Satin Princess(98)

“If they choose to follow her, that is.”

“She doesn’t need all of them to follow her,” Yulian says. “Just enough to put up a fight against us.”

“She’s no great strategist,” I say. “She wants power, but she has no idea how to get it. More importantly, she has no idea how to keep power once it’s hers.”

“You’re doubting her?”

“You forget, brother,” I tell him. “I know her better than anyone.”

Once we’ve all geared up, we head outside where the rest of my men are waiting for me.

“We need to keep a low profile,” I tell all of them. “So we’re not approaching the Ivanov grounds together. The gates at the back will be kept open for us to enter. The moment we get inside, we surround the place and move in.”

The men all look determined, ready. It’s been a while since we had a mission of this magnitude to carry out. They all know their marching orders. More importantly, they know who we’re really moving against.

“If you see Marina Ivanov, you will detain her immediately and bring her to me,” I say, looking in every man’s eyes. “If she proves difficult to trap, then use your fucking guns.”

Both Lev and Yulian look at me with surprise.

“Like I said,” I tell both of them, “I want this shit over with. Let’s move out.”

Yulian, Lev, and I climb into one jeep and peel out. As we hurtle towards the Ivanov property, I check the time. Yaromir’s estimations have Marina on the property within minutes. The plan is to let her get inside and then pin her there like a rat in the corner.

“What if this is a trap?” Yulian asks suddenly.

“What do you mean?”

“What if Yaromir is secretly allied with her?” Yulian continues. “What if we’re walking straight into a trap?”

I glance at my brother. “Don’t you have any faith in me?”

“What do you mean?”

“What have I always taught you? Never trust anybody. Even your allies can turn on you at a moment’s notice. All it takes is a better offer. Which is why I can’t even fully trust Yaromir. She’s going to try and seduce him first in order to convince him that she’s the better option.”

“Yaromir has a wife,” Yulian says.

I glare at Yulian. “Sometimes, you’re so damn na?ve, I don’t know how you survived this long.”

He flushes with color and stops talking.

“I know where Yaromir stands with Marina,” I add. “He hates her fucking guts and she knows that, too. She has to toe the line with him or risk losing everything.”

“She’s not accustomed to hearing no,” Lev warns.

“I’ve told Yaromir to take certain precautions,” I say. “The rest is up to him.”

Yulian still looks nervous as we approach the Ivanov property. I wonder when he got so cautious about everything. He would have benefited from some of the training Otets reserved solely for me. Action cures. Indecision kills.

“Drive around,” I instruct Lev.

We make a long detour before getting to the back gates of the Ivanov compound.

“They’re closed,” Yulian observes anxiously.

“Yes, but not locked. Go on.”

Yulian leaves the vehicle and goes to check on the gates. For a moment, I wonder if Yaromir has gone back on his word. But then Yulian slides the black gates open and Lev drives through.

When we get out of the car, one of Yaromir’s men approaches. It takes me a moment before I recognize that he’s one of the two who accompanied Yaromir to the meeting.

In effect, one of my men.

“Boris,” I say, gesturing him over.

There’s a line of men waiting behind him. Obviously, they’ve been told to expect us because they’re all relaxed. They don’t have their weapons drawn.

“Sir,” Boris says with a respectful half-bow, “the Ivanov don is inside.”

“And our visitor?”

“She’s expected soon. There are guards up front waiting to open the gates for her. She said she was coming with two men.”

“That’s it?” I ask, smelling a rat.

“It’s what she told the don.”

I glance back over my shoulder. Lev and Yulian are watching the exchange. They’re both tense, uneasy. Are they thinking what I’m thinking?

“How many men are inside the house with Yaromir?”

“At least thirty,” he says. “Spread throughout the house.”

Lev and Yulian come forward. “Where is Yaromir?”

“On the first floor. The main sitting room where the meeting was requested,” Boris explains. “You won’t be able to see into it from the outside, however. He drew the blinds early.”

I stop short, my suspicions become more and more pronounced. I still don’t have any fucking proof, but I know Marina.

“She made the request?”

Boris looks confused. “Um, I believe so, Don Stepanov.”

“What’s this about?” Yulian interrupts, his eyebrows knotting together.

I ignore my brother and continue with my line of questioning. “And how many men are inside the room with him?”

“Just one other,” Boris says. “There are at least three stationed outside the door, however.”