Page 79 of Captive

“Of course. You should have everything you need.”

“And the soldiers?”

His hesitation pissed me off. “Only some are eager to talk with you. As you can imagine, your disappearance sent a message to the men.”

“Yes, one of weakness.”

“You’d be surprised, my friend. Many understood your challenge. They simply hoped you would be capable of putting your brother in his place.”

As I should have done all those years ago.

“The meeting with the soldiers needs to occur. What is the word on the street?”

Ivan looked uncomfortable as hell. “That there’s going to be a strike on the city within two days.”

With an attack so imminent, I had little time to organize a full plan. “Then I want the meeting later this afternoon.”

“Of course. I’ll set it up. Do you have a place to stay?”

“Don’t worry about me, Ivan. I’ve forgotten very little about my training.” The last thing I was going to do was tip my hand to anyone. And there would be no trust. I’d learned far too many lessons over the years.

“You really do remind me of your father when he was younger.”

For some reason, I bristled just hearing anything about my father. While Ivan knew I wasn’t blood, he’d been one of the few men who’d accepted my position within the organization as I’d grown older. For that, as well as his protection of my father, I’d respected him.

“You do know the anniversary of your father’s death is coming up,” he added.

“Yes.”

I hadn’t visited the grave since he’d been buried; the thought of mourning him in an old cemetery by a block of stone had been too much to bear.

Ivan snorted as he glanced out the window. “When the Petrovs learned of Dimitri’s death, there was an additional price placed on your head. You were found guilty immediately.”

As I’d suspected would happen.

“So you were aware of the assassination demand.”

“You forget who you are dealing with, Sacha. Very little has changed since you left. There are two distinct sides just like before. They have always been prepared for battle. There will always be the hunger for more territory as well as power. I will advise you one last time to return to your new country.”

“As you said, there will be a bigger price on my head. I’m no longer willing to live my life in shadows. It’s time to finish what should have occurred within days of my father’s murder. Michail needs to be punished for his treachery.”

He locked eyes with mine, shaking his head. “You should have ascended to the throne.”

While I wanted nothing more than to tell him the world that I’d lived in wasn’t a kingdom, I’d come to realize that it was exactly like a monarchy. “Establish the meeting. Then be prepared. We are going to war.”

There was no doubt Ivan realized he’d been dismissed.

After easing back, he gave me a respectful nod.

I could tell there was something else he wanted to say. “What’s on your mind, Ivan?”

He seemed uncomfortable, more so than I was used to seeing him. “There are reasons your brother never accepted his leadership role.”

“And that would be?”

“He’s the son of your father’s mistress.”

I wasn’t surprised that Ivan spouted off the words. While I hadn’t been for certain of Michail’s lineage, the remembrance of the conversation I’d overhead between my father and brother had brought the possibility to light. After all, my father had enjoyed several women over the years. “My brother is the firstborn and only son of Maxim Federov. You’ve known that from the day you agreed to honor my father by working with him. I suggest you remember that, Ivan.” I gave him a hard look, searching his eyes.