21. Alfie

21

ALFIE

L eaving Mika naked and needy was excruciating, and my cock throbs against the zipper of my pants just thinking about it. I don’t like that I had to leave her when she was so close to walking out the door, either. My men know not to let her off the premises until I get back, but the fiery horsewoman is unruly enough—I wouldn’t put it past her to try slipping past them if I didn’t do a good enough job of convincing her to stay. Still, I couldn’t just ignore the fact that Nikolai sent men to attack my house . Maybe he thought I was there or maybe not—but Nina is, which makes his actions unacceptable, and from what Marco told me, this is more than some dead bastard’s head being delivered in a box. That’s why I’m on my way down to the city in the chopper to sort this all out.

I can see the black smoke still dissipating in the air before we reach the house, and my blood boils as I glare out the helicopter window. No one got hurt in the fire—but still, ramming through my front gates to launch Molotov cocktails inside my front windows? If Nikolai thinks this is going to convince me to marry his daughter, he’s completely unhinged. Intimidation doesn’t work with me, though it is having a significant impact.

I clench my jaw as my father’s words of warning echo in my ears, coming back to haunt me. “You can’t trust the Russians—not with Nikolai Kapranov in power. He’s as likely to stick a knife in your back as he is to shake your hand. The Russians play by their own rules, and they’ll expect you to play by them, too. Better to just keep your distance and keep your defenses sharp along the border.”

I might not agree with my father on all the decisions he made, but I’m starting to realize he might have been right on this one. I never should have agreed to marry Ana Kapranov. At least I know what I’m dealing with now—before Nikolai had had the opportunity to get a firm grip on my ballsack. Once he had me locked into a marriage alliance, I could have been stuck supporting any number of rash, hot-tempered moves he might make. I would have been obligated to support him, while he seems far too willing to make enemies. Right now, it’s looking like I might just become one of those enemies, which I’m not entirely sure would be worse than tying our families together at this point. But if I can get him back to the negotiating table, I still believe I can make something out of this alliance.

If I can’t, this could end in a gruesome war, and I don’t want that either.

Sighing, I lean my head back against the headrest of my seat and massage my temples. The chopper slowly sinks toward the helipad located in the side yard of my estate. Marco’s waiting for me as soon as we land, and Vincent follows me out of the bird as I hop down and head toward the house.

“The fire’s out, boss,” Marco states as soon as we’re far enough from the chopper to talk.

“How’s Nina?” I ask.

“Pretty good, considering. We kept her in her room, so she’s aware of the situation, but she hasn’t seen it.”

“Good. Keep it that way if you can. I’m taking her upstate tonight.”

My head of security nods, and when I glance back toward the house, my steps falter. Now that we’ve rounded the corner of the building, I can see the damage close up. Most of the home that’s been in my family for generations still looks whole, but the windows in my study—where I’ve sat down with Nikolai on more than one occasion—have all been blown out, and black scars lick up the rock surrounding it. The fire must have gotten bigger after Marco called.

Heading up the front steps, I can smell the smoke lingering in the air, a combination of burnt wood, paper, and carpet mingled with accelerant. Several maids and housing staff bustle in and out of the office under Henry’s supervision, saving what little they can from the wreckage, and as I step into the study, they depart with a quick bow of acknowledgment. I’m a little surprised they managed to save anything. It looks like two full cocktails of accelerant were launched into the space, one landing on the Persian rug just beneath my mahogany desk—the wood is now scorched beyond recognition, with one intricately carved leg missing entirely. The other must have landed on one of the leather chairs near the wall, because a hole was eaten out of its center, and the oil painting of a fox hunt above it has been damaged beyond repair.

From his choice of destructive weapon and the room Nikolai targeted, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is another message. If so, I think it’s safe to say his point is that the window of possibility for negotiations is closing. He’s not interested in talking things out. At the very least, Nikolai’s trying to shake me, and I won’t let him.

“I want a crew out here as soon as possible to start repairs,” I state as Henry steps up beside me. “Sooner, even. Whatever can’t be salvaged, get rid of it. Order whatever we’ll need to replace. I want the windows repaired and this room looking like nothing happened by the end of this week.” If I can get Nikolai in for negotiations, I want him to see he can’t touch me—that his efforts don’t even leave a mark.

Damage assessed, I head upstairs to Nina’s room. My men stand guard on either side of the doorway, and I press the button on the wall beside the handle, triggering the signal light inside her door that will give Nina a heads-up before I enter. As soon as I step inside her room and close the door, the familiar scent of her peach blossom perfume reaches my nose, the subtle smell soft and welcoming. Her room is decorated with a simplistic sophistication that suits my sister’s warm, contented personality. A cream-and-green-pinstripe overstuffed reading chair sits next to the bay window. The sage green drapes match the comforter on her queen-size bed and fit well with the antique white furniture that makes her room feel more rustic and old-timey than the rest of the house. She keeps her space clean and neat, aside from the massive stacks of books that cover the surfaces of her desk and dresser. The ornate gold-framed oil paintings that decorate her walls are the only part of her childhood decor she’s kept, and the woodland landscapes lean toward a mystical feel, like fairies might be hiding behind any of the thick tree trunks they illustrate.

Though her room naturally feels peaceful to me, Nina looks like she’s been pacing, her fingers twined into knots in front of her stomach, and when she pauses to glance up at me, relief washes across her face.

“I’ve been so worried,” she signs, quickly crossing the distance between us, her gray silk knee-length wrap dress flowing out behind her. “You didn’t come home last night, and then with the fire this morning—” She peers up at me, her hazel eyes wide and concerned. “What happened?”

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “I stayed at the upstate property last night. You’re the one I’m worried about.”

Nina brushes off my concern as she rolls her eyes. “Please. I didn’t even know something was wrong until the fire was pretty much put out, and the guards wouldn’t let me leave my room, so I haven’t seen anything remotely traumatic. Half the house could be gone for all I know, but from where I stand, everything’s peachy. They just better not have ruined the library.”

I know she’s trying to be lighthearted, but it’s that first part that unsettles me most. Nina is just so damn vulnerable . Thankfully, her room is on the back side of the house and less exposed, but if they threw explosives through the windows right below hers, would she even know? In a fire, she could end up trapped without adequate warning. The men know to keep her safe, and I trust them to do that to the best of their abilities, but I can’t ignore the fact that my sister will always be at a higher risk in our world that’s already too dangerous and violent. I’m furious that Nikolai would target my home at all, where Nina should be safe, when her boundaries are already so limited. It seems to me he’s decided to intentionally antagonize me, and I wonder if this newest stunt means he’s chosen to throw out the idea of an alliance completely.

“Marco said you would tell me what happened when you got here,” Nina presses, her fingers flying at a rapid pace.

“They’re just messages—the Russians telling me that breaking off the engagement was the wrong choice.” It’s an understatement, but I don’t want to make Nina any more anxious than she already is.

Still, Nina pales visibly, and her eyes widen. “They’re really not taking it well,” she observes.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I tease, falling back on one of Nina’s favorite snarky remarks she used on me a hundred times growing up. But when I smile, it feels bitter, and it’s too hard to keep it up.

She doesn’t seem to be falling for the attempt at levity, as her eyebrows shoot up. Sighing, I scrub my face, the stress and frustration raising my blood pressure and making my skin feel too tight.

Grabbing my hand, Nina pulls it away from my face to look me in the eye as she frowns. “What do you mean messages —as in plural?” she signs.

Shaking my head, I recount how the threats started with letters, then packages—though I keep the specifics about the severed head vague—before moving on to the more direct tactics with the conflict between our men at the club, the bomb in Mika’s truck, now the fire. As I fill Nina in on the basics of what’s happened since I broke off the engagement, my wheels start to turn.

Talking about it casts new light on Nikolai’s actions. He’s clearly escalating—and fast. Meanwhile, I’ve been distracted and spinning my wheels, thinking we could sit down and discuss this like men once he’s had time to cool down. But that plan won’t work with him. I see that now. If I want to speak with the Kapranovs before this turns into a bloody war, I need to hunt Nikolai down and demand a conversation. It’ll mean putting my neck on the line and entering the territory he’s very clearly expressed that my men are no longer allowed.

I’m willing to risk my life to put an end to this, though I’m sorely tempted to go the more violent route after he tried to kill Mika and attacked my home with Nina in it. But I haven’t given it my best effort to defuse the Russians yet, and after my selfish decision to call off the wedding, I at least owe my men that.

“You really must care about her,” Nina says softly, her spoken words snapping me out of my dark thoughts.

My gaze shifts back to hers, and the warmth in my sister’s eyes is so genuinely hopeful, it knots my stomach.

I know who she’s talking about, but I still ask. “Mika?”

My heart skips a beat just saying her name, and Nina smiles, joy lighting up her face.

“Yeah. If you’re willing to go through all this to be with her—” She steps close to wrap her arms around my waist.

My sister is such a hopeless romantic. When the time comes to find her a match, I hope my choice doesn’t crush that in her, because I adore how optimistic she is. It’s sweet that she wants me to find love, and I wrap her in a hug as I think about her words.

I do care about Mika. Honestly, I’ve never cared about a woman like this before, and my instinct to protect her is incredibly powerful. In some ways, since she didn’t grow up in the mafia world, she’s just as vulnerable as Nina—just as unprepared for the violence I’ve introduced into her life. I saw that firsthand yesterday when she went into such deep shock, but Mika also has this unshakable strength that draws me in and keeps me coming back for more. She’s not just beautiful, fiery, and challenging. She’s resilient, and I respect that. Nina’s right. I might just do anything for Mika, and that realization solidifies my resolve.

Grasping my sister’s shoulders, I hold her at arm’s length. “Pack a bag. I have some business I need to handle in town, then I’m taking you upstate where you’ll be safe.”

“To the barn?” Her face lights up with anticipation.

“Yes, but this isn’t a vacation, Nina. If the Kapranovs intend to target the house, you can’t stay here. With you and Mika both in the same place, I can reinforce your defenses better until I put an end to this. ”

Nina presses her lips together as if to suppress her smile, but it’s impossible to hide her excitement, and I sigh. Maybe growing up in our world jades us to the danger, but I wish my sister would take this kind of thing more seriously.

“Just be ready by this afternoon,” I tell her firmly.

Nina nods enthusiastically, and I chuckle before turning for the door.

“Alfie?” she says, and I pause, turning back to look at her as my fingers grip the handle. “Be careful.” Her expression is serious now, the concern returning to her eyes.

“I always am,” I assure her, then I walk out the door.

Marco and Vincent are waiting for me, and they fall into step with me as I head back down the hall to the stairs.

“Where’s Nikolai?” I demand. I ordered men to track him down after yesterday’s attack and haven’t heard back yet, but I need to know if I’m going to face him.

Vincent shakes his head, his square jaw clenching. “He’s gone underground. The men have scoured every inch of the city, but he’s not there, and he didn’t return from the racetrack.”

Glaring at my head of security, I keep my growing frustration in check. “I want him found. Where’s Dominik?”

“He came back to town with the sister.”

“And?”

“It seems he’s managing things in his father’s absence. He visited several of their clubs yesterday. No word yet on where he is today. They don’t seem to be planning to target the business side of things yet, but it sounds like they’re gearing up for a conflict. They’re ready for us to retaliate.” Vincent’s steady gaze is carefully devoid of opinion, though I can read the tension in his shoulders.

The precarious peace we’ve maintained with the Russians for years is balanced on the edge of a knife, and any decision I make could be the final push in one direction. I need to get things back under my control, and he knows it.

“Figure out where I can find him,” I state. “If I can’t speak to Nikolai, it’s time Dominik and I sat down for a chat. ”

“You think that’s wise, boss?” Marco asks reluctantly, and I stop in my tracks, turning to look at him. He flinches, seeming like he already regrets speaking up as he immediately starts to backpedal. “All I meant is Dominik has a reputation for being less predictable and more violent than his father. You sure meeting with him alone won’t make this whole thing blow up in our faces?”

I’m well aware of Dominik’s reputation, and in that regard, Marco has a point. The Russian heir apparent has a violent temper and a stature that could end someone’s life in the blink of an eye. I’ve heard the stories of what happens when Dominik enters a boxing match, but I’m not interested in challenging him. I just want to talk, and personally, I’ve started to wonder if the younger Kapranov might not be the more reasonable of the two. But it’s hard to get a proper read on him, even after he’s attended all my meetings with Nikolai about this alliance. Dominik says little and always looks like he would rather fight than talk, but to me, that does make him more predictable.

“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s already blowing up in our faces, Marco. You just missed the fireworks yesterday because you left with Nina.” I turn my gaze back to Vincent, who looks more confident about what needs to be done. “Tell me as soon as either of the Kapranov men surface. I want to speak face-to-face with one of them today. It’s time to get this shit locked down.”

“He’s a giant of a fucking man with a Russian accent and a penchant for violence. How the fuck can he be this hard to find?” I shove aside the BLT on rye I’ve only taken a few bites out of because I’m juggling too many balls to take a break and eat lunch. I already skipped breakfast, and I’m sure that’s contributing to my short temper. Still, the main reason is that Nikolai is in the wind, and I need to deal with this before he decides to do anything more irrational or aggressive than he already has.

“He must be holed up outside of town somewhere,” Vincent says. “The men have confirmed he’s not at his Pennsylvania estate, though, and his jet’s still at the private airfield near his house. He wasn’t with Dominik and Ana when his Escalade brought them back to the city. No one’s seen him since he left Saratoga yesterday?—”

I growl, planting my elbows on the glass desk in the library—where I’ve set up shop until my study is repaired—and I press the heels of my palms into my eyes as I fight back a fresh wave of frustration. I should have put men on Nikolai’s tail as soon as he took off from the Saratoga parking lot, but I was too focused on Mika to think about the big picture. I figured we could pick up on the trail once he came back to town.

“And Dominik?” I ask.

A sharp rap on the library door makes me lift my head. “Yeah?”

The heavy wooden double doors swing slowly open, and Ricco enters, his arm around Enzo’s waist. Enzo’s arm drapes across his shoulders as the soldier leans heavily on the captain supporting him. I sent Enzo to track Dominik Kapranov, and whatever happened can’t be good. I stand abruptly, knocking my chair backward as I spot the bandage wrapped around his upper arm on top of his dark shirt. A red stain has already seeped through the white cloth that’s not going to be enough to stop the blood.

“What happened?” I demand, gesturing for Marco to grab him a chair.

He does, and Enzo sinks into it gratefully as I approach close enough to see the sheen of sweat on his brow.

“Get him a doctor,” I tell Henry, who abruptly leaves the room. Then, I turn my attention back to Enzo and Ricco.

“I found Dominik,” Enzo rasps and swallows hard before clearing his throat. “I don’t think he liked me there.”

“I told you not to engage.” I gesture to his arm, indicating the proof that he failed to obey my orders.

“I didn’t,” he insists. “But he saw me and opened fire—shot me straight through the damn windshield.”

“How did he know who you were? That you were watching him?” If Enzo stayed back, Dominik shouldn’t have been able to recognize him as one of my guys.

“I don’t know, but he seemed like he knew before he even stepped outside. I was all the way across the street and down nearly a block from Shaker’s, keeping a low profile while I followed up on a lead—I wasn’t even sure Dominik was at the club since his car never left the house. Then he just walked outside, looked me dead in the eye, and before I could take off, he pulled out a gun and shot me.” Enzo’s color drains from his face as he speaks—his wide, nervous eyes saying the memory of whatever he witnessed still has him spooked.

“Then what’d he do?” I ask, baffled by Dominik’s behavior.

“As far as I know, he just went back inside. I got the hell out of the parking lot, and Ricco came to get me. He dropped Romeo off so we could keep eyes on the club.” Enzo cringes, his hand going to his injured arm to try and manage his pain.

Releasing a sigh, I pat Enzo’s cheek. “You did good. Let’s get you patched up, and you can take the rest of the day off.”

He nods gratefully, and I turn my attention to Vincent and Marco.

“We’re heading to Shaker’s?” Vincent asks.

“We’re heading to Shaker’s,” I agree. I’m heading out the door, pulling my gun from the holster beneath my jacket as we walk, and I check the magazine to make sure it’s fully loaded.

“I thought we were just going to talk,” Marco states, his tone laced with amusement.

“We are, but we’re not going in unprepared.” After Dominik’s blatantly violent behavior, I don’t know how well my plan might work out. But since Nikolai hasn’t declared war outright and yesterday he still sounded like I could move forward with our original agreement if Mika were out of the picture, I doubt Dominik will shoot me before he hears me out.

Vincent pulls up next to Romeo’s car, a blue Nissan Versa that blends in with the rest of the nondescript cars along the street, and I roll down the passenger window. Romeo does the same, topknot keeping the long dark hair off his face as he leans a tattooed arm on the door frame.

“Anything?” I ask.

“He’s been in and out a few times—had some guys sweep the street for any other suspicious cars shortly after Enzo left. I took a loop around the block, and no one’s been out to bother me since.” Romeo points to the club’s brick facade entrance. “I think they spotted him from the security camera above the door.”

I nod and thump the side of the car. “Hold tight until we’re out of there. Be ready to call in reinforcements.”

Romeo nods and rolls his window up as Vincent eases back into traffic and rounds the corner.

“Are we just walking through the front door, boss?” Marco asks as Vincent pulls up along the curb and throws the car in park.

“Unless you have a better suggestion.”

My phone buzzes, and I slip it out of my suit pocket, checking the caller ID before deciding if it’s important enough to answer. It’s Ottavio—the captain I put in charge of protecting Mika. Fuck.

“ Pronto. ” I put my phone to my ear, and Marco and Vincent pause, their eyes shifting to my face as they wait for me.

“It’s about your woman.”