Page 68 of Arseni
“Something about Luka falling down a flight of stairs.He broke a couple ribs.What a shame.”
Nikita snickers as we walk.I’m surprised he’s even speaking to me.He brought me here just to humiliate me, knowing I’d be denied entrance.He didn’t even hide his smirk when the guard stopped me at the door, which we both knew would happen.
Little punishments.Nikita loves to dole them out.
“It’s bullshit that they let her hang around like this.The leadership is soft.”
“Sensitive ears, Arseni,” he chides.He, better than anyone, knows where the cameras are around here.He had them installed.
I don’t know why it matters if someone picks up on me talking shit, though.They know exactly what we think of them.
Nikita doesn’t speak again until we’re in the car and I’m pulling away.
“I think it’s sweet that they let the Columbian follow her husband around like a puppy,” he says, picking up where we left off.“It’s Mila’s presence that annoys me.”
“Right.”I tip my head.I don’t want to talk about Mila.I don’t give a fuck about Mila.but still, I add just to appease him, “Generations can go by without women being allowed into the business, but Vitaly has to be different.There’s no respect for tradition.”
“I don’t care about that.”Nikita waves it away like he’s batting at an imaginary fly.“I’m not amisogynist, Arseni.”
I turn to look at him, my forehead wrinkling as I search for signs of sarcasm.But no, he’s dead serious.
“Every decision made is filtered through Mila.She’s the Pakhan’s wife, it’s only natural but when they agree, everyone is forced to believe it’s because Vitaly is a pussy.When they disagree, everyone is forced to listen to it.Wives should not be allowed in meetings.”He lays his head back against his seat like he’s exasperated.Though, he’s obviously achieved whatever he set out to today.His talkative mood is a dead giveaway.
I think back to last night, to the promise I made.I’ve been contemplating how to handle this, my mind spinning all night.I’m not quite ready, but I can’t see there being a better opportunity to bring it up.
“A lot of the lieutenants are married,” I comment.He doesn’t respond because … why would he?
“Wasn’t Maksim’s wife a whore at one point?”
His lifted hand is his only response, and even then, it seems as if it means, “who cares?”.
“Why did you let that happen?”I ask, shifting to sit straighter.My hands on the steering wheel begin to slip.“I mean, you were Pakhan.You had to allow her freedom, right?He couldn’t just marry her without your consent.”
“I’m a roman-tic,” he says, bored.Crazy part is, I actually believe him.
“Must run in the family,” I say, just to steer his attention where I want him.His narrowed eyes find me as his head rolls.“I mean, Lucia was a witness to a crime, and Vitaly still let her live.”
“Luka is his brother-in-law.”
“Huh,” I say like I’m considering that.Like it matters at all.“So you don’t think he would let others make the same choice?”
“No.Vitaly is as by the book as it gets.”
I nod, my stomach turning, but when I look over at Nikita, he’s staring like he knows exactly what’s in my head.
“Of course…” I resist the urge to wipe my palms on my pants.“Vitaly doesn’t know everything.Who knows what people have gotten away with since he became Pakhan.”
“Too much, I’m sure,” Nikita agrees, his voice smooth.He’s enjoying this.“It was much more difficult to get things past me… Still is.”
Thisseems pointed.
I take a turn before shifting in my seat.“That must be why you excel athavingsecrets.”
“Do I?”he asks.
I nod.“Yeah… Think of all the shit you’ve had me do that Vitaly knows nothing about.”
“Ah, sowehave secrets.”
