Page 53 of Brutal Mercy

“She’ll do her duty to our family. It’s not how I wanted it either. But she’s always known there was a possibility of it. If she was in love with someone, I would try a different approach. I don’t want her miserable, and that will be a stipulation of our agreement.”

“They’re here.” Ares glances up from his phone. He’s been in constant contact with our men.

I nod, retreating into the headspace needed for this meeting. The door opens with Gio in the lead. Behind him is Roman Orlov, head of the Russian Mafia in Denver, followed by Rurik, Roman’s brother and second in command, and two of his men.

Roman Orlov is about my height and age, with threads of silver in his black hair. And there’s a sharpness in his forest green eyes. He assesses an entire room the moment he enters. And his brother Rurik could be his twin, just a younger version with amber eyes.

At their entrance, Ares and I rise from our seats. I meet them halfway, holding my hand out to shake his. “Roman, thanks for coming. Rurik, nice to see you again.”

Roman tilts his head, a sharp gleam in his green eyes. “You’ve intrigued me. That happens very little in our line of work. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

“We have refreshments if you’re so inclined. My cook makes the best cannoli this side of the Atlantic. I cannot recommend them enough. And if you’ll have a seat, we can begin. Why don’t your men wait outside with mine, given the delicate nature of our meeting.”

Rurik fiercely scowls, his fists clenched at his sides. “And how do we know this isn’t part of a plan to assassinate us?”

“You don’t. But I can assure you it’s not. If I wanted you both dead, you wouldn’t have made it this far into my home. And I have the proof to back up my statement that I called you here today to discuss mutual interests. Show him,” I order Ares.

Ares opens the laptop on the table and turns it in our direction. On the screen is the asshole Paulo. “My men caught him trying to set fire to one of your warehouses under Marco Alvarez’s orders. And I will hand him over for you to deal with however you see fit.”

“You’ve got my attention.” Roman nods at his brother and his men. They file out of the office, leaving Ares and me with Roman and Rurik.

“Have a seat, and we can begin.” I take my seat at the head of the table with Ares on my right. Roman sits at the opposite end, with Rurik on his right.

The two of us are evenly matched.

“The reason I have asked you here is the cartel has abducted my wife’s sister.”

Roman snarls. “We’ve got an unwritten agreement in place. Women and children in our families are spared. We do not harm innocents. And I just heard of your marriage. Congratulations are in order. She’s young, but exceptionally beautiful. I can see why you married her.”

“I agree. We do have that in place. And yet Marco Alvarez does nothing after his son Diego harmed my fiancée and abducted my sister-in-law, who is only seventeen, I might add.”

“And what exactly are you proposing?” Roman steeples his hands together, his face impassive.

Fuck, if we weren’t on opposing sides, I might actually like him. “It’s time to rid our streets of cartel vermin and rescue my sister-in-law in the process.”

“And how do you propose we do that?”

“We combine forces and intel to strike them down. We’ve got the location where my sister-in-law is being held.”

“Do I want to even know where?”

“The fortress.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind? You want us to help you attack the fortress? Why should we aid someone who isn’t our family? This is an Italian problem, not a Russian one,” Rurik snarls, looking like he’s ready to leap over the table and strangle me.

Call me sick and twisted, but I like these guys.

Roman and Rurik have a staring contest, but Rurik finally concedes with a nod before Roman turns his gaze back to me. “My brother has a point. We like to keep our business within the family. While I appreciate the assistance with Paulo, why should we go to war at this time?”

I almost smile. If he had caved right away, I would have lost respect for him. But it takes balls to enter an enemy’s home and parlay. “I understand how you feel. And that’s why I propose we become family to take on the cartel together. I’m offering you my sister’s hand in marriage.”

Roman’s eyes widen. He wasn’t expecting me to offer him that.

“And your sister is on board with marrying a Russian?” he asks with narrowed, calculating eyes. I knew this offer would intrigue him because I also knew the cartel had been hitting Russian business more lately. Enough that they’re becoming a nuisance for Orlov’s business.

“Yes. She knows what is expected of her and will be an asset to you.”

“I appreciate the offer. You must want my aid badly. But I’m not looking for a wife,” Roman says.

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