Page 21 of Daddy Brigadier

I can’t help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of my predicament. After spending years in the Bratva, this is the first time I’ve been captured, and by a young woman, no less. I should feel embarrassed, but honestly, I’m quite impressed. It’s not every day a veteran like me gets outmaneuvered. “A young woman,” I chuckle, “who would have imagined that!”

Andrei bursts into laughter. “It wasn’t Ivy, was it?”

If there’s anyone capable of executing a daring kidnapping, it’s unquestionably Ivy. A skilled assassin, she not only caught the Colonel’s piercing gaze but also accomplished the unimaginable—she captured his heart, and they tied the knot this past summer. Now that she holds the Savin last name, Ivy is the first female assassin to work for the Coalition.

Lexi has a fresh, novice spirit similar to Ivy’s. Both girls share striking mannerisms, leading me to wonder if Ivy might know her.

I finish the last sip of Scotch and slam the glass down on the desk. “Her name is Lexi.”

“What did you say her name was?” Elise Savin interrupts.

My eyes glance over to the seat beside me, and her striking dark eyes lock onto mine. The woman reeks of money and power, embodying an undeniable presence with her perfectly styled hair and striking four-inch black heels.

“Lexi something,” I lean back in the chair. “I’ll find out everything about my Krasotka soon enough.”

“What did the girl want?” Her voice hitches, and I narrow my eyes at her, wondering if she knows the girl.

“A favor. I’m taking care of it.”

“She’s still alive?” Andrei asks.

I swallow against the sudden dryness in my throat. “For now.”

Elise’s demeanor has noticeably changed, and her fingers tremble around her mug.

“I don’t like this,” Andrei says, shaking his head and running his fingers through his black hair. “She sounds like trouble.”

“She’ll be dealt with,” I reassure him, because he’s right—she’s trouble.

I plan to end Lexi’s life with my hands wrapped around her throat, watching as she gasps for her last breath, my excitement growing with each passing moment. But first, I’ll have my fun with her, a fitting reward for the insult of her kidnapping me.

Elise clears her throat, drawing attention as she taps the papers in her hand, signaling that she has something important to share.

When Andrei assumed the role of Pakhan, he entrusted me with the position of his advisor. I had been close friends with his father, so I watched Andrei grow up as if he were my own son, being his godfather. It was a profound honor for me to stand beside him.

Then, he did something unexpected, he appointed Elise Savin as his personal advisor—something that had never been done in the Bratva before. Elise, once the third most powerful figure in the US cartel, left that world behind for love when she fell for Brigadier Dmitri Savin, the second-oldest brother in the Savin family.

Today, she is recognized as the most famous woman in organized crime and the first female boss in the Coalition.

“There’s a power play happening, Valentin, and we need to stay on top of it,” she says, tossing the papers across the desk before taking a sip of her coffee.

“What have you found?” I ask, shaking my head and all too conscious of a wave of dread washing over me.

“Someone is stealing from you. From us,” she replies, tapping her pointer finger on the desk. “An insider is skimming ten percent off the top.”

“I know.” Rising abruptly and pushing my chair aside, I stride back to the bar to pour myself another drink. I’ve been in the arms dealing business long enough to recognize the signs. When my suitcases of cash felt a bit lighter, my instincts kicked in.

“You knew about this?” Her words are so cold, calculating, her eyes burning with intensity, reflecting the heat of her infamous reputation. “Any idea who it could be?” Elise asks.

I lean forward and give her a small smile. “Not yet, but I have Daniel looking into it.”

“Valentin, have the Colonel help you,” Andrei orders. New York is about to rain crimson because Nikolai makes everything bloody even when it doesn’t have to be.

Andrei steps up to the window, taking a moment to reflect. His gaze drifts over New York’s morning skyline. “You know as well as I do that some Coalition men have consistently expressed their displeasure about some of our business choices.”

He’s talking about Elise. The men are stuck in their old ways, thinking a woman has no place in the Bratva. I used to believe that myself until I met Elise. She’s not only incredibly smart—arguably smarter than me—but she also possesses a killer instinct like the rest of us, making her exceptionally formidable.

“It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” I mutter. I can’t help but wonder if our own men feel we’ve lost our tenacity since we allowed a woman to pierce the veil of the Bratva leadership.