

I lie beside her. Part of me wants to get out of bed and go to my piano. Being alone in my sanctuary, creating music under my hands, is sometimes the only way to soothe my nerves. Sometimes, it’s the only way to feel emotion.

At least, until Aria.

But I will not leave her side. She will be glued to me whether she likes it or not for the next nine months. Yes, I’ll have a security team on her. I’ll have several. Yes, I’ll have safety protocols put in place. But I told her that I would be her armor, and I meant that.

I mutter to myself for trying to remember what she said about crushing candy on an app. Turns out there are lots of apps where you can crush candy. It’s not as relaxing to me as playing the piano, but I play the game until my eyelids grow heavy.

I’m dragged out of a sound sleep the next morning with the sound of my phone ringing.

I have it on "Do Not Disturb" when sleeping, but three phone calls in succession removes that. My brothers know to do that only in an emergency situation.

Aria is still sleeping beside me. I move as quietly as I can, take my phone, and go to the bathroom, where I can take the call in private without waking her.

"What is it?"

"We intercepted an attack on our family home last night," Nikko says.

"Who did? Tell me everything."

"Viktor and I did. We were with Mother, cleaning up. Staff was dismissed, security still in place. Polina was with you at the hospital. Everything seemed fine, but Viktor had a suspicion something was wrong."

Volkov. He will stop at nothing.

"What happened?”

"We swept the entire house. We found nothing, but Viktor didn’t trust it. So he slept in the room adjacent to Mom’s. We heard a scream and were in her room instantly. They were trying to abduct her, Mikhail.”

“Who?”

"We haven’t gotten them to tell us their identity yet." I’m already pulling on a pair of jeans. No. Fuck. I can’t leave Aria’s side, I won’t.

"Where are you?"

"We have them in The Chamber."

"Any identifying marks?"

"Of course. They’re marked Bratva.”

When I threatened Volkov, he decided another insidious assault against my family was in order. If only I had the manpower, I would murder the man with my bare hands. He has too many allies and too many on his force. My brotherhood wouldn’t stand the blowback. They would annihilate us.

But that doesn’t mean we put up with this.

"I would come to you myself," I say, while peeking through the doorway at my sleeping wife. "But I will not leave Aria’s side."

Loyalty to my wife and our future child means I may have tough choices to make.

"Tell me what’s next?"

"We will interrogate. Permission to execute?”

"Only if you can’t get answers out of them first. Send me footage. No, scratch that. I want a live feed. I want to feel like I’m there with you."

I will call the shots. Every blow. I want to account for every drop of blood and broken bone.

"Are you ready now? We’re ready."

Nikko and Viktor haven’t even slept, but that’s how they are. Absolutely ruthless, dependable as fuck, as loyal as humanly possible.

"Who told you that she’s pregnant?"

"You went to the emergency room, brother. Everyone knows.”

Fuck.

Aria stirs in the other room, so I lower my voice.

"Show me."

"Stand by."

The camera pans to a wide-angle view of a room we call The Chamber. I can almost feel the chilly air and cold stone. The Chamber is a place for interrogation and execution, our take on a modern-day dungeon. Concrete is easier to clean than wood and doesn’t get easily stained with blood.

The light is dim, reminiscent of an ancient dungeon with flickering torches. This is intentional. We want people who come here to be terrified. Terror is an excellent asset when you want answers.

There’s a long, heavy table with high-backed chairs in the middle of the room. At the end of the room is a tiny, barred window that allows a sliver of sunlight but is impossible to exit.

All weapons are on clear display for Nikko. Lev is more likely to use psychological manipulation or deprivation, while Viktor chooses fists. Aleks is skilled at interrogation methods favored by Russian authorities. Unlike other methods of violence and intimidation, using observation and statements to elicit information gets him a long way, but he’s far from above physical intimidation.

The Chamber is particularly structured to house a prisoner for a very long time.

The camera moves back to Aleks, sitting placidly at a table with his hands folded in front of him. He’s dressed as if he’s about to conduct a business meeting, wearing his signature black shirt and tie and slacks. But I recognize that cold, fierce determination in his eyes. Next, I see our prisoners – two men on the younger side, late twenties. They’ve already been beaten, now chained to the wall in front of us, their faces against the wall with their backs to the camera. Their bare backs and arms show markings of the Bratva.

"Gentlemen, it has come to our attention that you tried to kidnap my mother last night." Aleks’s voice is ice-cold. "As you can imagine, I don’t take too kindly to that, nor does my brother. You have forfeited your lives for an attempt of violence against my mother. But before we kill you, you’ll give us what we ask for."

They are strategically placed in a stress position, arms just above comfortable so both are standing on their toes. Quietly, Viktor and Nikko enter the room.

Out of the corner of their eyes, with their peripheral vision, the prisoners can see my two brothers. One of them begins to tremble, the other stares stoically at the wall in front of him.

"We already know you work for Volkov," Aleks continues sternly. "We want you to tell us what you planned next.”

They remain silent. A muscle twitches in Aleks’s jaw.

"Nikko." It’s then that I notice the small club-like bat in Nikko’s fist. He takes a step toward each of them. I turn the volume down on my phone so Aria doesn’t hear the sickening swish and thud of his weapon. The cries of pain of his victims. The sound of breaking bones and bruised flesh.

Nikko steps aside and casually wipes blood out of his eyes.

Aleks continues. “Anybody? Anyone want to offer information?"

They stare straight ahead. Aleks opens a slim silver laptop in front of him. "I’ve identified them both. Ilya on the left is a new recruit to Volkov, obviously, because he would’ve been more successful had he been more experienced. He has a wife and two small children."

Our prisoner stiffens in fear. “I’m confident you don’t want to see your wife or children hurt, do you?"

Next, Aleks nods to Viktor. It’s then that I notice the small device in Viktor’s hand. He walks to the first man and presses it to his temple. He screams in pain from the electric shock. Aleks’s voice is cold and confident.

"Tell us what the next move is."

I watch as neither one of the men move. The next is placed under the same electric shock treatment, but doesn’t cave. Finally, one of them curses out in Russian, saying that he will never reveal anything even at the point of death.

Meanwhile, Nikko is sharpening a knife. He places it on the table in their peripheral vision.

Viktor speaks up, his deep voice booming in the enclosed area. "Allow me to explain what happens to people who cross the Romanovs. We will come after anyone and everyone you care about. They may die quietly, or they may be subject to a violent death. But make no mistake, they will die. We will find out where you live, and we will destroy it. We will find out everything that matters to you, from the smallest little puppy dog to the biggest truck that you drive, and we will destroy all of them. Nothing of who you are will remain."

"Viktor."

Aleks nods toward them.

I’ve had enough. I tap the button on my phone. This is child’s play.

"Viktor, Nikko. They tried to take our mother. Uncuff them. Show them who you are." My voice is merciless. It is only out of love for my wife that I am not there exacting revenge with my own bare hands.

I steel myself against the sound of their pleas for mercy.

Viktor takes one and holds him up by the neck. "You had your hands on my mother. What happens in Volkov’s family if someone touches one of his loved ones?" When he doesn’t answer, Viktor drops him unceremoniously to the floor and kicks his ribs. "Tell me."

"He loses a hand," the man says. Viktor nods and takes the knife from Aleks. The man howls as they stretch his arm on the table in front of them.

"Mikhail?"

I silence my phone and place it face down on the vanity. I turn to her. "How did you sleep, my love?"

I have to trust that my brothers know what they’re doing. What I would give to be there right now.

"I heard something disturbing. Someone screaming. What happened, Mikhail?”

She’s standing by the side of the bed, looking pale.

"Someone tried to hurt my mother. They tried to take her last night. My brothers are finding out more information now.”

Her expression turns pained. "Oh."

I don’t give any more details, but I won’t lie to her either. This is our life now.

“Are they hurting them?"

I take a step toward her and cup her face in the palm of my hand. "What would I do to someone that hurt you, Aria?"

Her voice is a whisper, but she doesn’t look away. "I don’t want to even think about that. But they would hurt. And likely not…” she swallows hard. "You know, like…make it."

I nod. "Come, sweet girl. Back into bed with you. Allow me to bring you breakfast. Don’t think of those things, they don’t matter right now."

I go back to my phone and see my text messages.

Aleks: One caved. He’s on the verge. Bleeding out on the floor now. Volkov knows about Aria’s pregnancy. She and your home are the greatest risk right now.

Of course I assumed this would be true, but I’m grateful for the confirmation.

I send him a text back.

As of today, I dismiss all of our staff. They will be under my payroll. I want no one but family at my house.

That will be difficult, brother, but it must be done. Polina and mother?

Everyone,

They won’t come easily,

I grit my teeth.

Let me handle that. I’m getting a call from Kolya. Let me know what you get from the prisoners.

Within the hour, both of them will be dead. We will extract whatever we can from them before that happens.

I take the call from Kolya, walk to the bed, and run my hand along Aria’s hair. I breathe more deeply. Her eyes close as I continue to brush through her hair with my fingertips.

"Hello?"

"Mikhail. A minute?"

"Hold please." I mute the phone and turn to my bride. "How are you feeling? Are you nauseous?"

She nods. "Yes, not as bad as yesterday. I was afraid that pizza wouldn’t sit too well, but apparently our baby likes pizza. Do we have any left? For breakfast?”

I feel my brows pull together as I give her a curious look. "You want pizza for breakfast?"

She makes a face. "Only if it’s cold. Not hot pizza. Can you do that?"

Cold pizza. “Yes. Anything you want, Aria. Just a moment." I send a text to my staff. I’ll get the pizza delivered before I dismiss everyone. None of them will come back.

I sit on the bed next to Aria and rub her back. She gestures that she needs to use the bathroom, so I walk with her.

“I’m back.”

"Mikhail,” she whispers. “You can’t come with me to the bathroom. I need to pee.”

I clench my jaw and gesture for her to leave the door partially open.

She gives me a strange look but does what I say, as I take the call from Kolya.

"I had coffee with Volkov himself this morning.”

"Did you? Playing good cop, bad cop again?”  I cross my arms over my chest and watch for Aria as she washes her hands and begins brushing her teeth. She gags, and I throw the door open as Kolya continues.

“I’m fine,” she whispers. “Might need cinnamon toothpaste…”

Kolya says, "There was a rumor that your mother was attacked last night. He’s starting to crack, Mikhail. He’s not in the right frame of mind. Nothing like he used to be.”

Aria sticks her head out. “You alright?” I ask her in a gentle voice, covering the phone with my hand.

She shakes her head. "The toothpaste is disgusting. God.”

Note to self: Get a different flavor toothpaste.

"How do you know? What do you mean?" I ask Kolya.

I help Aria back to bed.

"He began repeating words, over and over again, and some of the sentences he formed made no sense. He was completely incoherent at one point, and I had a difficult time following him. He repeated things that he already told me. He cannot recall some recent events or conversations that we had. I could even tell by the way he dressed himself, he has significant impairment of his cognitive and physical abilities.”

Interesting. "This would explain why he’s made advances on my family despite the fact that I’m married now.”

"Precisely. We cannot assume that Volkov will obey our rules. You know that if we had passed the moratorium without you getting married, we would have been at risk. But I’m telling you, we are at risk now. And if it’s true he ordered an attack on your mother⁠—”

"It is true. We just interrogated the intruders. It was his men that attacked."

Kolya is quiet for a minute. "You and Aria are in grave danger."

I quickly consider my options. With a snap of my fingers, I could command Nikko to assassinate Volkov. We could even make it look as if it were an accident, but right on the heels of the attack from his men, I don’t trust the blowback to not be severe and annihilate us.

We could threaten him, but the same potential threat remains.

"He was confused, Mikhail. He called me Ilya several times. He was disoriented. And he made strange accusations. He’s always been irritable, but this time it’s much worse.”

"I see."

"My suggestion is that we try to impair him in ways that are not as obvious. Psychological manipulation. A threat to his assets and safety.”

"Aleks and Aria will be thrilled."