CHAPTER
SEVEN
JOZEF
Quick glances to the passenger seat over the last twenty minutes is all I allow myself right now. Aisling is sitting there, hands wringing and breathing obviously elevated as we make this drive to my brother's place.
When I got here to New York right behind my brother, I vowed not to bring this to his doorstep, but after what I learned a couple of days ago, I have no choice. I will do anything to protect my family, including the one thing I didn't want to do.
Making that call to Jakub was hard even though I knew he would do anything for me.
“Zef, baby brother. Where are you? Is everything ok?” Shit. Do I want to do this? “Zef?” his voice is becoming panicked the more I wait to answer.
“Hey Jak.” Lame I know but I always want to make him proud. How is he going to feel knowing I kept all of this from him?
“What’s wrong? I am putting on my shoes. Where are you?”
“Jak slow down. I am fine, but I have a problem.” his breathing is ratcheting up and I can hear the anger and readiness in him gearing up.
“You can ask me for anything. Anything Zef. Tell me.”
“My woman is pregnant and she is in trouble.”
“Woman? Pregnant? Well shit. First off congratulations. I didn't know you were seeing anyone. Second, what kind of trouble?”
“Her boss is Stepan Popov.” I am holding my breath waiting for what I don’t know. My brother would never shy away from a fight and I know this. I guess knowing he is now working for someone else has me a little unsure how things have changed.
“Are you fucking kidding me?! We have been trying to get to him for weeks. Tell me everything.”
Thirty minutes later I have filled him in on everything I know and all my guys and I have found out. “Well shit baby brother, you are really needed here. With what you know, you have learned more as a three man team, than the six men I have had on it in weeks.” My chest puffs out a bit with the praise from him. My brother is my role model. I look up to him. I have always wanted to be like him. Still do. He is loyal, fierce, and scared of nothing and no one. “Tell me what you need.”
“I need some men, Jak. I need more muscle. I can't be in all places at all times. I can get more ground covered if I have help.” Once again I am hit with silence and I think maybe I have overstepped.
“I have no problem giving you what you need, but, this is going to blow back on us once I send my men to you. I am essentially standing beside you in a war with the Popov’s and that is no problem because we were headed there but for different reasons. What you need to consider though is that I have intel that says they’re trafficking operation is connected to the import and export portion of the Byrne Crime Syndicate.” Oh fuck. The Irish are ruthless and if they are in bed with the Russians, there is a bigger stake at play.
“So what are you saying Jak?”
“I am saying I am willing to put our organization on the line and I know Giulia will back my play, but you have to be ready to pledge your allegiance to the DeSantis’.” I knew it was coming. There is no way he would be able to supply me with that kind of power and I would not have to make the choice.
“Consider it done.” I don’t hesitate. I probably should have, right? I mean there is Aisling to consider but it was never going to be any other choice. I was always going to follow my brother. Either way, this life is going to be her life.
“Very well. How many do you need?”
“How many can you spare?”
He sighs, clearly exasperated by my back and forth. “Zef, tell me what you need.”
“I need at least six but eight would be great.”
“I will send you ten. Consider it done. You need to be here in two hours to make this final.”
“No problem.”
“What are we doing about your queen brother? She can’t continue to stay exposed. He is the worst of the vermin. He destroys them, Zef.”
“I know. I bought us some time but it is quickly running out.”
“You are always welcome to bring her here.” Thank fuck.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Anything. Ever.” See why I would follow him into a burning building?
“Kocham cie.” I tell him I love him and hang up. Time to join the family.
That was a couple of days ago. Now I am driving to my brother's compound to take my future wife there for her safety and she is not happy about it. “Baby it is going to be ok.” I place my hand on hers so she stops squeezing her hands so hard. They are starting to turn red.