Lethal полностью

Roman shook his head, eyeing me with concern.

“Who could be powerful enough to pull that many soldiers together?”

“None of the Six Families would be suicidal enough to try this openly,” he agreed. “But working with another organization…”

“One of the cartels?” I ask, “Mafia? The Irish?”

His jaw tightens. “That’s what I’ll find out. Whoever they are, they’ll pay dearly for killing our parents. I will burn every one of them to ash.”

Finally realizing our parents are gone breaks me, and I wrap my arms around my stomach, rocking back and forth as I weep. I think my brother is trying to comfort me, but his voice is just static.

“Miss Tatiana?”

Lev is leaning over me, his hand braced on my headrest. 

“You know, my father was always the one who insisted you call me Miss Tatiana,” I said. I’ve been crying and staring out the window and crying some more for the last six hours. “Maybe you could drop the ‘miss’ and just call me by my name?”

He looks a little alarmed by my suggestion, finally nodding and smiling. “Tatiana.”

“Thank you.” I don’t recognize my voice. I sound like a stranger. Flat, and blank. “I think… that’s nice to hear.” Lev has protected me for half my life, I’ve spent more time with him than anyone and he’s my family in every way that counts. Right now, though, he looks torn between grief and guilt.

“We’re landing in New Jersey to refuel,” he said. “The Sovietnik will be there to speak with you.” 

Sovietnik. Titles from the Aslanov Bratva that always make me feel distanced from my brothers. As if there are far more important things they are called to than merely being my family. I understand, most of the time. They have their roles, just as I do. Though theirs have meaning, mine feels primarily decorative.

“Are you sure Ilia’s all right?” I ask, “The explosion… did anyone get hurt in his building?”

Lev smiled reassuringly. “This is one of the new Aslanov properties. There are only three residents aside from your brother and they were all out of the building. He was uptown at the time; they must have had faulty intel.”

“Slava Bogu, thank God.” I rubbed my forehead. “Is this meeting safe? I don’t want to put him in danger.”

“He’s flying in via helicopter, and this jet is listed under another flight path,” Lev reassured me.

“About that… Whose jet is this?” I ask, “I know it’s not one of ours.”

“We needed a jet your family’s enemies couldn’t track; this one belongs to the Morozov Bratva.” He looks up as the pilot announces our approach. “Time to fasten your seatbelt and put your tray in the upright position.”

“Still not funny Lev,” I sigh, “you’ve said that every time we fly.”

“And you still giggle a little every time I do,” he assures me, ruffling my hair. For just a moment, I’m ten again and he’s my new bodyguard, trying to make me laugh.

“Malen'kaya iskra!” Ilia lopes up the boarding stairs and halfway through the cabin before I could unbuckle my seatbelt. “Are you all right?” Hugging me fiercely, he whispered, “I am sorry about mat' i otets, so sorry.”

Having my brother’s arms around me ends my fragile self-control and I sob, holding on to him as tightly as I can. “How could they be gone?” I wept, “I spoke with Mother last night, I don’t understand any of this.”

Pulling away, my tall, strong brother’s face is pale. “We don’t either,” he said, leading me to a bank of seats at the back of the jet and sitting next to me. “This came out of the blue. Of all the chatter we monitor, the intel our spies gather… there was nothing to indicate this.”

Running my hands through my hair, I try to gather my thoughts. “What’s the next step? A funeral, and-”

Taking my hands in his, Ilia squeezed them gently. “We are not having a funeral for them.”

“What?” That came out much louder than I planned and everyone in the cabin turned to look at us. “Of course, we’re having a funeral, what are you even-”

“Listen to me,” he said urgently. “We do not know who is friend or foe right now. There aren’t enough guards in the entire Aslanov Bratva to secure the church and cemetery if we don’t know who we’re guarding against. Roman and I are going to war against an unseen enemy. In the meantime, you are in danger.”

My brow furrows. “What? I’m just… the daughter. I don’t have any power, there’s nothing to gain from killing me.” I don’t feel the tears until Ilia pulls out his pocket square and dabs at my wet cheeks.

“We are at the very beginning stages of this investigation, but one of the few things we have learned is that you are a specific and valued target. The soldiers who breached the security at the estate didn’t use explosives, like the other three groups. If whoever this is wants to gain a foothold with our Bratva behind them, taking and marrying you is a smart move.” 

“Does this mean I can’t go back to school?” I wince, “That sounds so selfish, I’m sorry.”