Vengeful Deeds

Konstantin POV When I was young my Papa used to tell me stories about his younger self. About how he became the “The Russian Bear”, about the poverty he clawed and killed his way out of. He used to say to me:You have fire in your blood, son. You’re my little bear, and you’ll be more fearsome than I. He wasn’t wrong. If anything his words have acted as my one true guide since he was stolen from me. His vow of what I am, what I would be in this world, they’ve been my North Star; I’m never lost because of this. My Papa knew I would need it. I used to doubt some of my choices, because I think maybe my father had hoped I’d be more refined then he had been. He’d worked hard to open more doors for his children. But what I am and what I want, what I fight to protect, is my vengeance. So I don’t dwell too long when these useless doubts find their way into my mind. I don’t suspect my Papa could’ve known that retribution would end up being my driving force. If he’d had that suspicion he may still be alive. Blyad’.. that’s another thought I don’t like to leave unattended in my head. “Pakhan?” Max pulls my attention, he stands by the door to my office. He knows me well, knows when to distract me. And he’s always respectful; even though we’ve known each other our whole lives, grew up together, he never uses anything but my honorary title when addressing me. Pakhan is what I am after all, I’m the Boss. “Da?” “Alek is back, he’s pulling in now.” “Good. Bring him to me.” He says nothing more, gives a stiff nod and leaves out the open door he was guarding. Though I don’t need guarding Max takes it upon himself to do as such as often as he can. He was there that night, he saw what I saw. And that’s why he’ll always have my back. Alek is another member of my bratva, my brotherhood. He’s my chameleon and one of my fixers. And like Max he’s one of the few I trust explicitly. He is Ukraine, but I saved him and his twin sister Elsa from a trafficking ring that was smuggling Russian women and children. A lot of bad s**t happened to him and his sister after their own flesh and blood sold them to the Tachenko’s, but they both declared loyalty to me after I burnt that mafia cell to the ground. They were in their teens by the time I saved them; they’d been prisoners for six years. In my line of work loyalty is better when earned then when demanded by fear. And though I do make sure everyone f*****g fears me, I also make sure to show my restraint at times. I have a beast inside me, I’m the son of the Russian Bear after all. But I don’t let my beast control me. With Alek and Elsa they’re loyalty stems from gratitude; but I would be naïve to assume all my bratva are loyal to me for those same reasons. I learned my Papa’s lesson, no matter how loyal, they must fear you too. Like it or not, fear breeds respect in this world. “Pakhan..” Alek’s voice spears through my thoughts as he enters my office and stands by the door. I slowly get up and go poor myself another whiskey. Da, I am Russian and I love my Vodka. But I’ve always been more of a whiskey guy. I’m partial to Macallan and Maker’s Mark, but I always have a bottle of Yamasaki whisky close by. I guess I’m a bit of a whiskey connoisseur, the only hobby I have. “What did you get?” I ask, still not looking at him. “You were right, Sohnovsky’s cell is in the States still. They work closely with the Italians in New York, that f*****g city is crawling with Italians.” He sneers. “Da..” I remain quiet for a moment and think of who I know in New York, not many. But I do respect one family, and one man. “Which family?” I ask, my nerves on edge, because I don’t want a friend to become an enemy. “Mancini.. big operation, but very sloppy.” Alek surmises, and he’s correct. The Mancini’s are very unorganized; two bit thugs that throw their men under the bus and then recruit more men. No loyalty and no vision. Lately they’ve run out of bodies, recruiting younger and younger. Bastards. That would explain why they’d be working with Sohnovsky though. I admit, I do let out a small sigh of relief. Because my friend Cosimo is not a Mancini, but he is Italian mafia so I can’t assume he won’t become an enemy. “You’re sure he was there?” I ask as I turn around and look at Alek for the first time, his jaw clenches and then ticks. But not because he’s mad, well actually he is mad. But at himself, he doesn’t like that a part of him fears me because he’s vowed to never fear anything ever again. Which is why he’s my chameleon; he watches, waits, and morphs into what he needs to become in order to survive any situation. Sometimes it’s something charming or covert, but he’s always dangerous. I like Alek, I like that his jaw still ticks out of fear of what his Pakhan is capable of. “Da..” he straightens and relaxes as he pulls his hands behind his back, a sign of respect. He’s a good brother. “.. Anton is a part of Sohnovsky’s cell, but not outright. Sohnovsky has him working within the Mancini network, it’s smart.” Alek adds. I glance at Maxim as he scratches his close shaven beard and and looks down, thinking. Max can’t hide his thoughts from me. He’s my right hand and my best enforcer, but he’s learned not to say much. He can be too blunt and impatient, timing matters. And often requires a finesse that my big brawny friend does not have. “Da..” I conclude as I turn and look out the window, watching the light froth of snow fall in the darkness “.. he’s protecting his cell and his family from me. But that means he knows, knows what Anton is and what he did. So, does Sohnovsky trust Anton or fear him? I need to know, it will tell me if Sohnovsky’s was involved.” “There’s something else, I’m not sure what it means exactly.. possibly leverage we could use against Anton.” Alek adds, and this gets my attention. I set my glass down, turn and rest my hands in my pockets. When I c**k my head to the side Alek knows to continue. “I can’t be sure if he’s doing it for himself, could be something he’s been ordered to do by the Mancini’s. Would make more sense. Anton follows, actually stalks, a girl everyday; knows where she’ll be and takes a lot of photos. I got bad feeling about it. Before I left I made sure to find out who she is.” “Who is she?” I urge. “A bodyguard.. as far as I could tell. She watches over the Romano Printsessa.” The corner of my mouth ticks up at the subtle widening of Max’s eyes. He has a little crush on the Romano Princess, she’s not shy about flaunting her body on social media. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of Dante’ Romano’s enemies want to tap that printsessa’s a**. This news is interesting, though I don’t know if it is relevant. As Alek suspects, Anton could just be following orders for the Mancini’s by tailing this girl. “So she’s apart of Dante’s network. Are you sure it’s not the Printsessa he’s following?”I say cooly as I turn my back to my men and pick up my drink once more. “Da. She left the Romano fortress often without the printsessa. Anton was still following her.” I nod absently as I take in this information. Then I take a sip of my Macallan. “Her name.” I add. “Alessia. Alessia Colletti.”