Page 76 of The Watcher's Bride

Six Weeks Later

Now that I’m Pakhan, life has got a lot busier, but with Nora and my loyal friends by my side, I’m confident I can bring the Belyh Bratva to new heights. After telling the whole story to all my remaining men, and those who returned with Nikolai, they pledged their loyalty to me as their new Pakhan.

Unlike Dimitri, I don’t want to hide things from my men. When they heard what Dimitri did, many seemed as though they’d have liked to be the one to end his life. There was no resistance to my declaring Quinn as an enemy, they never approved of the alliance in the first place. In a way, Quinn did me a favor by taking some of my men. Those who left were loyal to Dimitri and would likely have caused me problems. Though our forces may be reduced in numbers, we have increased in strength, as I know I can trust every single person’s loyalty.

When I received an invite from the head of the Chinese Mafia, Cho, I was unsurprised. However, I don’t yet know the motives behind the invitation. It could be a genuine offer of an alliance, but it’s most likely a trap. They’re unaware that I know of their alliance with Quinn, so they could be hoping to lure me there to attack.

In the days since Dimitri’s death, I’ve been unable to locate Quinn. This invite is perhaps the best chance I have of drawing him out. Nora has been beside herself with worryas Nadya is one of the people Quinn took with him when he escaped. She’s certain Nadya will be used as a bargaining chip against us. I don’t share her belief. I’m more concerned that Nadya has been working for Quinn all along despite the fact that she seemed to be on our side. Something seemed a little too convenient about how easily everything happened.

However, I’m determined to put Dimitri behind me, to forget everything he taught me, and to learn to be a better man, a better Pakhan, and a better husband.

“Ready?” Nora asks me.

She looks breathtaking and like a no-nonsense boss in her pantsuit that’s somehow demure yet unbelievably sexy.

Tonight is the meeting with the Chos, and despite my vehement arguments against Nora coming, she refused to take no for an answer. I’m trying to see things from her perspective, to view our love as a strength and not a weakness. Besides, I have to admit, Nora is good at this. She’s good at the business side of running the company and she’s an astute negotiator. Together we make quite a formidable team.

I want to be a Pakhan who rules with my wife by my side, not as a trophy but as an equal. So as much as I hate putting her in danger, she won the argument to join tonight.

“I’m ready as I’ll ever be. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes,” she says determinedly, her flaming red hair framing her wrathful face like an archangel of fury. “If there’s even a small chance of my father being there, I want to look him in the eyes as he dies. I want him to know why.”

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re mad?”

“If you think this is mad, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” she quips back.

God, I love this fearless, brave woman.

We’re heading into the meeting with only Nikolai and one other man as backup. No doubt we’ll be forced to hand over our weapons at the door. If things go south, we have men close by ready to attack, but there’s still the risk they could be too late.

***

When we arrive at the rendezvous point, Mr. Cho, an elderly man whose white hair and small stature belies his deadly reputation, greets us.

“Pakhan Belyh, thank you for accepting my invitation,” he says cordially.

Next to him is a beautiful young woman with raven black hair and delicate features and a young man with red hair and features that are somehow familiar, despite the fact I have no idea who he is.

“This is my daughter and her husband. I don’t believe you have met, but your wife, of course, knows him well,” he adds, turning his attention to Nora.

Nora sharply inhales and she’s gone deathly pale as if seeing a ghost.

“Hello, sister,” the man says.

Chapter 47

Nora

Iwas prepared for a confrontation with my father today, to end things once and for all, but instead, I’m greeted by my twin brother, Cillian, who I haven’t seen since we were fifteen.

“What are you doing here, Cillian?” I ask warily. I’m confused, my brother and father never got on despite Cillian being his golden boy. It reached a head when Cillian ran away during the school summer break. Rather than try and search for his son, my father acted as if he was dead. Without Cillian as a buffer, my father’s treatment of me got worse.

Leo squeezes my hand, tense and ready to strike should I wish it.

“Please, sit down, we have a lot to discuss,” he says gently.

We do as instructed, accepting the offer of drinks. Neither Leo nor I was prepared for this. I look around the room, and a thought causes a chill to shoot up my spine. I suppose it makes sense that my father would have married Cillian off to secure an alliance with the Chinese mob, but I still feel blindsided by his presence. Was Cillian another pawn in my father’s game, or was he equally involved?

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