16. ANDREY

Chapter 16

ANDREY

"Why does your son hate you so much?" I ask Marco.

"We had issues when he was younger," Marco tells me, and I see his eyes narrow. "Which is none of your fucking business. If you'd been paying closer attention to the business and not debasing my daughter, we'd probably have been able to have avoided this situation."

"Don't you dare speak about my relationship with my wife that way," I warn Marco. "The way I see it, this is all on the two of you. Something in your past has brought this on us." Suddenly, it hits me. Marco had said Konstantin was there to take Isabella to her uncle. "Jesus Christ!" I'm up off my chair in a shot and slap the desk, towering in front of Marco. "Why does Konstantin use the Zhukov last name?"

"Because Roman is his uncle. My late wife was Roman's younger sister," Marco tells me.

Holy shit. I rake my hand through my hair. This just gets more and more complicated. "Why was I never told this?" I ask. "Why all the secrecy?"

"We didn't think it relevant," my father tells me.

"Seriously?" I splutter in disbelief, wanting to laugh at their faces. Then it hits me. I look from the arm my father has covered up to the note on Marco's desk lying beside the dagger.

"The reason you kept Isabella so well guarded and a virgin had nothing to do with handing me a snow-white bride." I see their eyes widen. "You wanted to make sure any child she had was Moretti, Zhukov, and Belov." I see the two men shift uncomfortably, and I know I've hit on the truth. "You needed to try and get a family alliance because Isabella was the only thing keeping Roman Zhukov from coming after the two of you. Everyone knows he treasures family more than anything after losing his parents and his sister."

"No," my father says. "Well, sort of." He looks at Marco, who is glaring at me with narrowed eyes. "When his sister, Isabella's mother, died in that car crash, Roman blamed us."

"Us?" I look from my father to Ivan. "As in you and Marco?"

Marco nods. "Roman was convinced we put a hit out on Karina."

"And did you?" I ask and get no answer. I stand and lean over Marcos's desk, slamming my hands on it again. "I'm not asking again."

"Andrey." My father's voice snaps with command, interrupting me. "You are not yet Pakhan. I will not have you disrespect another head of a family this way."

Anger erupts through me, and I turn toward my father, eyes narrowed and blazing. "And what have you done to deserve respect? Allowed us to be overrun, compromised, and now marked like cattle?"

Ivan's face hardens, but he doesn't respond. He knows the truth in my words and I turn back to Marco.

"Answer the questions, Marco."

"No." Marco shakes his head. "I did not, but like his uncle, I'm sure Konstantin thinks it was us."

I look at Marco, who is watching from hooded eyes. "Your time is over, Marco. And you," I point at my father, "are done as well. The council will back me."

Marco leans back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "And you think you're ready to face what's coming?" His brows raised. "While juggling what's happening with the painted ladies."

My voice drops dangerously "This is not a negotiation. Konstantin has declared war, and he's coming for what he believes is his which I'm assuming is his legacy and revenge. Our families need strength and unity for what's coming. I am that strength. And Isabella is the key to our unity. Especially if she's carrying my child."

Marco's brows raise a little more. "You think you can handle both the Bratva and the Mafia?"

I nod, resolute. "I will. James," I turn to Marco's nephew, "you've been groomed to lead the Moretti family since your parents died. It's as much your legacy as Isabella's. You'll serve as my right hand for the Mafia operations."

James looks between us, then nods slowly, understanding the gravity of the moment. I see Marco glare at him, and something cold flashes in James's eyes as he glares back. I know right then and there, James is on my side.

"I'm with you!" James gives me his support.

I return my gaze to my father. "The council will convene, and they will see reason. You've led us to the brink of destruction with your reckless deals and weak leadership. It's time for a change. A real leader."

Ivan's face is pale, and his eyes are hard. "You think you're ready for this, Andrey?"

"I know I am. The legacy Konstantin is after—it's now mine and James's to protect. Not yours. Not Marco's."

I step back, feeling the weight of the decision settle in, addressing James, "Prepare for the council meeting. The families need to know that we stand strong, united, and ready to face whatever comes. Konstantin thinks he can break us. He's wrong."

I look at the note on Marco's desk: I'm back for what was stolen!"

My mind races. The hacker holding our systems hostage, the threat of an all-out crime family war—it all points in one direction—Konstantin. The man wants to destabilize us and make us fight among ourselves. But he underestimates our strength—he underestimates me .

"I'll deal with the hacker," I say, my voice calm and determined. I see my father, and Marco's eyes widen in surprise. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"Who?" My father demands.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere, Father, and as of now, it's no longer either of your concern." I look at James. "Have the council for both families here in thirty minutes."

James nods and leaves to make the arrangements. I call in Urie and Sergei who are there in a flash.

"Urie, Sergei," I greet them as they enter the room. Urie, my trusted right-hand man, and Sergei, his father, who has served loyally as my father's right-hand man for decades, stand before me, their faces etched with concern, and watch me curiously.

"Is everything alright, Andrey?" Sergei asks, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

I nod, my resolve hardening. "We're making leadership changes. Effective immediately."

Sergei's eyes flicker with surprise, but he doesn't question me. Urie, however, steps closer, his loyalty evident in his gaze. "What do you need from us, Andrey?"

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Sergei, you've served my father well, but the time has come for a new era. My father will be stepping down with immediate effect, as will Marco. Will you pledge your loyalty to me as you did to him?"

Sergei's gaze shifts to my father, who nods solemnly. "You have my loyalty, Andrey. Always."

"Good," I say, feeling a sense of relief. "I want you to oversee our security operations. Your experience and knowledge are invaluable, and we need every advantage we can get."

Sergei nods, accepting the position without hesitation. "I'll ensure we're prepared for whatever comes our way."

"Thank you," I say, turning to Urie. "And you, Urie, will remain my right hand. Your skills and loyalty are crucial to our success."

Urie nods, his expression determined. "I'm always at your service, Andrey."

I glance back at Marco and my father, who watch the exchange in silence. "The council will be here soon."

My father finally speaks, his voice low but firm. "Do you understand the gravity of what you're taking on, Andrey?"

"I do," I reply without hesitation. "This is our only chance to stop the chaos you and Marco have unleashed upon us. You two have been marked, and maybe if you're no longer in the position of power, the Zhukov will spare you."

Marco asks, "And do you think my son is going to spare you?" He raises his brow. "His sister was trying to run away from you."

"His sister was trying to run away from you!" I point out. "The night I met Isabella, she was running from you! " I rub it in. "The only mistake I made was telling her who I was instead of just running off to Vegas and getting married like she'd planned to do after overhearing you and my father talking about our engagement."

"He has a point, Marco," James says, walking back into the office. "Konstantin didn't mark Andrey, and even if Isabella hasn't conceived Andrey's child, Konstantin would never hurt Andrey."

I look at James in disbelief. Why would he say that or, better yet, how would he know it? Before I can ask, James turns to me.

"The council is en route and will be here shortly," James informs me. "Genevra is setting up the dining room as the conference room."

"Thank you, James," I tell him and turn back to my father and Marco. "When this is over, I'm going to need to know everything."

"I can help you with what I know," James tells me and glances at Sergei. "So can Sergei and Hannah."

"Great," I nod. "Make sure they're all here after the meeting. We need to start trying to find my fucking wife before Konstantin takes her out of the country and under the protection of the Bratva King."