Smoke curls from half a dozen cigars. It hangs around the ceiling and pools near the recessed lighting. The conference room’s a low buzz of conversation between men I’ve known for most of my life. Uncles, cousins, important men in the Brotherhood. Tigran’s at my side, watching everyone with a deep frown. Since when did my normally lighthearted brother get so fucking dour?
I’m thinking about putting little holes all over my beautiful wife’s body.
She’ll look sexy with a lip ring. But we’ll get there eventually.
Waitstaff passes around more drinks. I let the men eat and have their fill before we get down to business. This is one of my favorite restaurants, a very nice place in the center of Federal Hill, the best neighborhood in the city. This group of thieves, killers, and thugs is going to eat and drink me into the poorhouse, but tonight’s important. I need them happy if it’s going to go well.
I call for order once the meal is cleared away. Cousin Razmik’s pleasantly drunk and telling a disgusting story about having a threesome with two German tourists. Sevan’s sitting next to him, a deep frown on his face, probably still brooding over the loss of his club. The men settle and all eyes turn toward me.
I stand and survey them. The most powerful men in the Brotherhood give me their undivided attention, but I don’t like the looks on their faces.
“You all know why I called this meeting.” I look at them all. I can’t even be annoyed at their displeasure. If I were in their positions, I’d feel the same way. “The war with Garen and Sona is going to heat up.”
There are some murmurs. Sevan sinks lower in his chair, glaring hard at his glass of wine.
“Patron, you know how much I respected your father,” Uncle Narek says. He’s from my mother’s side of the family. “When you took over, it was a shock, but I backed you without question. Your leadership has been steady, even in these difficult times. But I think I speak for everyone when I say, right now it feels like you’ve betrayed your brothers for a woman.”
His words hurt. I let them linger for a moment. More than one head nods in agreement. Coming from a lesser man, I might meet that kind of proclamation with violence, except Narek’s very well respected in the Brotherhood, and he’s been nothing but loyal since the beginning.
If I’m going to lead this family, I need to accept dissenting opinions.
“I understand that feeling, Uncle,” I say to him. “Here are the facts. My wife is pregnant. It wasn’t planned, but it happened, and I was raised to take responsibility for my actions. I offered Garen very good terms, generous really, in order to avoid this escalation. I made it clear that Lena was a surprise, and marrying her was not something I planned. Garen wasn’t interested in negotiating.”
“You already negotiated,” Michael calls out. He’s one of the up-and-coming cousins. “That’s why you were going to marry that other girl.”
“Garen could have come to the table. He understands that life isn’t always simple.”
“I just don’t understand why you would throw everything away for a girl,” Uncle Narek says. He sounds exasperated more than angry now.
“She’s giving me an heir. Would you rather I had a bastard child running around the city?”
“There are ways to handle unwanted brats,” Michael says loudly.
A heavy silence falls over the table. More than one of the men present stares at him with open hostility. He must realize his error because he turns a bright red and sinks back into his chair.
“I’m going to assume you didn’t just suggest killing the patron’s baby,” Tigran says.
“Of course not,” Michael whispers. “I’d never. I wouldn’t.”
“Why the fuck not?” Sevan spits suddenly. He glares at me. “Ricky’s dead. What’s one dead baby in exchange for saving our lives? I respect the patron, but come on. He married some random fucking Russian girl, and now—”
Tigran stands and draws his gun in one fluid motion. He aims it at Sevan’s head, and nobody moves.
“If I were in charge of this meeting, you’d be dead right now,” Tigran snarls.
I’m touched by Tigran’s reaction. He doesn’t like Lena and probably agrees with Sevan more than he’s letting on, but my brother’s a good man. He knows when to be loyal.
I get up from the table. Sevan watches me, jaw working. He’s clearly terrified but also too angry to control himself. “You lost a club today. A couple of your people were badly injured. I understand that you’re angry.”
“The war’s going to be bad, patron,” Sevan says. “I know she’s your wife, but this Brotherhood comes before anything else.”
“We care about family, don’t we?” I stare at him, but I’m talking to the table. “We value loyalty, honesty, and blood, isn’t that right? Lena’s carrying my child. She’s my blood now. I put my ring on her finger, said the words, and made her my wife. It’s not ideal, but Garen could have found another way to resolve this. Instead, he went straight to killing.” I lean in close to Sevan. “You crossed a line.”
He pales slightly. “Patron. No disrespect. I just—”
I grab his ear. He yelps in shock as I rip my knife from the sheath at my hip and slice down in one easy motion. Skin parts and cartilage slices. His warm blood rolls down his cheek as he screams.
I toss the severed ear onto the table and wipe my blade on Sevan’s shirt before returning it to my sheath.
“Someone shut him up,” I say, returning to my place.
Razmik and Michael drag Sevan to his feet, shove a napkin over his bloody face, and drag him out back.
I sigh and crack my neck. All things considered, one maimed cousin isn’t too bad so far. Everyone’s looking at me, but their expressions are changed.
I didn’t want to hurt Sevan, but the stupid fuck wouldn’t shut his mouth. He gave me a very convenient gift though.
Now everyone here understands: Lena is staying. She is my wife. And I will not tolerate dissent.
“I’m asking for a month,” I tell them. “I understand this war is my fault. I’m the kind of patron that takes responsibility for his own actions. I want one month to come to terms with Garen or to sufficiently ruin him. If that doesn’t happen, I will step down.”
Tigran stares at me in surprise. I notice more than a few curious frowns around the table. But nobody stands up to beg me to reconsider.
“I accept those terms,” Uncle Narek says, and all the others murmur their agreement.
“Then it’s unanimous. One month of your undivided loyalty. No second-guessing, no questioning my decisions. You will all kill when I say kill. You will all burn when I say burn. I will finish this mess with Garen, or I’ll walk away in shame.”
I leave the room after that. I’m surprisingly calm considering I just might’ve knotted my own noose. Tigran catches up with me out on the street as I head toward my parked car.
“What the fuck was that back in there?” he says, sounding frustrated.
“I can’t win this fight if everyone’s second-guessing my every move. I need them on board.”
“You’re hamstringing yourself? There’s no fucking way you’re ending this war in a month.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Arsen.” He grabs my arm. His grip is tight and there’s a note of desperation. “If you walk, they’ll kill you. There can’t be a living former patron wandering around. You’d be too dangerous.”
“I know that.”
His eyes soften. He releases his grip. “They’ll ask me to take your place.”
“I hope they do. You’ll make a good patron.”
“No, I won’t.” He turns away, shaking his head. “We’d just better figure this shit out.”
“Tigran—”
“We’ve lost enough already, brother. I’m not about to lose you too.”
He walks away. I watch him go, my emotions a mess. I knew marrying Lena would make trouble, but I hadn’t thought about the way it would mess with Tigran’s life.
If I fail, he’ll have to take my position, and I know he’ll blame himself for the rest of his life if that happens.
He doesn’t deserve that burden.
I lick my lips as I climb into my car. I can still taste Lena on my tongue. My pretty little wife. So fucking gorgeous, rough, and fierce. She has no idea how close to death we both are right now, but I’m not going to let her down.
Not her and not my child.
