Chapter Fifteen

Two days later, Ferma La Guzun...

“Goodness gracious,” Zafira rolled her eyes in a show of dramatization. “You again. Didn’t you just leave last night? How many times do I need to tell you kids that I can take care of myself?” Tapping her foot, she opened the door wider to let her brood inside. She glowered at the tall man walking up behind her. “Not that I need to since Goliath has taken it upon himself to move into my house.”

“Count yourself lucky, Ms. Guzun,” Bogdan growled. “I haven’t moved into your room yet. At least you have some modicum of privacy.”

Zafira hated the excited thrill that raced down her spine at his words. Having him in her room, in the same bed every night, would be a dream come true. Except she wasn’t about to admit as much to the dratted man. He was suddenly too full of himself. Since he had exerted his dominance over her as a submissive at the club and on the plane, she was helpless against his power when he turned all Dom on her.

Blyad’! My panties will slither down my legs without me taking them off. That was what those dark eyes and deep growl did to her.

“So, what’s so important that all of you invade my home just before lunch?” One eyebrow crawled higher. “Or did we have an appointment I forgot about in my senile state?”

“Stop playing the martyr, Mom. Everyone is here at my request.” Vanya all but rubbed her hands with glee as she looked around the room. Vadim sat in an oversized wingback chair with Sabira perched on the arm. His one hand circled her waist lovingly. Arian had arrived alone since he and Izolda had yet to see each other again since she had left him. He was more hardheaded in his old age than Zafira herself. The Matriarch settled in a deep bucket chair with Bogdan standing behind her, his arms crossed over his huge chest. He truly portrayed a veritable Goliath hovering over his prey.

Vanya took Andrei’s hand and sat down on the sofa. Her eyes glimmered with happiness. “I went for a 4D scan this morning.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve gone with,” Andrei protested. One hand came to rest on her swollen belly. “Since the smile threatens to wrap around your face, I know it can’t be bad news, but c’mon, love, I’m dying here. What’s going on?”

Vanya dug the scan images out of her handbag and handed them to Andrei. “Do you see it?”

Andrei stared at the pictures, at first confused, then his eyes widened.

“Blyad’... is that?” He looked at Vanya. “Are you saying... Isus Hristos, Vanya. Are we having twins?”

“Yes! See! There and there, two little heartbeats.” She pointed to the dots on the photos.

“How did they not notice it before?”

“Oh, the doctor had a long medical explanation, but I was too excited and didn’t pay attention.”

“I’m confused. Twins are usually hereditary from the mother’s side. You don’t have twins in your family.” Andrei looked at Zafira. “Do you?”

“I actually—”

“She does,” Vanya cut her off, too excited to keep quiet. “Mom is one of twins, but her sibling died a few hours after birth. Our great-great-grandmother was also one of twins, so there...” Vanya pointed at her belly. “Twinsies! We’re having two for one.”

“Good Lord, I sincerely hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to cry and be sweet twice as much as before,” Vadim joked, but joy burst from his eyes at his little sister’s exuberance.

“You better hope she doesn’t morph into Atilla the Hun after the birth,” Arian quipped. “I remember how Mom was after Vanya’s birth.” He cast a sideways glance at Zafira. “Still is, for that matter. Absolutely nothing left of the crying, sweet pregnant woman.”

“Are you saying I’ve become unemotional, Arian, barbarian, even?” Zafira’s body was as tight as a snare. Indignantly, she stared him down. Yes, she had acknowledged she had become lost in her quest to destroy Maranzano to keep her family safe, but she had never wanted them to notice her inner withdrawal.

“Not so much when Vanya was younger, but ever since Dad passed away, and more so over the past two years, yes, definitely. I’d have to say, even though you’re not involved in the family business, you’ve become distant. You might not realize it, Mother, but you have created a shield around yourself, a guard against anything emotional.” Arian was the only one who had the courage to always speak to the heart of the matter.

“Listen who’s talking,” Zafira snapped. “I don’t see your wife by your side, my son. Fix your own fuck ups before you dip your spoon into my porridge, if you don’t mind,” she snapped but immediately became contrite. “I’m sorry, Arian. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just a little uptight, is all.” She got up and with difficulty offered her daughter and son-in-law a bright smile. “I am so happy for you. Come, my darling, we need to start discussing the nursery. I was thinking about the bright, sunny room in the north wing?”

“You want to turn your private den into a nursery?”

“Well, I assume you’ll be visiting often once you move to Russia permanently. My grandbabies must have a beautiful room they will love here as well.”

“Aww, Mam?! That’s so sweet.”

“And there we go again,” Vadim chuckled as the two women walked off, Zafira gently soothing her weeping daughter.

Arian waited until the two women disappeared at the top of the stairs before turning to Bogdan. “You have yet to tell us what you found out from Moartea Neagra.”

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting for you to ask,” Bogdan said as he sat down. “Here’s the kicker. It wasn’t Luciano Maranzano who put out the hit on your mother.”

“If not him, who the fuck was it?”

“You already know what Vanya found, Arian. Why don’t you take a guess?” Bogdan ran a hand through his hair. “Before you ask, no, we have no idea what his association with Maranzano is or if they’re even in cahoots. Our team is searching the dark web to see if they can find any communication or connection between them, but so far, nothing.”

“I fucking don’t understand. I thought they had been house friends since Vanya’s birth.” Arian started pacing.

“So did I, but one thing I can guarantee you is that Triska and Marek Cermak are no friends of your mother.” Bogdan leaned forward. “My gut tells me that had I not removed your mother from Kramá?”s Villa that night, she’d be in her grave by now.”

Two hours later, Farma de Pasari, Arian’s livestock farm, on the banks of the Dniester River, Dubasari, Moldova...

“How do we keep my mother safe, Bogdan?” Arian asked where he stood, puffing on a cigar in front of the open sliding glass doors leading out onto the patio.

Bogdan didn’t immediately respond, studying him for long moments. His sharp eyes picked up on the deep lines beside his mouth and the dark circles under his eyes.

“Are you sleeping, Arian? You look like death woken up.”

“I’ll sleep when this fucking nightmare is over. I need to keep my family safe, Bogdan. It’s my responsibility, and I feel like I’m failing.”

“You’re not, my boy. You are the foundation and pillar of the family—always have been, even when Viktor was still alive, especially during those last five years of his life. If not for you, the Guzun Bratva would have fallen apart from the direction he wanted to take us in.”

“You’re right. Dad changed. I never knew why. He suddenly interfered in every decision I made, threatening to take over the reins again. I always believed it was because I was failing as the Pakhan of the group, that he was disappointed in me.”

Bogdan’s eyes flickered as a heaviness settled in his heart. He hated keeping things from Arian, but his loyalty had always been with Zafira. What Arian didn’t know was that Viktor had gotten wind of what she was doing, of the underground group she had started forming in rebellion against how he was squandering her father’s money and legacy. Interfering in how Arian had ruled was a desperate attempt at maintaining power that he had lost... not just as the Pakhan of the business but as the husband to a very fiery and confident wife.

“Thanks for that. Perhaps I’m just more tired than I realized.” Arian sighed heavily.

“I imagine the situation with Izolda doesn’t make your life any easier?” Bogdan dared to prod where no one else would.

“It’s over, Bogdan. Trust is such a fickle commodity in a marriage, and it’s the one thing we never had.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have married her, especially since I did it for the wrong reasons.”

“Because you didn’t trust her and believed if you married her, you’d be able to keep a close eye on her? Catch her red-handed when she betrayed you?”

Arian frowned but didn’t respond.

“So, how exactly did that turn out for you? Did you catch her betraying you?”

“No. In the end, she truly didn’t know that Maranzano was the one pulling the strings. That he had been the puppet master all along.”

“Exactly. All Izolda did was play along in an effort to keep you and your family safe... or so she believed.”

Arian shrugged. “I let her go, Bogdan, because in the end, she’s safer on her own. Being with me comes with the promise of getting hurt or death.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Bogdan growled but didn’t pursue the matter as Arian’s expression turned dogmatic. “One thing I didn’t mention earlier. We did find a connection Merak Cermak had.”

“Don’t fucking tell me Izolda and—”

“Enough, Arian! For fuck’s sake, she’s your wife! No matter what you try to make yourself believe, you love her, so stop always making her out to be the bad one.” Bogdan exhaled slowly to calm his anger. “The connection I’m referring to is between Marek Cermak and Boros Sidorov.”

“Boris? What the fuck would the First Vice President of the Chez Republic have to do with that useless bastard?”

“You forgot who killed Viktor, Arian.”

Arian turned pale. “Boris Sidorov. Are you saying Cermak was behind our father’s death as well?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. First, Viktor got killed by Boris, who had a known association with Cermak. He then forced the woman you loved to marry him, and now there’s a hit out on your mother—and the assassin that almost cashed out on it confirmed he was the one who’s behind it.”

“Why would a man in his position take the chance of anyone knowing he’s corrupt? Surely, he wouldn’t personally have approached this Black Death assassin?”

“It appears he was becoming frustrated that your mother survived the assassination on her at your wedding and escaped the raid at that restaurant. It was specifically set up to put her behind bars. He had enough on Zafira to lock her up for the rest of her life.”

“Bullshit. We’ve always made sure Mother is protected. There’s nothing out there associating her with the Guzun Bratva.”

“There’s more to your mother than you realize, Arian. Perhaps, soon, she will disclose her course to you. For now, just believe me when I say, if he had physical proof of what she was about, she would rot in jail.”

Arian stared at Bogdan, his eyes turning glacial. “What do you know that I don’t, Bogdan?”

“All in due time, Arian. For now, we need to find out what Marek Cermak has against your mother and make sure she stays out of the line of fire.”

“I’ve already instructed Antonio to increase the protection detail at the farm. For now, keep her inside the house at all times, Bogdan.”

“Yeah, that’s easier said than done,” he grumbled.

“Don’t think for one moment I’m going to let this go either. You alluded to Mother being involved in something. I want to know what it is. Do you understand?”

“Got it, Pakhan,” Bogdan said as he got up and headed to the door, where he stopped and looked at the younger man with a stern expression.

“It’s time to make right with Izolda. You know you were wrong, Arian. Be a man, face your fears, and admit why you didn’t go after her when she left. Do you honestly think she’s safer away from you? Or does it make you feel better about using her the way you did? Yeah... deny it all you want. You used her, in more ways than one. You never apologized for that, Arian.” He shook his head.

“Make it right. Be honest. Tell her your fears, but more importantly, tell her your dreams. That’s what will tip the scale. Your love and need for her in your life.” He held up his hand to stop Arian’s protest. “Don’t bother denying it. You’ll only be fooling yourself.”

Bogdan walked out, relieved to notice Arian’s shoulders sagging as a sign of acknowledging what he had said. All he could hope for was that he had gotten through to Arian. Izolda and he belonged together. They had loved each other from when they were very young.

“Just like Zafira and I.”

The words falling from his lips shook him. He had just preached to Arian while he was rowing the exact same boat.

“Well fuck me,” he said as he started the truck. “I guess it’s time I took a piece of the pie I dish out and do something about that.”

He pulled away in a cloud of dust.

“It’s time Ms. Guzun realizes I am the man for her—the only man and the one who will love her until his dying day.”