Gilded Tears: A Russian Mafia Romance (Kovalyov Bratva Book 2) by Nicole Fox (novels to read for beginners txt) 📗

“I am not my uncle,” I tell him quietly. “I do not plan on earning loyalty with fear.”

“I may not have wanted to follow your uncle,” Anton says. “But I still cannot help you.”

I pause and look the man in the eye. He’s frightened, of course, but still proud. Still strong. He is not yet a lost cause.

So I take a chance.

I make a decision.

I lower my gun and put it away.

Somewhere in the afterlife, my father smiles proudly.

Put away the gun and use your brain, he once told me. I thought that was dumb advice then. And yet here I am.

“Listen to me, Anton,” I tell him. “Once I take back the Bratva, I will look after my men. That protection extends to their families.”

Anton tilts his head. Still cautious, but curious. Starting to sway, I think.

“I am no angel,” I continue. “When a man betrays me, he will pay for it. But I will not exact revenge on his family. On the innocent. That is not how I intend to lead.”

Anton closes his eyes for a moment. Weighing what I’m saying and what it means for him and his family.

“Fuck,” he says as he opens them.

That’s all it takes to tell me he’s made his choice. He’s chosen to follow the true don.

He’s chosen to follow me.

“I am not a part of the big meetings, the important ones,” Anton sighs, confirming what Maxim has already told me. “But I do know one thing that might be useful to you.”

“Go on.”

“He’s planning on initiating a don’s council meeting soon,” Anton tells me. “He wants to legitimize his claim, and to do that—”

“He needs to be recognized by the other dons as a don in his own right,” I finish.

Anton nods.

“When is this meeting?” I ask.

“A week from tomorrow,” he replies. “I don’t know when or where.”

“No, but I might.” I nod and tuck my gun away. “Thank you for this information.”

I turn to leave. My back is exposed and if there was ever a time to strike me down and rid himself of the anxiety of picking sides, it’s now.

But I have a feeling that his decision is firm.

Anton says nothing as I stride away. My hand is on the doorknob when I hear him call after me.

“You’re just going to leave?”

I turn to him, smirking. “Do you want to offer me tea?”

“I… You don’t know what I’ll do after you leave,” he points out in disbelief. “What if I call Budimir and tell him that you’re alive? That you’re coming after him?”

I shrug. “Sometimes to gain trust, you have to give it,” I tell him. I look directly at him and our eyes meet. “Time to choose a side, Anton.”

Then I walk out of his house and leave him to his decision. I know I’ve just taken a huge risk, but I feel good about it.

Even if Anton betrays me to Budimir, they don’t know where I am or where I’m operating from. My men are careful and all are on high alert.

I’ve got my spies in well-placed positions. I’m confident in the risk I’ve taken.

I did what a don must do.

Stanislav would be proud.

Once I’ve driven back into the main town, I make another call. It takes a while before I hear a silky voice on the other line.

“Well, well, look who it is.”

“Svetlana,” I reply. “How are things?”

She chuckles. “I think you’ll be pleased,” she says. “Budimir has engaged my services for tonight. It’ll be the third time this week.”

I try to control my excitement. “Fucking perfect,” I growl. “Has he given anything away?”

“Not a thing,” Svetlana says. “He’s still tight-lipped around me. All I know is that he has an important meeting coming up next week. He gets hard every time he talks about it.”

“With you?”

“He gets hard with me all the time. Most men do.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. “I meant who does he talk about the meeting with, ‘Lana.”

“With his men,” she replies. “But I’m around.”

Hell fucking yes. Things are coming together.

“Any info on this meeting he’s so excited about?” I press.

“Not yet, but tonight I’m accompanying him to a business event.”

“A business event?” I repeat.

“That’s what he called it,” she says. “I imagine I’ll have more information for you tomorrow.”

I clench my fist, thrilled by a day of positive progress. “Good job, Svetlana. I knew I made the right decision with you.”

“You bet your ass you did,” she says. I notice the new confidence in her tone. “Oh, and Artem?”

“Yes?”

“I want a raise.”

I raise my eyebrows. “The amount I’ve offered you is pretty fucking generous.”

“The last time we were together, I sucked Budimir’s cock twice,” she says matter-of-factly.

I cringe. “Jesus. Fine. You’ll get what you want.”

I can practically see the smile of triumph on her face. “Thanks, boss,” she says sweetly.

Then the line goes silent.

Whatever. It was fucking worth it. Clearly, Budimir has no idea that Svetlana is a plant. But he will soon enough.

If the information I’ve been given pans out, the don’s council meeting is only a week away.

The perfect fucking time to make my move.

34

Esme

At The Beach, Later That Afternoon

“Wow, it’s nice out here,” Artem says, looking out at the ocean, sprawled out before us like a meadow made of blues and greens.

“Nice?” I exclaim in astonishment. “It’s much more than nice, you Neanderthal.”

He laughs. “I forget how much you love the sea.”

I breathe in the fresh ocean air. I can taste the salt on my tongue.

“It makes you feel like you’re in another world,” I explain. “Like, for as long as you’re standing in the sand with water at your feet, you’re free.”

“Do you feel so trapped?” he asks.

I take his hand. “Not anymore.”

He leans in and presses his lips against mine. So soft that, for a moment, I can barely feel him.

Then the kiss deepens and my only desire is to press myself against him.

But Phoenix gurgles between us, strapped to my chest with the