CHAPTER 4: IVAN

A knock on my office door pulls me out of my fumbled thoughts. I mutter a "come in" and Nikolai, my personal guard and trusted man walks in with Pavel, another of my most trusted men, and my younger brother, Lev, right behind him.

“Did he talk yet?” I inquire from Nikolai and Pavel as Lev walks to the window with a blunt between his lips, indicating how stressed he must be. We're both alike in more ways than we'd like to admit.

"Not yet, boss. Whoever he works for sure pays him well."

"Doesn't look like he can hold on much longer, though." Pavel chips in.

"See if you can push harder, if not just finish him off and dump him where you left the other two last week." They both nod and exit my office while I think about the next line of action to take.

Just over a month ago, four consignments of valuable goods were stolen from the port upon arrival. Those goods cost millions to purchase and ship from South Africa. When I heard that my goods went missing I drove down there to confirm it.

No one has the slightest clue on where the containers disappeared to. Either that or they're pretending hence the reason for torturing the information out of the men who where on duty that night.

Firstly, I assumed that the containers were left out during the shipping from SA to begin with, but when I contacted my suppliers, they assured me that the containers got into the ship under their supervision. Someone is messing with my properties and until they're found, more bodies will continue turning up in this city.

I turn to Lev who's leaning on the book shelf, smirking at me and evidently done smoking his blunt.

"What's up with you?" I ask him, even though I know the source of the look on his face.

"What do you think, brother?" He lets out an amused laugh. "I heard from mum that you didn't show up for lunch with the Romano's. Did big Ivan get cold feets?"

Sighing, I grab a blunt for myself and walk to retrieve a lighter from Lev. In my defense I didn't know mum and dad had planned to have lunch with the Romano's in Moscow when I went to visit. The plan was that the meeting would be here in New York since it would be more convenient for i and Lucia. And it's not like I haven't personally apologized to Lorenzo Romano.

I was surprised to hear that they were in Moscow last week but frankly didn't care to join them when dad texted. I got an earful from mum after they had left but I wasn't really bothered.

The only reason I'm in accordance with this stupid marriage is because dad is going to be retiring as the bratva head and it's only natural to assume that title as his first son. In order to fully become a Pakhan, tradition states that marriage is a must. It shows that one is responsible and is fully ready to take on the burdens that comes with being the mafia. Marriage isn't something that ever crossed my mind, but looking at how necessary it is, I doubt I have much of a choice.

With the union of the Italian and Russian families, excess power will be at our fingertips.

"I didn't chicken out if that's what you mea-"

"You hate her then." He interrupts.

"I don't hate her." I say through clenched teeth. I don't know why I get so angry anytime I'm reminded of Lucia and our marriage. I know I don't hate her, hell! She hasn't even done anything to me. It's just the thought that in order to take over from my dad, I'll have to be bound to someone for life. That reason alone pisses me off.

Hopefully she'll be a menace in the marriage so I'll have no other option but to slit her throat open and be rid of that problem. That realization puts me at ease immediately.

"If you say so." Lev laughs and pulls away from the book shelf with his hands in his pockets. "Mum said dinner's on Friday, anyway. Be nice to your bride, Ivan, and make conversations." He says as he walks out of the door while adjusting his perfectly pressed beige suit. Everyone knows how much I hate people. They're just too annoying.

If not for my line of work, I doubt I'd ever put myself in the position to come in contact with people. I'm not much of a talker which makes a lot of people see me as quiet and mean. Not like I am complaining. When I'm calm and quiet, no one knows what exactly goes on in my head. I can be chill one minute and the complete opposite the next. Which is why Lev had to make it clear to actually engage in a conversation with my bride at dinner.

I put out what's left of my blunt, wanting a clear head as I go about my day. There's a lot to do and think about, two of which includes picking out a restaurant for a proper meeting with the Romano's and getting to the root of who's responsible for the disappearance of my goods.