Page 32 of Bratva Wolf

Papa blows out a huge sigh. “Come to the estate.”

By the time I reach the estate, I’m anxious. Dread has moved up my spine and circled my shoulders and is poking me in the neck. I step up to the door, receiving a smirk from the enforcer guarding the front of the house.

“Move.” I growl.

The smaller man with face tats moves too slow, and I shove my body into him, slamming him against the front of the house, next to the door. “You forget yourself. Annoy me again, and I’ll fucking slit your throat.” His brow raises as the color drains from his face. Apparently the boys have been talking about me behind my back, and they think I don’t have any more power. Fuck them. I’m the Bratva Wolf. I’ll shred anyone who gets in my way. I walk through the door with a giant chip on my shoulder and march into my father’s study.

“Not the look of amends I thought I’d see in my second son.”

I unclench my fists, laying them down my thighs. “I will continue to make amends to Cynric and his wife. I was wrong.I took your punishment. But something is brewing with the Aguilars.”

My father’s lips tighten into a line. “What?”

“Arturo was talking about Ivan Petrov’s family member that was left alive. He conveyed that it was some kind of threat to us. Then, in the next breath, he told me Jose’s daughter watched Cynric kill him.”

My father growls, swearing in Russian. “What does he expect us to do with this information?”

“I don’t know. He’s looking to kill his grandniece because he thinks she’s going to the cops. It’s been more than six weeks. If she was going to tell, she would have already done it.”

Papa nods. “You’re correct. What do you think we should do?”

“Let’s send Roric to find her and find out what she knows and what she’s going to do with the information. I can’t help but hear mom’s voice in my head that there isn’t any reason to kill her if she’s not a threat.”

“Your mother was usually right about what she said. And I agree. Family isn’t responsible for the father’s mistake.”

I ease into the plush blue chair in the study. The room is warm with the smell of vodka and vanilla. The fireplace crackles to my right, underneath a mantle full of family photos smiling down into the room. My mother’s bright smile still haunts me. It’s been eight years, and I still can’t walk into this house and not hear her voice and smell her perfume.

“Thane?”

I turn my head to Papa. “Sorry. I was thinking about Mom.”

He sighs, leaning back in his comfortable leather desk chair. “I can’t believe I still wake up every morning thinking about her.” He casts his eyes to her portrait hanging next to the door. “How are you going to make amends with Cynric and Isabella?”

“I’ve got a plan. Is there anything you want me to do about the Petrov person?”

He raises his hand and shakes it. “No. We didn’t do anything to that family. I mean I tried, but Arturo had them executed. Not me. He’s just fishing for something to hold over us. Keep your ears open, but don’t let on you’re giving his concerns any credence.”

“Okay. When will Cynric and Isabella be home?”

“Next Friday. I convinced her medical school people to give her an extra week.” He shrugs. “Just cost me a few million for some equipment or something.”

I raise myself out of the chair and stand before the Bravikov Pakhan. “I apologize for how I handled Isabella. I was wrong. She’s his wife and the mother of his child. I won’t ever disrespect her again.”

Papa stands and extends his hand. “Good. I would have hated to invoke your mother’s opinion on how you treated her. She was always very fond of Isabella.”

Shame is a bitter taste in my mouth. “Yes, Papa.” I shake his hand as he cups mine.

“Your banishment is over once you make amends.”

“Yes. Do you want me to share the information with Roric about the girl?”

“Da. I’ll call him and let him know you’ll see him at the club.”

I stiffen and catch myself only to see the acknowledgement in Papa’s eyes. “Yeah.”

“Do you want to go back and oversee Biggie T’s? Or have you gotten what you needed from there?”

Shit, he knows about Red. “I’d like to keep closer tabs on the Aguilars. The club pretty much runs itself. I can check in a few times a week if you want.”

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