Chapter Twenty-Three

Three months later, the luxurious estate of Andrei and Vanya Rusu, Chiverevo, Moscow Oblast, Russia...

“I can’t believe the day has finally arrived,” Vanya gushed as she faffed over Zafira’s hair. “You wasted so much time. The two of you should’ve been married years ago.”

“Hard-headedness runs both ways insofar as Bogdan and my relationship is concerned. Yes,”—she smiled at Vanya’s look of reprimand—“I know I’m the one to blame, but it’s all in the past. We can’t turn back the clock. All we can do is look ahead and make the rest of our life’s journey a happy, loving, and lasting one.”

“You’re right. Hard-headedness runs in the family. All of us had our share of almost losing our chance at happiness because of that. Luckily, love endured and conquered all.” Vanya stood back and clapped her hands. “Perfect. You’re going to take Bogdan’s breath away.”

“Good. Knowing how gorgeous he looks in a tux, at least I won’t be the only one gawking like a fish on dry land when I first see him.”

A knock on the door interrupted their banter.

“Ah, the troops have arrived,” Vanya said as Andrei, Vadim, Sabira, Arian, and Izolda piled into the room.

“Now that you’re getting married, we felt it’s appropriate to make sure nothing is going to get in the way of your happiness,” Arian began tentatively.

“I’m a sixty-four-year-old woman, Arian. I don’t need my children to give me marital advice,” Zafira said with a laugh.

“This isn’t about that, but we do have to ask. Does Bogdan know about you being the Shadow Don and the one who is running the Novaya Volna Group?”

“Yes, Arian, he knows.”

“And he’s happy for you to continue?” The frown on Vadim’s face showed his disbelief. Zafira didn’t blame him. Ever since Bogdan’s return from the U.S., a new man had emerged. Assertive, confident, and much more powerful than she had ever imagined he could be.

“Bogdan is going to be my partner in the Novaya Volna Group. We’ve already discussed it. I am not prepared to give up my seat as the Shadow Don... not yet. I may never be. It’s time the conservative chauvinism of male Bratva leaders comes to an end.”

“I’m afraid you might be overreaching, Mother,” Arian said with a serious expression. “You might have groups supporting your vision for a modernized future, but a woman being in charge of all? It’s not going to happen, and if that’s the only reason you offered a partnership to Bogdan, I’m afraid you don’t know him as well as we do. The new man is driven, he’s powerful, and he’s not going to be your henchman or your muscle in your vision.”

“Destul, Arian! Enough. This is my wedding day. I refuse to allow you to blacken it with predictions of doom.”

“It’s more than a prediction, Mother. It’s a reality. We might support you to a point, but even Vadim, Andrei, and I, in our authority as Bratva leaders, will not bow down to the rule of a woman... even you, our mother.”

Zafira felt like she had just been punched in the gut with a ten-pound hammer. She had mostly depended on the support of her own children and their respective Bratva groups. If Vadim was against her rule, so would Sabira, as the leader of the Koval Bratva, be as well. To realize they all sided with the age-old Bratva traditions against her, almost broke her confidence.

Almost... but she was far from ready to give over.

“We shall see. Now, enough of this. Come... it’s time to walk your old mother down the aisle. Nothing is going to spoil the wonder and happiness of my wedding day.”

Sunrise, the following morning, Bogdan’s private wing at the Rusu Castle...

“So, are you going to remain a Guzun?” Bogdan kept his tone even, but the way Zafira studied him for long moments warned him he hadn’t been successful in hiding his desire to call her all his... and that included her carrying his name. To be reminded for the rest of his life that he had lost her for so long to Viktor Guzun didn’t sit well with him. It was time to move on. Leave all the hurt, dissolution, and regrets in the past.

Zafira leaned over to kiss him tenderly. “We started a new life together with this marriage, my love. I believe for us to fully embrace the future and all the happiness it offers; it has to be as a united front. A Rusu unit, so no, like it or not, I’m not going to be a Guzun. From now on, I am Zafira Rusu.”

“That just escalated my happiness tenfold, dragostea mea.”

“Ah, you’re lagging behind, Iubirea mea. I’ve been the happiest woman since you returned to Moldova.” She hugged him close. “Don’t ever do that again, Bogdan. Never leave me for so long. I won’t survive the longing, especially now that our love has woven that invisible golden thread through our hearts.”

“I’m not going anywhere, miere. You’re stuck with me now... forever and a day.”

“Good, hold that thought. I need to pee.”

Bogdan watched her swaying hips as she walked gloriously naked to the en suite bathroom. With a smile, he relaxed against the pillows. Finally, everything had fallen into place. He had the woman he loved by his side. All the hates and regrets are something of the past. A smile rendered victory to his expression as he opened the secret drawer in his bedside table.

“Someone is calling, miere,” he called out as Zafira’s cell phone began buzzing.

“I hope it’s not Vanya going into early labor from all the dancing and excitement yesterday,” she said as she rushed into the room while wrapping a towel around her. A quick glance at the small screen confirmed it wasn’t. She offered an apologetic smile at Bogdan. “Sorry, Iubirea mea, I have to take this call.”

“Remind whoever it is you’re on your honeymoon and that the sun is barely up,” he called after her as she rushed out of the room.

Slipping the cell phone from under the cover of the duvet, he lifted his hand to his ear. “I didn’t expect to hear from you this soon.” Zafira’s voice filled his mind. He smiled grimly.

“I believe congratulations are in order, Ms. Guzun, or is it Mrs. Rusu?” His voice was drastically changed by the electronic device attached to the satellite phone.

“It’s Rusu, as I’m sure you’re aware. Why are you phoning me this early and on the morning after my wedding?” Zafira sounded annoyed but kept her tone respectful.

Bogdan smiled. He had learned deceit from the best. For years, he had watched from the depth of despair and hatred. Now, he had the money, the power, and the following to become what Viktor Guzun, his father, and grandfather had dreamed of becoming. The all-mighty Shadow Don.

“Remind me, Mrs. Rusu, who is really in charge here? You... or me?”

The silence was thick that followed his words. Bogdan smiled widely. He had played his cards close to the chest for the past forty years, ever since he found out Viktor had known about his father and Zafira’s father’s plan to have him incarcerated.

“You’re the one with the money,” she finally said.

Bogdan laughed humorously. It was a pity that Zafira was the one who would pay the price. Not that she stood to lose all that much, except the one thing she had been coveting for the past twenty years... to be what her husband couldn’t be... the Shadow Don. Except from day one, there had been a bigger force at play. One who had ducal standing, money, untapped power, and generated fear within the Bratva circles... the ubiytsa smerti, the death slayer... Bogdan Rusu.

“It seems you’re still under a misconception of our initial agreement, Mrs. Rusu,” he said darkly. He got up and stood naked in front of the window, appreciating the golden rays of the early morning sun peeking over the horizon. “I have more than money. I am the power, and you are my voice. A woman like you is formidable, but that’s all you’ll ever be. You had the muscle of your newly acquired husband all the years, and that was the only reason you managed to build a following. I recruited the rest and will be the one to ensure their adherence—those of your sons and son-in-law included.” It was a low blow since he knew how upsetting the discussion with her children just before the ceremony had been. He suppressed the desire to give a quarter. Zafira Guzun, now Rusu, had to realize her reign as the Shadow Don, brief as it had been, was over. “No one in the Bratva world will follow the orders of a woman. You’re naive if you believe it would ever come to realization.”

“You held me for a fool all these years,” Zafira said in a thick voice. If Bogdan didn’t know any better, he would think she was on the verge of tears.

“Ah, not so, Mrs. Rusu. You’re the one who had visions of grandeur that were unrealistic. Don’t despair. There is a place for you at the top of the organization. As I said, you will be my voice, and that in itself gives you power.”

“I worked my ass off to gain power of my own. I don’t need you to offer me any. Your voice! That’s what you offer me? A voice with no rights, no decision-making, nothing! What power is there in that?”

“That’s what’s on the table, Zafira. Take it or leave it. You can play a role as the voice of the Shadow Don as a leader, or I can find someone who will. It’s your choice. If I were you, I would choose wisely. I’m not the kind of man to let loose ends dangle.”

“And if I refuse, I become a loose end.”

“You said it. Now... I suggest you trod back to your husband. We don’t want him to become suspicious of your doings, now do we?”

“Bogdan knows all about the Shadow Don. He helped me set up the Novaya Volna Group. I am not going to exclude him now.”

“Oh, I don’t want you to. In fact, I want you to offer him the seat as your advisor. Keep him close, and no one will oppose you, but be warned... no one must find out about me. Not even him. You don’t wish to become a widow this soon, do you?”

“You touch him, and I will find you. Believe me, Mr. Shadow, no matter where you hide, you won’t be safe.”

“Ah, true love is such a fragile thing, isn’t it? Don’t let it make you weak, Mrs. Rusu. I need that steely resolve you’re so famous for.”

“Fuck off.”

Bogdan chuckled as she summarily ended the call. By the time Zafira walked into the room, he was back in bed, pretending to have fallen asleep.

“Hmm, so, who dares interrupt my blissful morning with my beautiful wife,” he said in a thick, sleepy voice as she cuddled close to him.

“A mistake that is going to cost me dearly,” she said in a quiet voice.

He opened one eye lazily for a moment. “Let’s just forget about the world out there for a couple of days, miere. We waited years for our time to come. Let’s not spoil it with new regrets.”

“You’re right, Iubirea mea,” she murmured as she wrapped her arms around him. “Just hold me, Bogdan. Hold me tight and never let go.”

“Always, Mrs. Rusu. No one will hurt you. That is my promise to you.”

Bogdan was surprised to feel the warm drops of tears falling on his chest. It seems with her love for him came an ability to let go of her emotions. He knew she was angry, but the tears spoke of a vulnerability he never expected to see in her. His heart warmed and swelled at the implication. He had achieved the one thing Viktor Guzun never could.

Zafira Guzun, now Rusu, was becoming the woman she had lost as a young nineteen-year-old girl.

Finally, his life had come full circle... he had the unconditional love of the woman he had yearned for and the prospect of becoming the most powerful being on earth.

The true Shadow Don has risen.

A bright future awaited him after all the years. In the end... patience had paid off.

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The End