Chapter 26 - Igor
"The supply lines are not safe from the US Coast Guard. Three times now, our ships have been busted for carrying illegal diamonds from Africa to America," Karl says. He's from another Russian family, one that trades with us. We're supposed to secure their supply lines for a fee, but things have taken a serious nosedive since Arina left.
It doesn't help that I just want this fucking meeting to end. My brain feels like a sponge soaked with whiskey and beer.
"Karl, you know that sometimes these things happen, and we just need to find another route. You really have nothing to worry about. We will take a look at it and make sure no other ships get searched." Yvonne's voice flits through my head, and I even want her to shut up.
It's just too much.
"Perhaps you are not equipped to handle this job anymore," Karl says.
"Excuse me?" I growl, glaring at him with bleary eyes. I'm sure they're bloodshot, and I clenched my fist. "Do you think we're incapable of doing our job?"
Karl seems to reconsider his position for a moment but then forges ahead. "Well, if you were capable, why would my ships be targeted? Perhaps it is better to deal with the Milovs, who are more established."
I stand up quickly, pushing my chair right back. "You think the Milovs give one fuck about your business. We've spent months securing your lines it's probably the Milov's who have been pimping us out."
Karl stands up as well, not one to be deterred. "Our business relies on those supply lines."
Before I can say anything else, Yvonne stands up and puts a hand on Karl's arm. "Forgive my brother; he isn't feeling well today. Bad business is bad for his digestive system and temper." She smiles warmly. "I assure you this is just a minor setback, and we will ensure the supply runs are clean and back in order before next week when the next shipment arrives."
I watch Karl carefully, but he finally relaxes his shoulders. "See that you do, or this will be the last time we're doing business with you."
He leads his three stooges out, and I turn on Roger, one of my business managers. "What happened?" I roar. "Why are the supply lines being targeted? I thought you bribed the right officials. That's what you said, Roger. You swore up and down you bribed the right officials to fudge the paperwork and get the containers through."
Roger looks like he's ready to soil his pants.
Yvonne looks at him, then at the rest of the fearful employees sitting around the table. "Fix this," she says. "Or the next meeting we'll have is about all of you and your precarious positions in this family business. Now get out."
They all leave, and I sit back down. "I didn't say they could be dismissed."
"You're in no shape to deal with anything right now," Yvonne says.
I stand up again and walk out, going straight to my office. I look around for a bottle of whiskey. "Yvonne," I call.
"I already removed all the bottles of whiskey. You're hungover every day, and it's bad for business, Igor. Everyone is starting to notice you're losing control."
I sit at my desk and glare at her. "You are not the head of this family."
"You're not acting like the head of this family should," she bites back.
I stare at her for a moment, angry as hell, before my shoulders droop. "I know."
Yvonne comes and leans against my desk beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder. "It'll be okay. Time heals all wounds."
"Not this one," I murmur. "You might be right about me needing to pull myself together, but time won't heal this wound. She was special."
Yvonne strokes her fingers through my hair, and I can sense she wants to say something, but she holds back.
"Where's Matvey?" I ask at long last. "He was supposed to be in that meeting. I didn't see him."
"He's probably around," Yvonne says, but she looks away when I look at her.
"What do you mean he's probably around? You know where everyone is at all times. It's your specialty."
She swallows and shakes her head. "Not all the time."
"Yvonne." I stand up, towering over her. "What has Matvey done now?"
Yvonne looks up at me and breathes deeply before she says, "He was tired of you being grumpy with everyone."
I clench my fists. "What did he do? What is he doing? Why are you stalling me?"
Yvonne puts her hand on my arm. "He just wanted to make things right."
"What does that mean?" I ask her.
"I think he's going to try to talk to Arina," Yvonne finally admits.
"The idiot," I breathe. Suddenly, I don't feel sluggish and hungover. "If the Milovs find out, he's a dead man. Where did he go? Where does he think he'll meet her?"
"I don't know," Yvonne trips over her words. "That's all he told me, I swear."
"Track his phone. I'll call Alfie to get the car ready." I pick up my phone and dial Alfie's number while Yvonne hurries to my computer and starts logging into the tracker.
"Alfie," I say when he answers, "I need you to get the car ready. Matvey is in trouble."
"Yes, sir," he says before he hangs up.
"Come on, Yvonne." I lean over her. "Where is he?"
"It's searching," she says, clearly distressed. The computer pings, and she clicks on the results. "Zeek's, it's a restaurant…"
"I know where it is," I say. "Stay here. Stay safe. Don't do anything stupid. I'm going to go get him."
Before she can say anything, I run out, down the five flights of stairs and out the lobby, much to the bewildered looks of various staff members and guests.
I hurry outside and get into the passenger side of the vehicle. "Get me to Zeek's pronto."
"Yes, sir," Alfie says before putting the pedal to the metal and spinning off. We ignore most traffic lights and stop signs as we dash through the city. My stupid brother, what is he thinking? He's always rash and impulsive.
"When we get there," I say, taking my gun from my holster and checking it's loaded with the safety off. I want you to stay outside unless I call you." I holster the gun again.
"Are you sure? I can provide backup," Alfie says.
"That is providing backup," I say as we take a corner a little too fast and slide out. People honk at us, but Alfie doesn't pay them any heed. Fifteen minutes later, we are outside Zeek's.
I get out and walk briskly to the front door. I step inside, and the smell of Italian food hits me like a ton of bricks. I look around, but it takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the new lighting.
"Can I get you a seat, sir?" the hostess asks.
"No, I'm looking for some…"
I see them. All four brothers are walking toward the kitchen, and between them, I notice Matvey with his back against the wall. Luka is ahead of the other three, but they're clearly there as a threat. I walk past the hostess and through the restaurant as silently as I can. I don't want to draw their attention.
I'm a few yards away when someone yells from the left, "Kervyn, behind you."
Kervvyn swings around, and I'm acutely aware of how silent the restaurant has gotten.
I hold my hands up as Danil and Arseny turn to look at me, as well. Faces of men I have hated all my life.
I glance at the loudmouth who shouted and see it's the redhead, Kervyn's wife, if I'm not mistaken. Behind her, I see Arina, and my heart sinks in my chest. I quickly look back at the brothers, though I'm tempted to keep looking at Arina.
"I've come for Matvey, that's all," I say. "I don't want to start any trouble where these patrons can get hurt."
"Your brother tried to kidnap our sister again, Igor. Perhaps we weren't clear about how we felt about that the last time we met."
"He was just doing what he thought was best." I watch Kervyn closely. Luka takes another step toward Matvey, and I draw my gun. Kervyn draws his at the same time, and some people cry out. The staff quickly make their way to them to calm them down.
"This doesn't have to be bloody," I say quietly. "Just give me my brother."
"He'll just try to ambush Arina again. A lesson needs to be learned here," Kervyn says. "We are not the family you fuck with. I thought you would have learned that in Russia."
I glare at him and put my finger on the trigger.
"Igor, no." Suddenly, Arina is standing in front of me. She must have pulled herself away from the girls holding her back.
"Arina, come back," the redhead says.
"No, Igor, put down your gun." She looks up at me with big eyes. "You put down your gun, and Kervyn will put his down."
I look over her head at Kervyn, slowly take my finger off the trigger, and holster my gun.
Arina turns around. "Kervyn, your turn."
Her brother looks down at her and nods, holstering his gun. That's when I realized Danil and Arseny have also drawn guns. They holster theirs, too, and Arina turns to Luka. "Let him go, Luka. He wasn't trying to hurt me."
"He wanted to take you away from us again," Luka says bitterly. "He should learn a lesson."
"I think it's safe to say he has," she says. "Now, please, let him go."
No one moves, and I wonder if Luka is going to take a potshot at Matvey when Arina blurts out. "I'm pregnant."
Luka turns around to look at her, along with the rest of us.
She turns around to look at me. "I'm pregnant with our baby."
"Arina…" I say softly, my chest tightening with emotion.
"But I can't be in your life if you're constantly trying to kill my brothers." She turns around to Kervyn. "And I can't be in your life if you're constantly trying to kill my husband."
She looks between us. "Until you two figure something out, the baby and I will be in neither of your lives."
"Arina, it's my child…" I say, taking a step forward. Kervyn also takes a step forward, and Arina holds up her hands. "I'm not letting you two battle it out over me. Kervyn, let Matvey go with Igor now."
"And then what?" Igor asks. "When will you come home? We need to be a family."
She looks at me almost desperately, and for a moment, there's just silence before she finally seems to reach a decision.
"Yvonne. Call Yvonne. I want her to take me somewhere neither of you knows about so I can have some peace. I can't make a decision with everyone constantly around me trying to tell me what's best for me. I've taken care of myself up until the day you kidnapped me, Igor, and even then, I took care of myself until we developed it into more. I know you both love me, but I can't continue to feel like I'm being torn in two."
She starts to cry, and I reach into my pocket. Kervyn watches me, his hand on his gun, but I bring a cell phone out. "You can go with Alfie. He's outside. He will take you to fetch Yvonne, and she will take you somewhere safe to have some time alone."
Arina nods. "Okay." She wipes her tears away and looks at Kervyn. "Okay?"
"Yes, of course, Arina. We want what's best for you. We don't want to stress you out," he says. "If there's anything we can bring you, please let us know."
"Yvonne will come to get my stuff," she says quietly. "I just need some time."