She wants to find out. Nik, the most American of her Russian immigrant family, could be the dark horse in this competition. Irina is not taking bets.
“What do we have to do to win?” he asks cautiously. The first one to ask the right question.
“Whichever one of you marries first will inherit control of the Orlov empire,” Irina says simply, and watches this bombshell explode. Maxim scowls. The twins share an unreadable glance. They have always had their own language.
“Married? Isn’t that extreme?” Nikolai sulks.
“This is bullshit,” Max curses. He whips out his cell phone and strides to the door. Apparently his call goes to voicemail. “Alisa. Get your ass on the next plane to Vegas.”
Irina wants to laugh. She knows full well that no matter how perfectly a bratva princess might be trained, no woman likes to be ordered around like a dog. A lesson Kon had to learn the hard way, too. Hereyes burn with a rush of sudden tears. She blinks them away.
“That is not all,” she says. “I must approve of your chosen wife. Don’t think you can fool me by faking a marriage, either.”
“Shit.” Luka pockets his phone. “There goes that plan.”
Nikolai watches all of this with dark, hooded eyes. Then he turns on his heel and strides out. Irina tips her head. What is that boy plotting?
Beside her, Lilia bursts into laughter.
“Jesus, Mom. You must be desperate for grandchildren if you’re forcing them to do this. Watch Nik kidnap a mom and baby just to prove he can beat his brothers for once.” She shakes her fair head in disbelief. “This is diabolical.”
Irina pats her daughter’s hand gently. “You don’t worry about the boys. Just go back to New York and finish your law degree. We need you to protect the family’s interests in court. I sense that things are about to turn very ugly for us. And Lilia?”
“Yes, Mom?”
“Watch your back. All the time, everywhere you go. I will request the Volkov faction guard you. They may agree. Or not.”
“I will. Promise. I have no intention of getting myself kidnapped. I have a competitive internship in anti-money laundering this summer.”
Oh, the irony.
“Good. Your brothers will have their hands full for a while. They cannot protect you.” She squeezes herdaughter’s hand. “Until we know who is hunting our family, you must take care.”
Any levity in the room dies. Everyone stares at Kon’s casket.
“Let’s get Father to the cemetery,” says Max grimly. “We’ll sort out the succession once I track down Alisa.”
Still too confident. But Nikolai is clearly taking action. The question is, which of them will prevail? Or will one of the brilliant twins come out on top?
Irina looks forward to finding out. A motivation to keep living despite the immense loss she has suffered. If all goes well, there will be new life. Babies with Kon’s ice-blue eyes and strong jaw. Weddings.
She takes Lilia by the hand and leads her family out into the bright Nevada sun to bury her beloved husband.
1
SIERRA
LATER THAT DAY IN LOS ANGELES…
I steer the white sedan markedCleaning Servicecarefully through the gates of the biggest house on the roster. One false move and I’ll either damage the company’s car, or the expensive landscaping. I can’t afford an accident.
Ordinarily there are two of us, but my usual partner is sick today. As hourly employees we don’t get paid time off, and Luiza’s immigration status makes her vulnerable to exploitation. I know she could be fired for missing a day, so I offered to cover for her absence by coming alone. After all, there’s never anyone home at the Morozov mansion in Beverly Crest, an area tucked away in the Santa Monica Mountains. Twice a week we come here to vacuum nonexistent dirt from the pristine floors, wipe away invisible dust, and change sheets in the one occupied bedroom.
Getting past security always involves scanning badges and checking with remote guards before I can do my job. Despite the way this place is locked downlike Fort Knox, it’s one of my favorite jobs. Easy. If I miss a spot, no one ever complains. The house is a second home for a rich Russian family. I have no idea where their primary residence is. A woman named Alisa lives here at least some of the time. I know this much from the mail I see stacked in the kitchen.
I unhook the vacuum cleaner cord and get to work. Working alone, it takes longer to scrub all nine bathrooms, even though my effort is perfunctory. I keep an eye on the time, rushing as much as I can. This is my last job for the day, and I’d rather not get stuck in traffic at rush hour. I’ve been awake since before dawn.
In the bedroom, I’m cleaning the window when my hand slows to a halt. Wistfully, I peer down into the large pool below.