Chapter 66

Yaroslav

One Month Later.

I breathe in the fresh air, savoring the smell of the sea and the sound of waves gently lapping at the shore. We moved into the house in Orlando yesterday. Now the builders are done with it, it’s almost unrecognizable. Kim and I decided this was where we wanted to live for now, though she did have one request—that I remove the dungeons where I was tortured. I was only too eager to oblige. If this is going to be a holiday home, or even our family home for now, I don’t want to mix business here. I have promised Kim that if I ever need to take a captive, they won’t be held under the same roof as our family.

The rooms have been converted, and David, Kim, and I are each getting one of our own. David didn’t mind taking the one where I was held, it’s unrecognizable now anyway as his gaming den. Kim’s room has been converted into a craft room for her to work in. As for me, I already have plenty of rooms in this house that I prefer to relax in, my office included, so I just converted the basement dungeons into a space to hold the expensive wines, whiskeys, and vodkas I am partial to. Often people try and run away from trauma or push it to the back of their minds. My father taught me to face fears head on. I survived in that cell, so the place holds no fear for me—if anything it makes me more certain of my place as head of the Volkov Bratva.

I’ve stepped outside for some peace before we have to leave to attend yet another funeral of one of our fallen comrades, Dimitri. The aftermath of cleaning up Innokentiy’s mess has left me working flat-out rounding up traitors and getting my business back on track. I mailed the evidence of Innokentiy’s betrayal to the Petrovs. I finally heard back from them this morning. They weren’t best pleased that I’d taken it upon myself to end Innokentiy, his dear wife wanted the honor of that herself. But, after I reassured them that they could have his body buried as they saw fit and that I wouldn’t interfere with how they chose to handle his mistress and their children, we reached a tentative agreement. I also agreed that I would play along with whatever story they wish to tell in Russia to preserve their reputation.

I sense, rather than hear Kim approaching me from behind and turn to look at her. She looks beautiful in a simple yet elegant black dress. She now has a slight bump that’s beginning to form—before we know it our baby will be welcomed into the world, I hope to make ours a better one by then. In her hand, Kim is carrying her heels, allowing her bare feet to sink into the sand. She gently places her other hand on my arm and looks deep into my eyes.

“Are you ready to go?” she asks with concern.

I nod, taking her hand in mine, “As ready as I’m going to be,” I reply, allowing her to lead me away from the beach toward the waiting car parked out the front.

I told Kim she didn’t need to come, she didn’t know Dimitri, but she was adamant she wanted to be there to support me and David. It’s never easy to bury a friend, but with Kim by my side, I know I can face anything.

We’re greeted by Artem when we arrive at the funeral. He’s still in recovery and has to use a wheelchair, the doctor is hopeful he will walk again but he can’t be sure how much permanent damage the bullet that nicked his spine did. Although the doctor is hopeful he’ll make a full recovery, his fighting days are behind him. I won’t need him for that anyway, with Sharkozi and Innokentiy gone, and my alliance with Gillihan and Nowak, I have no enemies in the States. Of course, that could change, but Artem will be serving in a purely intellectual capacity from now on. He’s taken enough bullets for me.

The funeral is a somber affair, one of the worst so far. When he refused to renounce his loyalty to me and join Innokentiy, they murdered him as an example to the rest. After that, most of the men caved in—even if they didn’t truly renounce their loyalty like Artem and the others who rescued me, they knew to do otherwise would cost them their lives. I can’t blame them for what they did, even if it means I can no longer trust many of them. Some who I felt were afraid for their lives have been shown leniency and allowed to leave town with their families. Those who truly betrayed me were eliminated. Dimitri’s wife and young daughter are the ones left behind to mourn him. Looking at their stricken faces makes me think of the people I love and how they were almost in this situation.

I will make sure that Dimitri’s wife and child want for nothing. It won’t bring him back or make up for their loss, but at least they will be taken care of. It’s the least I can do.

When the funeral ends, there is no wake, but Artem tells me that he and the rest of the guys are going to go out for drinks.

I look uncertainly at Kim. Almost as if she’s read my mind she says, “You have to go. You’re their leader. I’ll be fine. I feel a bit tired anyway.” At my panicked expression, she again stops my thoughts in their tracks, speaking up before I can protest. “I’ll be fine, it’s perfectly normal for this stage of the pregnancy. Go, be with your friends. Me and the baby will be fine and waiting for you when you get home.”

I nod, grateful that she understands the importance of me being there for my men tonight. After saying goodbye to Kim and making sure she’s safely on the way home with our driver, I give my final condolences to Dimitri’s distraught wife before we leave.

We all head to one of my clubs, grabbing the VIP section and ordering bottles of vodka and whiskey. As we drink, we share stories of the friends we lost. I can’t help looking over at Artem, who’s ignoring the doctor’s orders and growing increasingly drunk. I’m not about to stop him though, he’s earned the right to let loose a little. It pains me to think how close he came to death to save me. I owe him more than just my life.

Vova and Innokentiy’s betrayal still feels raw, like an open wound. I’m angry with myself for not seeing it before, for trusting them both. Perhaps if I hadn’t, Marta would still be alive, and I wouldn’t have wasted so many years I could have had her in my life if it wasn’t for our uncle. I hope that, wherever she is, Marta can forgive me. If I know one thing now, thanks to Innokentiy and Vova’s betrayal, it’s that I can trust Artem.

I get up from my seat and head over to him. “Can we talk?” I say over the noise of the music.

“Sure thing,” he agrees and wheels himself over to the quiet section of the VIP area.

“How are you doing?” I ask, my eyes dropping to the wheelchair.

“I’m good,” he replies. Seeing my skeptical expression he continues, “No, really, I’m good. My physical therapy has been going well and the doctors are optimistic. I just feel lucky to be alive. Even if it does mean I might have to think about a career change,” he says with a self-deprecating smile.

I’m happy that he’s being upbeat about everything, but his mentioning a career change has me worried. “You’re thinking of leaving the Bratva?” I ask.

“Well, I’m hardly much use to you like this now, am I?” he says with a chuckle gesturing to his wheelchair, but I can tell this hurts him more than he’d admit.

I shake my head. “That’s not true at all. In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. With Innokentiy gone, I need someone I can trust to take his place as my partner. I can think of no one better equipped to handle that task than you. That is, if you want to?” I say, worried that he’s going to turn me down.

“I appreciate the offer Boss, I really do, but surely someone a little less… handicapped… would be a better choice,” he replies wincing over the thought that his current disability could become his future.

Again, I forcefully shake my head in disagreement. “Not at all. If you’ll take it, I know you’re the best man for the job.”

A slow smile crosses Artem’s face as he realizes how serious I am. “Well, in that case, old friend, I’d be honored to accept.”

I can’t help but grin back at him, “Then it’s settled,” I reply before raising my glass, “Here’s to working together to bring the Volkov family back even bigger and better than before!”

Artem clinks his glass against mine and we both shoot our drinks back, sealing our agreement. With his help, and my new alliances, I do not doubt that big things are coming for my business.

“To the future of the Volkov wolfpack! And to all our fallen comrades, you are gone, but not forgotten!” I cry out, raising my glass once more as the men around me follow suit, drinking to our family.

Perhaps Innokentiy did me a favor, he rooted out the weak links in my chain and now we will come out stronger for it. I know every man here is willing to die for me and what we’ve built together.