Page 55 of Wicked Sinner
"You need someone's support," Konstantin corrects. "And right now, you're dangerously isolated. Your father's old lieutenants are still deciding whether to follow you or seek other opportunities. The other families are watching to see if you can establish yourself as a legitimate leader."
"I'm establishing myself just fine."
"Are you?" Konstantin looks at me narrowly. "Because from where I sit, it looks like you're wasting time on a pregnant mechanic while real opportunities slip away."
The casual dismissal of Bridget makes my blood boil, but I force myself to remain calm. Not to mention the fact that Konstantin is clearly aware that I’ve been buying time. I clearly haven’t fooled him for a second. "My personal life is my own business."
"Not when it affects the stability of the organization," Tristan says. "Konstantin's right—you need allies. And you need them now."
"Why now?" I ask. "What's the urgency?"
Konstantin and Tristan exchange a look, and I can see a silent communication passing between them.
"There's been some chatter," Konstantin says finally. "Intelligence suggesting that some of your father's old allies might be stirring."
I frown. “And this is a bad thing?”
"Do you remember a man with the last name of Slakov?" Konstantin asks.
I shake my head. “My father must not have worked with him before I left.”
“Russian, as I’m sure you guessed from the last name.” Konstantin steeples his fingers. "He and your father had some business dealings starting about fifteen years ago. Import/export operations, mostly legitimate on the surface."
"Slakov was ambitious," Tristan continues. "Too ambitious. He started making moves against some of Konstantin's operations not all that long ago, trying to expand his territory."
"So you had him killed," I guess.
"My wife killed him," Konstantin corrects with a slight smile. "Valentina has always been very protective of our interests."
I’ve heard stories about Konstantin's wife—a former assassin who gave up the life for marriage and motherhood. Slakov must have been one of her last targets.
“Slakov had a son that we never found,” Konstantin continues. "Matvey. Managed to disappear before we could tie up loose ends."
I frown, for once, all the drama surrounding my potential marriage is the last thing on my mind. “And you think—what? He’s going to come back for revenge?”
“Anything is possible.” Konstantin lets out a breath. “There hasn’t been anything concrete yet, but I’ve had men looking for him, and we still haven’t been able to track him down. We had some leads a few months ago, a sighting in Georgia, but he’s no longer there so far as we can tell. So he’s in the wind, which is always something to be concerned about.”
“And this affects my situation how?”
“Slakov may not be the worst enemy we’ve faced, but we need a strong, united front to deal with any threat. We can’t have lieutenants and former allies questioning where they stand in all of this, wondering if they owe you allegiance or not, questioning my decisions or Tristan’s. You need to secure your position. Restore alliances, build your power base. A strong marriage would go a long way toward stabilizing your situation."
"To Isabella Torrino." My jaw clenches. “Just say what you want to say.”
"To someone," Konstantin replies flatly. "Though Isabella would be an excellent choice."
I let out a breath, trying to process the implications. If there really is a threat from Matvey Slakov, then I need to be prepared. But that doesn't mean I'm willing to sacrifice Bridget because of this. Nor am I willing to be maneuvered just because there may be a threat.
“I’ll consider what my next move should be,” I say finally, as noncommittally as possible, and I see Konstantin’s mouth thin.
"Don't think too long," Konstantin warns. "Vincent is getting impatient, and we can't afford to offend him unnecessarily."
Tristan shrugs, eyeing me from his seat. “Or you could just relinquish it, Caesar, if it’s all getting to be too much. Run off with your mechanic and live happily ever after. I’ll happily take over and run it all. I’m sure I’d do an excellent job?—”
My jaw tightens. “Fuck off, O’Malley?—”
“Enough!” Konstantin raises his voice, and we both fall silent. “Tristan, don’t bait him. Caesar, my patience is thin. Tristan has proven to me that my confidence in him was well-placed. I may make the decision for you if you don’t do something soon.”
“Understood.” I grind the word out from between my teeth, standing up to leave. I force myself to shake Konstantin’s hand, knowing better than to be rude in this present moment, but I want to slap his hand away. My patience is running thin, too.
