Page 30 of Bratva Wolf

My father’s jaw tightens. “Who the fuck cares what your names are?”

I shrug. “One of the Tupolevs, I guess.”

“Your mother said you broke his nose.”

I nod. “It was my one and only punch.”

My father smiles. It’s a full smile, one he rarely offers, and my heart swells with pride. “Good job.” He steps to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure you two have homework.” We move to walk away as my father answers the home phone. He tells whomever is calling that he’s on his way and heads out the back door, calling out to Uncle Daniel as he goes.

Later that night, we’re sitting around watching some program as a door slams ,and people rush into the house. My father yells for my mother, and Cynric and I sneak to the edge of the wall and watch as my father and his men set our uncle on the large dining room table. My mother yells for us to close the drapes and turn out the lights in the front rooms. We finish in time to watch my father’s so-called dentist arrive with his black bag and run into the dining room. The two of us watch as he pulls out two bullets, mopping up blood spilling on the table. As the night progresses we learned, he had taken two bullets for our father and Arturo Aguilar. The man who shot him was the same man who tried to kill us at my party. My mind scans through the times my father mentioned Ivan Petrov. He was an enforcer in a rival Bratva. His Pakhan was pissed about the attempt on Papa’s life. It was unsanctioned. This latest attempt to kill my fathermust have been a way for him to try to worm his way back into his Pakhan’s good graces. Well, that didn’t work.

Uncle Daniel’s moans haunted my dreams for years after that night.

Returning to the present, regret for missing their wedding engulfs my thoughts. My new sister-in-law’s father, Uncle Daniel, died ten years after that fateful night, again saving members of the Bravikov Bratva. I shake my head remembering the fear of the bullets and being pushed out of the way as he took the lead meant for all of us.

My phone rings. I glance at the screen. Arturo.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Thane. I thought you’d be at the wedding.”

I scoff. “Did you now?”

Laughing, he lowers his tone. “I know you’re still in the doghouse or should I say the wolf’s den. You are the lone wolf, are you not?”

Prick. “What can I do for you?”

“Join me for breakfast. I’ll meet you at the diner.”

“Sure.” I hang up the phone and text Saxon with the plans. “What the fuck does Arturo want now?”

Pulling into the diner parking lot, I notice five Latino men in dark clothing hovering around the doorway. As I approach, one of them leans to pat me down. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I growl. “Disrespect.”

The door opens and Arturo’s second youngest nephew, Ramon, barks in Spanish at the young man. “He’s family.”

The kid is smart enough to nod apologetically as I waltz into the restaurant like I own it.

“Thane, my son. I apologize.” Arturo stands to shake myhand. “I’ve seen your father. He’s well.”

Like I don’t know how my own father is even if I’ve been voted off the island.

Marco sits across from his uncle in the booth. He stands to embrace me, whispering. “Forgive him. He’s going to annoy you. I’d appreciate it if you’d just let it go.”

Fuck. Sure. I sit down in the chair at the end of the booth. “You expecting trouble?”

Arturo smiles. “No. Just a precaution.” He leans back in the booth, raising his head at the nervous server.

She smiles down at me. “What can I get you, hun?”

“Black coffee.” My head flicks over at the glass domed display on the counter. “And a warmed cinnamon roll.”

Arturo chuckles. “Oh, to be young and able to eat anything one sees.”

I cock my head. “I’m pretty sure that’s never been a concern for you, old man.”

He laughs. The easy rapport I earned with him during my time with his cartel washes over our area like a soft cashmere blanket. The dread etched on his face softens. “I wanted to talk to you about Ivan Petrov.”

My mind scrambles around the name. What the fuck. I was just thinking about him. “What of him? I’m sure he’s dead by now.”

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