Sean puts in his two cents. “You can’t have her. She’s not going to be abused anymore.”
″She’s my cousin. The Popov family kidnapped her and I want her back.”
″We’ll set up a drop off,” I say.
Sean only releases a growl. He knows not to argue in front of the enemy. It shows weakness.
Declan finishes the call, and Sean stands up, fists clenched. “You’re just going to believe him? What if she doesn’t want to go back? We’re not giving her to a piece of shit Russian.”
I love my baby brother, I do, but he constantly toes the line of being good to make up for the bad our family business causes and protecting the underdog. It will never end if I don’t put my foot down.
Haley comes first, before his pet projects. If he doesn’t feel for Yulia what I feel for Haley then he doesn’t get to protest my decision. We are struggling to keep peace with the Bratva and that means we need to make sure Vaska Semonov is happy.
Yulia is just the unlucky pawn in this large game of chess.
I glance toward Paddy and Declan, then back to Sean. “Do you love her?”
″What?” Sean hesitates.
″Do you love her, Sean?” I step closer to him until faces are almost touching. I cross my arms over my chest, so that I don’t lose my shit on my baby brother. I have to save my anger those who truly deserve it.
″Do you love this woman? Would you burn down the city for her? Would you stop breathing if she died? Would you kill yourself before you allowed someone to harm her?
″Because I would serve my head on a stake to save Haley. I would set the entire world on fire, and watch her rise through the ashes, and I would end anyone responsible for misplacing a single hair on her head. And I’m not going to end this war until I know she is safe.”
Sean gulps but doesn’t respond.
″Good. Yulia is going back to her cousin, and you can shut the fuck up and get back to the zoning permits I need to break ground in Seattle. We need to be able to start construction in two weeks. Our timeline has just been moved up.”
An hour later I’m sitting in the back of the SUV on the tarmac as Semonov steps off his private jet. I exhale, bringing my glass of whiskey to my lips to finish what’s left of it.
I step out of the car and I close it before Yulia can step out. Despite Sean’s reaction earlier, Yulia had been excited to return to New York with Vaska.
Vaska will owe me for a while after this.
The dark-haired Russian stands close to the steps of his plane and grins as he stuffs his hands into the pocket of his tailored, black suit.
″Nice to meet you, Murphy,” he says as I approach.
″Wish I could say the same, Semenov.” My jaw clenches as I try to remain calm. I focus on keeping my breathing steady. “I’m not exactly jumping for joy that you thought the best way to contact me was by threatening my girlfriend.”
″I expected it to be more effective than it was.”
″Yes, well it would have been. She was injured that evening, so things slipped between the cracks. I’m still trying to figure out why I should hand over Yulia. You’ve already crossed the line. If you were anyone else, I’d have killed you by now.”
″Yes, I know. The doctor is off limits.” He rolls his eyes, waving me off in a dismissive tone. “I’m here because we have the same problems. Aside from Yulia.”
″And what are those issues?”
″Popov needs dealing with. I need him gone and so do you. He kidnapped my cousin and her daughter. I need your help getting rid of him.”
″I’m working on a turf treaty with him,” I say. Do you think I’m interested in rocking the boat?”
Semenov huffs in irritation. “I would be a better leader than he is. Ask Declan.”
″It’s not about what the Irish think. Will his men accept you? Follow your lead? It’s too risky for me. You get rid of him yourself, then we’ll discuss an alliance.”
He crosses his arms, a scowl on his face. “Declan says you’re a man of reasoning. I hoped we could have come to an arrangement together. You don’t want me on your bad side.”