Page 75 of His Savage Vow
“That, and I wanted some back-up just in case Kirill or Alexei decided to try anything else,” I confirm.
“Alexei has been summoned back to Russia after his failures overseeing his nephew led us to this debacle. You will not see him again in New York,” Sergei promises.
“Make sure of it,” I warn him. “The Volkovs killed two of my cousins and other members of the Luciani family. With Kirill’s death I’m willing to call a truce, but if any more of your Bratva boys appear in my city without my authorization and proper tribute, I will burn them out immediately.”
“Then we are in agreement,” Sergei confirms. “Wehave several clubs in New York that have always paid tribute. They stay open?”
“I have no problem with your current businesses, only with your recent efforts to expand your influence in my city.”
“That was the Volkovs, and that mistake has been rectified. We apologize again for the misunderstanding, Mr. Luciani, and we hope that any future dealings will be more pleasant.”
“Let’s make sure of it.” I nod to Sergei, then watch as he leans forward and disconnects the call.
As soon as he’s gone, Frank folds up the laptop and climbs back into the rear seat of the Bentley, leaving me standing with Salvatore. “Well, that was exciting,” he replies with a grin. “Kirill had complained that you were just full of surprises, and I see he wasn’t wrong. Tell your woman, Constance, that I hope she feels better now. Some people don’t react well to revenge. For me, I’ve always found it cathartic.”
“I appreciate you playing mediator, even if I still have my suspicions about your involvement in this whole affair.”
Salvatore doesn’t bat an eye at my accusation, and his infuriating grin never wavers. “It was a business arrangement, Maximo, no different from the dozens you yourself have made. You may not believe me, but I’m going to tell you a small truth. If I had known that Kirill would attempt to harm you and your family, I would have warned you and tried to put a stop to it. I didn’t know the extent of his plans, and helping mediate an end to this dispute is my way of trying to make amends.”
I nod to him, accepting that this is the closest to an apology I’m ever going to get from The White Devil. “Go back to Jersey, Salvatore, and tend to your own garden. Keep your crew from stepping on any of my toes, and we won’t have any more problems.”
“Take care of yourself, Maximo, and your woman, too.” Salvatore flashes one last toothy smile at me beforeopening the front passenger door of the Bentley and disappearing inside. As the car begins to pull away, I breathe out a deep sigh as the tension of the confrontation eases its grip on me. Once Salvatore has left the yard, I turn and walk back to the Escalade where Constance is waiting.
Leonard has already climbed into the driver’s seat and got the truck running. I had wanted Constance to sit there in case she needed to flee the meeting, but she got into the back with her pistol lying on the seat beside her. As I climb in, I can see that she’s already unloaded it, and I put it on the floor by her feet so I can slide close beside her. I put an arm around her and pull her to me as I notice the trail of tears running down her cheeks.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her as I squeeze her shoulders in a one-armed hug. “Relieved? Vindicated? Maybe just in shock?”
“I don’t know how to describe it,” she admits as she leans into me. “I feel nauseous, mostly, and shaky from the adrenaline. When I saw him lying there tied up and helpless, all I could think about was my father and what he had done to him…to my entire life. All I knew was that he had to die, and it had to be right now. Every breath I saw him take was intolerable. I’ve never felt so much hatred for anyone, and it’s made me physically ill.”
“You’ll feel better in time,” I whisper to Constance as I lean down and kiss the top of her head. Then I instruct my uncle, “Leonard, go ahead and take us back to the house.”
“You did the right thing,” Leonard tells Constance as he glances at us in the rearview mirror. “I wanted to kill that son of a bitch myself for what he’s done to our family…to my son. You avenged all of them.”
“Does this mean it’s over?” Constance asks. “It’s really over, these Bratva people aren’t going to try anything else?”
I give her another squeeze and then sit in silence for a moment while I try to decide how best to answer. Should I reassure her, or give her the truth?
“Max?” she glances up at my pensive expression when I don’t respond. “You don’t think it’s over, do you?”
“It’s never really over, Constance. Not in my line of work, and certainly not with a group like the Bratva. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to put one of their men in his place, and I doubt it will be the last.”
“What else do you think they might do?”
“Nothing, for now. But the Bratva aren’t known for forgiveness, and they sure as hell never forget an insult. But you don’t need to worry. I promised you your vengeance, and now I’m making you a new promise. Iwillkeep you safe.”
Hugging her to me, I feel Constance nod against my chest as she dwells on what I said. She doesn’t speak on the ride back to the estate. I don’t try to force her either. Instead, I hold her close and make myself a promise: whatever the Bratva try next, they won’t touch her.
39
“I’d rather lose honest than win by cheating. Losers still sleep just fine most nights.”
—ROBERT MONROE
Constance
I didn’t expectthe estate to be this busy when we return. The newly repaired gate and fresh-faced guard are calm enough, but as soon as we pull around to the front, it’s a full-blown construction zone.
There are shrieking table saws set up in the driveway, and men shouting over the racket as scaffolding is being erected across the front windows. Inside, the hallways echo with the banging of hammers and other equipment. I head upstairs immediately for a hot shower and a change ofclothes. After killing Kirill Volkov, everything inside me feels muted, but my chest is tight, like the chaos in the house has settled right on my ribs.
