As much as I begged Boris not to do it he went and told my father about the attack on the Italians that I was involved in. I heard a lot of yelling behind closed doors. I flinched every time they started reaming out someone new. They wanted the Italians to be held accountable for risking the life of a Petrov because of business the Russians aren't involved in.
I asked Andrei about it and I guess they want to move their operations into Philly, which is Irish territory. Since the Italians wanted the Irish gone anyway, they have a deal to clear out Philly for both the Russians and Italians to take over and share new channels through their trades and ours.
I say 'ours' like I have any part in all this. I just know because I'm a Petrov of Russian blood, I'll never be considered one of them. As in, the Italians. Even if I do marry in. I'll always be the outsider.
I was in the living room of this new house us Petrov's have been staying in. I guess it's my father's house now. At least whenever he's stateside. I heard the doorbell ring and I was surprised to have visitors at this time of night. I was even more surprised when I saw Anthony walking in with Mia's brother. I forget his name now.
They had several goons behind them, but they were checked at the door. Vitaly doesn't like guns in the house if they don't belong to his own men.
"Mr. Petrov" Anthony greeted my father with a head nod and an extended hand. My father didn't shake it. Instead he wore his perpetual glare and folded his arms behind his back to look at the two of them. My brother's weren't involved yet. I don't know where they were.
I could see Anthony's jaw tighten with the blatant disrespect my father showed him by not shaking his hand.
"Care to explain to me why my daughter was at some safe house of yours in the middle of a goddamn mob war?" He asked him right there in the foyer. He usually conducts business in an office of some kind, but he was clearly impatient for answers.
"Sir, we had an incident this morning that we presumed to be an immediate threat. Based on that incident we decided it best to put the girls in one of our safe houses as a precaution. We were correct to assume because later this afternoon that safe house was attacked by a large group of Irish, whom you know have issues with the Italians" Anthony spoke the most formally I've ever heard from him.
He hadn't even glanced my way once, even though I was quite visible in the entryway behind my father. I understand why. I'm supposed to be nobody to him. It would also be considered disrespectful to Enzo if Anthony was caught eyeing me one too many times.
It was Mia's brother who spoke up just after Anthony finished, "And we didn't notify you because it was made clear that you were disinterested in being involved in Irish business" he told Vitaly.
Vitaly stared between the two of them for a few tense seconds before he turned on his heel and expected them to follow him to his office. That's when I saw my brother's surface. I quietly followed, trying my luck at entering the room with them. I was stopped at the office door by Dmitriy. He looked over at my father to see what he'd say about my entering.
"Otets, I'm involved in this. I'd like to be here to speak my piece" I told him in Russian so he wouldn't view my speaking out to be me disrespecting him in front of his business associates.
"Leave it to us" was all he said.
I tried to protest, but Dmitriy stepped closer to me forcing me to take a step back. It was enough to get me into the hallway where he promptly shut the door on me.
I wanted to curse them out. Instead I placed my ear to the door. It was Anthony's voice I heard again. Sexy. Deep.
"You also made it clear that Lex- Aleksandra was now under the care of the Italians she's marrying into, upon your request for this contract agreement" he made a good point. I heard some movement and then silence. It got my heart pumping.
"Make no mistake, offering Aleksandra's hand in marriage was to build bridges between two prominent families. This does not mean she is disposable. I hold you accountable for her safety. She will always be Petrov blood, which means she will always be respected as a Petrov should" Vitaly told the men.
Since when? The Petrov's don't even respect me themselves. But it's a pride thing here.
"Mr. Petrov, with all due respect-" Anthony began. He was cut off by a loud bang, which I assume was my father's fists hitting his desk.
"RESPECT. Exactly, right" he shouted. "I now want to be informed as to what the Irish are up to. If they're eager to neutralize you we can only expect them to take action against your newest ally. If you can't get a handle on things then we will, but know that'll be at a great cost to you" my father spoke rudely, angrily, and loudly.
"I spoke with my father. I want to be involved in your operation Anthony Rizzo. I'll be the Russian representative to the issue until further notice" I heard Andrei telling him.
Oh no. Andrei is a troublemaker. He isn't someone I would want around Anthony while Anthony is trying to fight off his enemies.
"This is an Italian matter. I don't think Mr. De Luca would be eager to share this issue with our associates" Anthony tried turning them down.
"Aleksandra won't be going to you Rizzo's until the situation is handled. And until your cousin takes on this full commitment with my daughter we won't be moving forward with our deal. Will that motivate your boss to accept our request?" Vitaly spat at him.
I heard Italian being spoken between Anthony and Mia's brother. They must be deliberating. My gut clenched at the mention of my name.
Maybe I won't have to get engaged to Enzo if they mess this deal up. I hope that's true, but I also worry that'll only mean my father will find new allies, then who knows whose hands I'll end up in. It could be someone old, ugly, abusive, or all of the above. At least with Enzo he doesn't seem so bad.
I jolted when an argument broke out between all the men. This could end very badly. I couldn't make out just one voice or the other. Who was saying what or what they were saying. There were three languages going around all at once. English, Italian, and Russian. I couldn't keep up. And then I was caught.
I heard my name be called down the hall and realized one of my dad's men saw me snooping and was waving me away from there. I begrudgingly left the door, but I was afraid I'd be hearing gunshots soon or something.
Vitaly doesn't take kindly to raised voices, but Anthony doesn't seem like much of a pushover either. If he's being disrespected I think he'll say something about it.
When I suddenly heard a door swing open I jolted and whirled around. I had only just gotten to the end of the hall, so I had a view of what was going on.
"Yeah, you'll be informed. I'll handle it personally" Anthony snapped from over his shoulder as he stormed out. My brothers quickly followed him. They were swearing all up and down at him, but in Russian so he couldn't understand.
I quickly followed after Anthony as he stormed to the front door.
"Hey, is everything alright?" I asked him. He side eyed me, but didn't say anything. I grabbed his arm which made him stop short. He looked down at the contact and quickly pulled his arm away.
"Aleksandra, pack a bag. You'll be under the protection of the Rizzo crime family until further notice" he told me. I did a double take. I thought I just heard my father say I wouldn't be going anywhere until things were handled.
"Don't worry baby sis, I'll be helping Anthony exterminate those rats" Andrei added. Oh shit tits. I looked at Andrei then Anthony. Anthony's jaw was tight, but he said nothing.
"I'll inform Enzo of this new arrangement. Just go get your things" was all he said before he walked out the Petrov front door.
I guess I just became Anthony Rizzo's newest problem.
-
I packed a bag as I was told and on the car ride to some new safe house location I was better told what the hell was going on. I guess Domani De Luca declared this an official mob war between the Italians and Irish. They expect more attacks and are planning an attack of their own, which means they want me somewhere safe along with many others.
Andrei volunteered to help pick off the Irish because he loves the violence of it all, and because Vitaly felt there should be a Russian representative involved to 'help' handle the enemy of their newest allies.
Vitaly just wants a spy amongst the Italians. That's what this is really about.
I have no idea what to expect in the coming days. How long does a mob war last? And I was already at a safehouse once and it was attacked right away. How safe is this safehouse gonna be? Will I be alone?
There were so many questions, but with all the tension I couldn't really ask them. Anthony was on the phone most of the drive after he initially told me a bit about what was going on. Andrei was with us, so it wasn't like we could talk comfortably.
I just wanna go back to my shitty apartment, go to shitty castings for half assed work, and leave all this behind. Mom wanted a normal life for me. I understand why she had us run away. Could I ever do what she did? Run? I don't know the type of people she knows. Fake passports and a nest egg of money. I'm not prepared for it.
Will I be dealing with Anthony one on one? I don't know if I could fight the sexual tension if that were the case. Where do we go from here?