“No, you shouldn’t.” Viktor pauses. “I assume it was because of–what happened the night before you left? That things have changed between the two of you?”
“We did–” I hesitate. “We did spend the night together. And I did let it cloud my judgment. But no, things haven’t changed. I told Sasha as much. It–it was also a mistake. I’ve made too many of them recently.”
“Christ, man,” Levin cuts in, his voice rough. “I hope you didn’t fucking say that to her. Amistake? Has no one taught you how to talk to women?”
“I was a priest, so no,” I tell him dryly. “But of course, I didn’t tell her it was a mistake–just that it can’t happen again. It was one night. You should know how those go–you’ve had plenty of them.”
Viktor coughs on the other end, and I can hear him turning away, muffling laughter.
“Funny,” Levin grunts. “I had a wife, too, once. A wife I can’t see myself ever replacing with another woman or finding anyone else who could hold a candle to her. A wife I still miss to this day. So I take care of my needs and my woman for the nights–and move on. I’m not the one throwing away a future with both hands.”
The line goes silent for a moment, and then Viktor cuts in.
“Alright. Max, I need you to stay in touch with me. I know you’ve been busy worrying over Sasha, but a week without an update is too long.” He pauses. “I’ve talked with Luca about all of this. I know you don’t like that–us talking about you without you present, but it was necessary. His territory borders mine, and it’s likely this fuck looking for you is going to move through it. That being said–understand me here, Max. Luca agrees that what you’re doing is foolish.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“And I’m not laughing,” Viktor says sharply. “I’ve given you my protection for a long time now, Max. I’ve had your back. Now Luca thinks–and I’m not entirely not of this mind myself–that it’s time you gave as good as you’ve gotten. The Agosti fortune and influence are at your fingertips. I have connections to the old world through Caterina, but Luca’s family is newer and not as established as hers. He thinks another old family name allied with us would be a great boon for all of us–and again…I agree with him. The Agosti name holds weight in all of Europe and beyond. The three of us together could do great things.”
I can feel my patience fraying. “I don’t want to do great things,” I snap, my voice low and harsh. “I want to make up for the wrong I’ve already done. I want to serve others in whatever capacity I can. I want to help, not destroy. All wealth and power does is eat the men who hold it alive, from the inside out.”
“Is that so?” Viktor’s voice darkens. “Wouldn’t you say I’ve gotten better since you’ve known me, Max? Not worse? That was Caterina’s goal, after all. I’m sure she’d be disappointed to hear you think otherwise.”
“You’re the exception.”
“And Luca? Liam? Connor? Are they men rotting from the inside out from their wealth and power?” The sarcasm drips from Viktor’s voice. “You don’t want to speak so rashly about the men who are still your friends, Max.”
“Luca sells party drugs,” I say tightly. “Addiction on demand. Liam and Connor traffick weapons–sure, some of them are in support of the Irish Cause, or what’s left of it. Still, the rest go to cartels and warlords terrorizing their countries. None of you are left without blood on your hands. And I want no part of it.”
“Yours are plenty bloody too,kanka,” Levin growls. “That’s how you got into thisblyamess.”
“There is blood on my hands, sure. And I don’t plan to add to it. I want to spend the time I have trying to fucking wash it clean.” I can hear the anger seeping into my own voice, an anger that I don’t usually allow free.
“With the Agosti name and connections at your command, you could better protect Sasha with that influence,” Viktor says smoothly. “You’re cutting yourself off at the feet, Max. Relying on nothing but your own capabilities to protect what you love most. And where has that gotten you in the past?”
“Careful.” I can feel my other hand curling into a fist, my muscles tensing with rising anger. “You’re close to crossing a line.”
“Priests abjure violence.” Levin’s voice is equally smooth. “You broke that vow already, Max. You broke your vow of chastity. Now you cling to the vow of poverty–for what? To prove a point?”
“Because I don’t want the future that my family name holds for me!” I snap angrily. “They demanded I enter the priesthood, so I did. I put on the collar for my family, and I took it off for them. Now they want to hassle me even from the grave? No. They chose my path for me, and all I can do is follow it to the end.”
“It’s not all you can do. And you’d be a better man if you forged your own.” Levin’s voice holds a thick, heavy disappointment that hurts to hear, even through my anger. “Viktor, I’m getting off now. You can fill me in later.”
There’s a click, and I hate that I can feel what that means, that Levin’s abrupt departure holds so much weight.
“You could be a man worthy of her,” Viktor says quietly. “A man who could truly protect her, give her the life she deserves.”
“That has nothing to do with money or prestige.” My voice is tight, and harsh. “I won’t keep breaking my vows, no matter the temptation. And Sasha deserves better than the life you forced her into.”
“Be that as it may.” Viktor goes quiet for a moment, and I think that maybe I’ve gone too far–spoken too rashly.
“We’ll continue looking for the man and his cohorts here,” Viktor continues. “And I’ll keep you updated. Do the same for me, please. Any changes, any information–anything at all, call me. We’ll put an end to this.”
There’s silence for a moment, and I’m not unaware of the trust he’s placing in me–the gift that this is. I’ve said enough on this call out of frustration and anger at how he and the others are pushing me to make him break ties with me altogether, and I know it. But he’s not doing that, and I’m grateful.
“I’ll tell you if anything at all happens of interest,” I assure him finally. “For now, I’ll just focus on keeping Sasha safe here.”
“You do that.”