The War

ALEKSANDR

I left Kaia on the cliffs and spent the next few hours in the city, finally attending the meetings I’d been avoiding for days. I was in desperate need of a distraction, and being in the same house as Kaia was proving to be more of a distraction than I could handle.

Seeing her on that cliff, with the wind whipping around her and tears staining her cheeks, stirred something in me I thought had died a long time ago. But having her in my house brought those feelings back to life.

Nadya never lived at the estate. I moved there shortly after her death because the memories of her were too much in our old house. Now, I wasn’t sure how I was going to go home and not think about the woman who was already there.

“How’s Kaia?” Marco asked, his gaze heavy on me from across the table.

We were sitting in Marco’s restaurant, a fancy Italian place called “Nero,” discussing our latest business venture. It was just the two of us, and the restaurant was empty since it was an hour before opening.

Marco thought it was the perfect time to ask me such a personal question. I looked up from the menu, keeping my face expressionless.

“What?”

Marco closed his menu and leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“You’ve been distracted since we sat down, Aleksandr,” he said. “That’s not like you. I figured it must be your pretty little captive. Is she giving you trouble?”

I snapped the menu shut, scowling at how easily Marco could read me. He just grinned and took a sip of his scotch, unfazed by my reaction.

Ever since Marco and I started doing business together over a year ago, we’d become friends. I initially thought he’d be a good match for Stasya before he got married.

But then I met Anya, and after seeing them together, I knew I had to find another way to align our interests. That’s how Marco’s right-hand man, Georgio—Gio for short—ended up engaged to Stasya.

Plus, those two couldn’t keep their hands off each other. I hadn’t seen my sister this happy in a long time, and I knew Gio played a big part in that. It was also why I agreed to partner with Marco on many new ventures. I knew I could trust him.

I opened my menu again, scanning the options.

“I’m going to marry her.”

Marco choked on his drink, quickly setting his glass down and wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Excuse me?” he asked, looking utterly confused.

I sighed, not wanting to explain but knowing Marco wouldn’t let it go unless I gave him something. So, I gave him a brief rundown of why I wanted to marry Kaia.

When I finished, Marco held up a hand.

“Wait a minute. You don’t even need the seat at the High Table,” he pointed out.

When I didn’t respond, Marco sighed.

“You don’t want anyone else to marry her,” he realized.

I nodded, seeing no point in denying it.

“And how does Kaia feel about all this?” Marco asked, frowning. “She seems innocent in all this, and now you’re dragging her directly—”

“I know what I’m doing, Don Marco,” I interrupted, causing Marco’s frown to deepen. “I don’t think I need to remind you that you did something similar by making a deal with Advani to marry your wife.”

I watched as Marco stiffened, then downed his drink and glared at me.

“You know Kaia is safer with me than she is out there on her own,” I pointed out. “She’ll be a target.”

Marco grimaced but knew I was right.

“She’s also a target with you,” he couldn’t help but remind me.

As if I could forget.

I signaled a waiter over. He quickly left his post at the corner of the room and hurried to our table.

After we ordered our food, I felt my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket. I pulled it out and saw Andrey was calling.

On my way to the restaurant, I had called him and given him some additional instructions.

“I need to take this,” I told Marco, standing up from the table.

Marco nodded.

“Of course.”

Stepping outside, I found Niko casually leaning against the Defender, a blunt in hand. He discarded it, crushing it under his boot before he swung open the back door for me.

I had faith in Marco, but there were certain things I liked to keep close to my heart. The moment the door shut, I answered the incoming call.

“Yes?”

“I located the sister,” Andrey’s voice echoed through the phone. “She’s in Ganza.”

I froze.

Ganza was a tiny fishing village not too far from Lipeshin. Why would Cristo’s men keep her so close to her home? Unless…she wasn’t with Cristo’s men.

“Is she alone?”

The sound of keyboard keys filled the silence.

“Facial recognition spotted her last week in Penza. She was with a man identified as Ilya Sokolov.”

“~Damn it.~” I muttered, dragging a hand over my face. “Send me the report. I need pictures.”

“Understood, boss,” Andrey responded before ending the call.

I took a deep breath. Exhaled slowly. Then I knocked on the window.

Niko slid into the driver’s seat, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Who’s the kid you mentioned is vying for Rostov’s spot at the High Table?”

Niko didn’t even flinch at the question.

“Ilya Sokolov,” he answered smoothly. “What’s wrong?”

I stared out the window.

“He’s got Kaia’s sister.”

Niko exhaled sharply, understanding the gravity of the situation.

A few months back, he’d brought me news of a power struggle for a seat at the High Table. I wasn’t one to get involved in High Table politics and only half-listened.

But I did remember Niko mentioning a young man, unaffiliated with any of the High Table members or the ~Vors.~ At the time, I hadn’t considered what would make this young man believe he could secure that seat.

But now… he had more than a fighting chance. He had the golden ticket.

I dialed the last number on my call list.

“Boss.”

“Erase everything. I don’t want any trails leading to Kaia’s sister in Ganza or Penza, understood?”

“~Yes.~”

“What’s your plan, Aleksandr?” Niko’s voice held a note of surprise. “Kaia will be looking for her sister.”

I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

“If Kaia discovers where Irina is, she’ll try to rescue her herself. Send Pavel and Philip instead,” I instructed. “Then gather all the information you can on Ilya Sokolov.”