Dawn of an Empire by Emma Slate

Author:Emma Slate [Slate, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tabula Rasa Publishing, Inc.

Chapter 17

That night, Igor and Sasha met on the roof of Igor’s apartment complex. It was clear, the air only slightly chilled. They cracked open a bottle of vodka and passed it between them, not bothering with glasses. It was like they were sixteen again, stealing good liquor from their fathers.

Things were different now. For one, only Igor’s father was still alive.

“What do you want to talk about first?” Sasha asked, his gaze leaving the lit-up Manhattan skyline to settle on Igor who was seated in a comfortable cushioned patio chair.

“Vlad Yevtukh.”

“What he said about the Ukrainians is true. They can’t stop fighting long enough to band together to eke out even a small piece of territory.”

“They need a true leader.”

“Vlad?”

Igor shook his head. “No. Vlad doesn’t want to lead. He said as much in our…meeting.”

“Do you trust him?” Sasha asked.

“Do you?”

“Not sure yet.”

“A test, da?” Igor pressed.

“Da. What kind of test do you have in mind?”

Igor scratched his jaw in thought. “We want Olaf out of the way, yes?”

“Yes.”

“And we want to see if Vlad can be trusted.”

“Yes.”

Igor paused.

“You’re not thinking of having him—”

“No,” Igor assured him. “Who’s the head of the Ukrainian mafia?”

Sasha threw out a name. “Oh. Oh, I see.”

“Death is the cost of entry, no?”

Sasha sighed; the sound was so very Russian.

“What’s next on tonight’s agenda?” Sasha asked after taking a swig of expensive vodka.

“Olaf’s birthday party.”

“I heard it will be quite the bash,” Sasha drawled.

“He’s insisting I bring Maryruth.”

“He saw you both together the night of the fight.”

“I figured.”

“This would’ve happened sooner or later, right? Unless he was already—”

“Right.” Igor took a drink. “She knows, Sasha.”

“About us? Our life?”

“Yes. Well, no specifics, but she guessed.”

“She’s not stupid,” Sasha said.

Igor’s look was wry. “That’s what worries me.”

Sasha laughed. “You can’t have it all, Igor.”

“Yes, Sasha, I can. And I will. With your help.”

“Would you like me to bow, Your Majesty?”

“Not at the moment, no.” He handed the bottle to his friend. “Get a message to Vlad, da? Set up a meeting.”

“You sure he won’t kick my ass just for bringing the message?”

“I think you’re safe.”

“You don’t sound very sure.”

“Vlad is the type of man that you can know for twenty years and never really know. Dig deep, da? Find out all you can about him. Childhood, lovers, how he got involved with the Ukrainians. When I meet with him, I want to be armed with information.”

“And a gun?”

“Most definitely a gun. Though that might not save me if he takes offense when I ask him to kill his own leader. Vlad might just strangle me and be done with it.”

“If that happens, will your father make me his successor?” Sasha asked with a teasing grin.

Igor answered with a smile and a question of his own. “Would you want that?”

Sasha tilted his head in thought. “I don’t know. Do you think I’d ever be fit to be leader? I’ve been taking your directives for so many years I don’t know if I have it in me to lead.

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