n

n

n

nIt was strange for Angela to hear someone being against Gael trying to make a name for himself away from the family's clandestine business. It was like getting mad at someone for getting an A in an exam. Angela was reminded of the time when Gael told her that the ones who were against them trying to go legitimate felt threatened and therefore would do everything to put them on their knees and weaken them.

nTheir enemies took advantage when they saw this as a weakness—just like what the Morellis did to them for the past few months so they could take over New York and fulfill the dreams of that adopted Morelli who killed his brother because he was too greedy.

nThe way Angela saw from her eyes, she thought her grandfather was weak. The ruthless Matvey Novikov couldn't stand someone who was able to take control of himself and resist the urge to do illegal things. Because Matvey could never do it. To him, Gael was disloyal to the De Lucas for straying and wanting to go legitimate. Angela thought her grandfather was weak because he let his greed for money and power define the kind of person he was.

nOne thing was for sure, Angela would never bow down to her grandfather. She'd rather die than let him dictate what she could do in her life. It was only now that she understood why Cynthia, her mother, wanted to leave this life after seeing for herself what kind of man that old one was. Matvey Novikov was a dictator.

nAnd when Cynthia was found in Esmea, she had no other choice but to leave the temporary life she had with the Sus—all so she could protect what she left behind. But in the process, Cynthia was once more imprisoned in the Bratva.

n

"It isn't disloyalty if I've always been truthful to my family about what I really wanted since the very beginning,

" said Gael, his tone sure and bold.

n

"It's disloyalty all the same if what you want is not the same as what your family wants. Your great grandfather, grandfather, and father have always been in this life. This is their identity. Taking it all away from them is like taking a fish out of the water. They can't swim and breathe on land. They will flop around and die if they do.

"

nGael's jaw ticked. It was as though the old man was saying it would be Gael's fault if his family wouldn't survive going legitimate. Matvey Novikov didn't say it but he might as well have. Gael stopped himself from letting out a scoff and instead, decided to humor the other, knowing full well Matvey would never drop this subject of being

"betrayed

".

n

"So what would it take for you to forget about this…setback? To marry your granddaughter, what do I have to do?

"

nAngela snapped her head towards Gael, her brows knitting in frustration. That and the way she squeezed his hand under the table was enough to indicate she didn't like this at all. She thought that she had no obligations towards the Bratva and while Gael also thought the same, Matvey Novikov believed otherwise. The latter would use all the cards he had so that in the end, he would be the victor. Gael squeezed her right back.

nThe Pakhan was ruthless and proud through and through. He was the kind of man who would rather have war than make amends to those who betrayed him. Unless they were willing to lick the sole of his shoes to show their repentance and wanted to be on his good side again. One way to show that was to cut their own finger.

nAnd Gael would never do that. Under any other circumstances, he would give up all of his limbs for Angela. But if he did this for Novikov, it was the same as handing his head on a platter. Matvey would then control his life in every chance he could and Gael would never be able to leave.

nGael just had to buy time by chit-chatting while waiting for backup. He couldn't fight the Bratva alone—they would be dead before they could reach the gates. If his men would come soon, then at least they would have a better chance. Gael and his father agreed they would go to war if it came to this. And Alessandro would do anything for his family. To protect the De Lucas, he would do anything—including going to war against the Bratva and dealing with the repercussions later.

nMatvey Novikov took another sip of his tea, putting the empty cup back on the table. Wordlessly, Cynthia filled it up again. And then he addressed Gael, casually speaking as if there was no blood on his plate.

"As you see, I can no longer trust my good for nothing son-in-law. Ivan was supposed to take over my pharmacy operation, so that position is unfilled. Use your skills and triple my profit. And then… I will consider you for my granddaughter.

"

nGael stared at the old man, his right brow twitching as he remained quiet. Meanwhile, Angela flushed red. Gael wasn't considering, was he? He knew how she felt about drugs. Surely there was another way!

nShe scanned across the table, taking in the silence of the other people. Cynthia, her head lowered as she stared at her cup of tea; Anika, her lips still quivering and she occasionally swiped a tear down her cheek; Aleksander, his enraged stare burning at the center of the table. He snapped his eyes up, meeting hers, and then his jaw tightened.

n

"You want me to handle your drug operation,

" Gael said it like a statement. She couldn't tell what he was thinking at the moment.

n

"I have no doubt you will succeed. You show me what you can do for me and I welcome you to the family. That's the only way it goes,

" said Matvey.

"My doors are closed for civilians.

"

nNovikov knew Gael wanted to go legitimate, so he offered a chain to shackle Gael to his family. The old man was a piece of shît.

nThe door to the dining room opened. A Bratva soldier walked over and whispered to Matvey. Then the old man lifted his chin, his stare bouncing between Gael and Angela.

"Looks like Don Alessandro is here to see me. And it's not a friendly visit.

" He retrieved a remote control from under the table and pointed it at a large screen attached to the wall at the other end of the table.

nThe screen turned on and instantly, they were shown a live feed of the gates of the Novikov Estate. Six black SUVs crowded the driveway where some Bratva soldiers drew their guns up—mirroring the De Luca soldiers standing on either side of Alessandro and Giovanni. The brothers also had guns in their hands, pointing to the ground as they stared straight at the camera as if knowing that Matvey Novikov was watching right now.

nMatvey picked up his phone and dialed. Next, one of the guards at the gate answered his phone. Then Matvey spoke in Russian in a clipped tone before putting his phone down again.

"I've instructed my boys to shoot them at my command. And that will depend on what your answer will be. If I were you, I would say yes.

"

nGael's entire body tensed up. He never took threats kindly.

nHe casually glanced at the knife on the plate that served the boneless ham an arm's length from him. The Bratva soldiers from earlier took his knife when they shoved them into the van, but that knife in front of him would have to do. Judging by the distance between him and the knife, Gael could just reach for it, swing his hand to the left, and impale the knife into Novikov's throat, ending all of this once and for all.

nIt would be bloody and violent—something he didn't wish Angela would see. But it wasn't like she hadn't already seen Ivan's finger being severed on the same table just a few minutes ago. It would be a lot bloodier, but that's just what they would have to deal with. He didn't want to do this. He wouldn't enjoy it. But it was what he needed to do.

nMaybe she didn't have to see it.

nGael turned his head to Angela. He leaned in and whispered,

"Baby… Close your eyes.

"

n

"What? Why?

"

n

"Just do it. And don't open them until I tell you to.

"

nShe blinked, unsure why he was making her do this. But then she nodded as if the reason didn't matter. Angela just trusted him.

n

"Wha…

" Matvey coughed, clutching his chest with one hand and gripping the arm of his chair with the other.

"Chto ty…nadelal??

" (What have you done?)

nGael and Angela snapped their heads towards the old man, confusion lacing their eyes as they watched Matvey Novikov's face getting darker by the second and his lips turning blue.

n

"Would you like more tea, Father? It seems you were enjoying it,

" Cynthia muttered, her hand wrapped around the teapot's handle, and her expression stoic.

n

"You…put something…in my tea!!!

" Matvey's face contorted in pain.

nTaking a deep breath, Cynthia stared at her father without an ounce of remorse..

"I did.

"

n