“You wanna know something, Zoya?” Sergei scoots to the edge of the seat, getting all serious. “This guy…when you sent the picture to me, I was sure he was a dead man. According tomy sources, there was talk around that your husband killed him about five to six years ago. But you said you saw him. So how would a dead man come back to life?”
I shake my head in confusion. “That makes no sense.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Sergei whispers. “But he’s alive, and I know that for a fact.” He hands me a couple of printed notes from his pocket before continuing. “He’s been hiding from the Pakhan for a long time, which is why he keeps such a low profile.”
I narrow my eyes and look at Sergei. “Then how do you know he’s alive? How are you certain he’s the same person I saw?”
Sergei puts his hands down with a slap on the table. “That’s because I have my sources, Zoya. And yeah, there are some things that will fly under the radar for the Bratva. But I have an insider in the group.”
“An insider? Can you connect me to this ‘insider’?” I say, putting air quotes with my fingers.
“No can do, sweetheart,” Sergei says sweetly. “If I get any more involved, I’m a dead man. The most I can do is hand over the information. But first, why do you think your husband is looking for him?”
I shrug.
“There was a peace deal years ago between the Georgian families and the Romanov Bratva,” Sergei starts. “Everyone was present at that meeting, and it was supposed to end on a happy note. Trading was supposed to resume as usual, and they all looked forward to that. But something went sideways. Levan and a couple of other men, including Dato’s older brother, plotted and killed the elder, your husband’s father.”
“That same day, after the meeting was done, it was chaos,” Sergei continues after gauging my reaction. I just sit there, my mind all over the place. “I remember how tense everyone was that period when your husband was going on a rampage. Andthen he killed Levan. The fight was so intense on the day Alexei found out that it was Levan and Dato’s older brother who did it.”
“I never thought that battle would come to an end, and I’m surprised he’s very tame at the moment. Your husband is referred to as a demon on the streets. But I guess even demons can be tamed.” He pauses, looking at me. “I don’t know. You’re kind of a little demon yourself.”
I wave him off. “Okay, stop. You’re going off track. Do you know what else happened?”
Sergei rolls his eyes and continues. “After the hit, Levan vanished. He faked his death, got a new name, and moved away. The Bratva and your husband thought he was dead or too scared to ever show his face again. But a guy like Levan doesn't just retire after killing the old boss. He went into hiding to wait for the perfect time to come back and take out your husband.”
The waitress comes back with cups of coffee and drops one in front of each of us.
“So what do you think?” I ask him. “Is he using Dato, or is he advising him?”
Sergei brings the cup of coffee to his lips. “Advising is a very generous word. Orchestrating is closer to it. Pushing his nephew to provoke the Bratva, to grab territory, and escalate conflict at every possible opportunity.”
He places the cup on the table gingerly and closes the folder. “This is revenge play at play, Zoya. Levan wants the Romanov Empire burned to the ground, and he’s using that unstable kid to light the match.”
I lean back into the seat, processing this information.
“Honestly,” Sergei continues, leaning back too, “this is getting brutal. I know in our circles, people disappear. People get hurt. Bodies wash up. That’s the work. But this…” He rubs his face with both hands. “I would suggest you drop this entirely. Your husband is in the dark business, and you’re a woman. Notsaying that you can’t handle yourself. I know you can. But he’s right about not telling you this. I mean, look at how reckless you’ve been. Since the time I’ve known you, you’ve been so reckless. I think it’s time you sit it out.”
He fixes me with a look that stays serious when I don’t say anything. “This is not a game, Zoya. Dato is known for his cruelty. He doesn’t differentiate between men and women when it comes to targets. He’s had children killed. Entire families, gone, to send a message.” Sergei’s voice drops. “I don’t think you’d survive being taken by him.”
Well, I did survive, I think, even though my mental health is a disaster and I still flinch when someone shoots an apple off a man’s skull for sport. But I wouldn’t sit idle and let that animal operate unchecked. Not after the stunts he pulled. Not after what I’ve seen.
“So he’s actually alive,” I murmur. “Where is he?”
Sergei exhales through his nose. “From my sources, he’s based somewhere outside Moscow. Since he’s the one pushing Dato to poke the Bratva, I’d say he’s positioning for a larger move.” He holds up both palms. “But beyond that, I don’t know. And I don’t want to know. I’m fifty-six years old, Zoya. Figure I got ten good years in me. I don’t wanna shorten it by five.”
When Sergei pauses, his expression changes. He kind of looks sheepish. “So there’s this woman I’ve been seeing,” he starts.
“Sergei!” I roll my eyes disbelievingly. “We’re in the middle of…”
He cuts me off. “She’s a bit young. About twenty-six. And she’s really interested in me and wants to start a family.” He smiles tenderly. “I don’t wanna ruin that by getting my throat opened in a parking lot somewhere.” Sergei takes his hand to take a sip of his espresso. “Plus, the sex is incredible.”
I close my eyes, trying to hold in my irritation. “Sergei, I don’t want to hear about your bedroom activities with a woman who’s more than half your age.”
“She does this thing where…”
“Sergei, stop!”
I stand up, grab my bag, gather the folder and notes, and stuff everything inside. “Thank you for the information. I mean it.”