Stas is the next to vote, “I vote Ilya.”
Ilya’s brow furrows. “Not sure that’s the best idea. I’m not pakhan material.”
“Konstantin for me,” Denis says.
I glance at Konstantin. “Ilya gets my vote.”
It all comes down to Yaroslav as if he votes Ilya, then it will be a draw. He clears his throat. “I agree that Konstantin should be pakhan.”
I clap my hands. “That’s decided then. Konstantin is pakhan and Ilya will be his Sovietnik.” I purse my lips together. “You will need to appoint a new boyevik.”
Konstantin nods. “Leave it to me.”
A sense of grief settles in my gut as I realize I’m walking away from everything my father built. Hell, I’m not just going to be walking, I’m going to be running. Chased out of my birth city by the man I wanted to bring down.“And don’t let this information go to waste.” I shove the ledgers we stole of Grigory’s into Konstantin’s chest. “Promise you will make him pay.”
Konstantin looks emotional as he nods. “I promise.” We’ve known each other since we were kids, so it’s hard to believe I won’t see him again after today.
“If that’s all, it’s settled.” I stand and that’s when I hear someone cock a gun.
I glance up to see Denis is pointing his handgun at me. “No, I think I’ll take the reward instead. Dead or alive, it said. Why do you get to run off and leave us in this shit?”
Konstantin moves toward Denis. “Don’t be a fool—”
He points the gun at him. “Don’t defend the asshole.”
While he’s distracted, I pull my own gun on him, switching off the safety. Without a word of warning to ensure he doesn’t realize I’m about to kill him, I shoot him in the head, blood splattering everywhere.
Ilya, Yaroslav and Stas stare in disbelief at how fast I put him down.
Konstantin, on the other hand, just gives me an appreciative nod. “Thanks, pakhan.”
I shake my head. “I’m not your pakhan anymore. It looks like you need to appoint two new boyeviks.”
He walks up to me and takes my hand, pulling me against him. “Take care, brother.”
I return the embrace, clapping him on the back. “You too.”
Ilya is next to approach me. “You are insane to do this for a girl.”
Instead of acknowledging his opinion, I take his hand and shake. “Take care, Ilya.”
He sighs. “And you.”
I say my goodbyes to Yaroslav and Stas, but I know that I can’t trust either of them, particularly not Yaroslav. Quickly, I make my exit and head to the safety of my home, confident that Grigory will quickly learn the truth, that I intend to flee with his daughter.
If they believed me, it will send Grigory on a wild goose chase trying to find us in Ukraine. If not, then we have to hope and pray that we make it out before his men find us.
17
ANYA
I’m lying on the bed in the spare room, having a little rest. I can’t deny that it can get a little boring not being able to go out at all. At least at home, I was allowed to go out with an escort.
Sighing, I roll over to find Valery is standing in the doorway. The look in his eyes puts me on edge as I sit up.
“Hey, printessa,” he says.
I smile at him. “Hey.” My brow furrows. “What’s wrong?”