Chapter 28

The atmosphere was tense. Very tense.

Michal could see that everybody were at their wits end and were just waiting for the right order- to let loose. But he needed to maintain as much decorum as he could for as long as possible.
If he let his men go on out, there would be no coming back from the damage that would happen.


He looked at his brother, Semion. For the past week, Semion had walked around the house- tension in his veins, trying to keep things together. They had gotten petitions and pledges from other organizations to join and bring down the Mordashov mob family.

But they held out- or rather, he was holding out.

“What do we do, boss? If we let them get away with this, they will continue to toy with us and who knows just how far they’ll go?” one of the men addressed Semion.

“Has Robert Mordashov sent word to us, yet? Surely he must want something in return,” Semion asked.

“Nothing, boss. We tried going to their base again but it seems like they will not be coming back anytime soon. You know how ruthless the bastard is and the feud he has with your father. If we don’t act now- I fear that your father might get…,” he trailed off.

Michal understood his unspoken words. All of them did. If they did not act now, Robert would kill their father. And it would be publicly. They hated each other that much. Perhaps it was time to put an end to the whole cat and mouse, playing it safe game.

He signaled to his brother.
*"Can we talk in private?”

Semion nodded.




“We should act now,” Semion said as soon as they were alone.
“I was going to say the same. We have tips on where they might be hiding, although I don’t think the bastard will refer to it as such. They probably just moved to a location that is carefully hidden. But some of my men have been tailing two of his for a week now.

If we follow them, we can take them by surprise,” Michal explained.

Semion nodded.
“Use whatever we have in our arsenal, including the men and bring that bastard down. I have accepted help from one of the families- there will be no debt to pay because they owe us their lives, and they agreed to give us a hundred men.”

Michal was in agreement. It was time to declare war and take back what was theirs. This wasn’t for just for his father but for the reputation of their family. They would make the Mordashov family and whomever stood with them, an example for the rest.

“We’ll move just before daylight. I want to wrap things up before the day ends. Tidy up all loose ends,” Semion added.

“Noted,” Michal replied. They hugged briefly and went to rejoin the others.

“We won’t wait anymore for the Mordashov family to come to their senses. We will move in on them tomorrow morning,” Michal announced.
Murmurs of agreement came from across the room, with occasion thumps on the table.





Michal was in his home office when the door opened and Katya walked in. The sight of her put a smile on her face. Then he remembered- did she overhear?
The look on her face did not reveal that she heard anything. But then, he would not assume.

The morning after the night he wanted to stay in her arms forever, she suddenly grew up. She made no complaints about being held against her will, neither did she talk about her father.
It was a good thing- he wasn’t going to lie, but for someone like her, it was worrisome. She did not ask questions, wanted no answers and acted like she was already part of the household.

“Katya?”

“You know, you should come out and have lunch. Or, breakfast? You have been having meetings all week and then staying locked up in your office till all the lights are out in the house.
Then you walk into the kitchen- make yourself a cup of coffee and then go to your room.”


Michal lifted a subtle eyebrow.
“Have you been stalking me?”

She shrugged.
“Well, there isn’t much to do around here. And my interests vary.”

“Oh?” He moved his chair back and stood up. “You are interested in me?”

He watched as Katya folded her arms, a small smile gracing her lips.
“Well, you are very interesting. It’ll be a shame not to indulge.”

*The woman excited him even without trying.

He put a hand on her shoulder, and another under her chin.
“You look good. Have you had breakfast?”

She leaned into his hand, her head looping to the side and her smile a little wider.
“Mmmmm. I have, but you haven’t. Which is why you need to come out and eat the feast Freya had laid out for you. Also, she sent me out here with a death threat, if you don’t come out, she’ll come in here and shove a big slice of meat down your throat and watch you gag with tears running down your eyes.”

Michal could not help but laugh out loud. His sister-in-law was quiet the bully.
He kissed Katya on the forehead.
“Okay, human. I’ll be out there in five minutes. Tell the dragon that she should keep the meat on the plate instead.”

“If your sister-in-law hears that you called her the dragon, she will definitely shove the meat down your throat,” Katya playfully warned him, her eyes sparkling.

He could not resist, not when she had that look in her eyes and her lips were there, begging to be kissed. He leaned down and kissed her- full on the lips and her bottom lip between his teeth.
He kissed her even deeper when he recalled just how good she tasted, his arms coming around to pull her closer to him.

“You taste incredible,” he murmured against her mouth.

“But Freya food tastes better,” Katya told him when they broke the kiss,” and you should come out as soon as possible.”

“I will, I will.”
*Even though he had just issued a death warrant on her father, he would feast for today.