Page 75 of Blood & Snow
He gestures toward a quieter corner of the room.
"When you have a moment."
I nod, and he moves away.
Nadya's grip tightens on her glass.
"Was that…?"
"The Pakhan. Yes."
She swallows hard.
"He seems…"
"Dangerous? He is. That's why he's still alive."
I guide her toward a group of lieutenants standing near the massive fireplace.
Igor catches my eye and nods. Ivan raises his glass in greeting.
These are men I trust, or at least men I trust more than the others in this room.
"Xander," Igor says as we approach.
"Good to see you."
"Igor. Ivan."
I keep my hand on Nadya's lower back and nod at them.
"You remember Nadya."
Both men return my nod politely.
We've all worked sideby side a number of times, but bringing her here is different.
This is social.
This is personal.
"Lovely dress," Ivan's wife says, appearing beside him with perfect timing.
She's been doing this dance for ten years, knows exactly when to smooth over awkward moments.
"That color suits you."
Nadya smiles, the first genuine one I've seen from her tonight.
"Thank you."
The conversation flows around safe topics—the weather, holiday plans, nothing that matters.
I listen with half my attention while scanning the room.
Other crews are here, men from different territories who normally wouldn't be in the same building without bloodshed.
Leonid's holiday gatherings serve multiple purposes, and information gathering is one of them.
