Anatoli
Aleksander Ivanov stands and looks at me.
His dark gaze then wanders to all the men in the room who make up the Bratva leadership.
We're at the headquarters building in the city. There are thirty of us seated around the large rectangular table in the center of the boardroom.
I'm sitting on Aleksander's right with the senior Brigadiers. My brothers are opposite me in order of age with Leif next to them.
This is the leadership meeting everyone has been waiting for, to hear my official decision. Apart from Leif, the only other two people in here who know my choices are Zakh and Aleksander.
Tonight I also become the official Sovietnik. The tension in the air is the same-if not worse-than when I retook my oath at Raventhorn Hall.
My choices will affect everyone here and I know they won't be happy when they find out I've demoted Uther.
Aleksander already knows and is already fuming, and the others are like sharks trying to catch the scent of blood as they analyze me.
From the moment I walked into the meeting, I knew I couldn't allow my thoughts to slip.
Not even to wander to the beautiful woman in my home that I can't stop thinking about. Or Mikhail, who's wearing that smug-as-fuck expression which overshadows the bruises he still sports from our fight.
The taunting expression is supposed to mock me, showing he doesn't accept my power and he really thinks he's going to get my woman.
We'll see about that.
My decision tonight will be one more thing to put his ass in its place. I'll bet this motherfucker thought Leif would have encouraged me to choose him to be Obshchak.
Mikhail being the Obshchak is logical if I am the Sovietnik, since roles are normally chosen by age.
I might have at least considered the idea under other circumstances.
Or not. I've never been able to stand him. Not even when Leif tried to paint him in the brightest colors of the rainbow.
Right now, I hope I find something to put his ass in the ground. Forever.
"Welcome everyone to this month's leadership meeting." The authoritative tenor of Aleksander's voice commands the men's undivided attention. "As we know, tonight is another special meeting for the Brotherhood. So, without further ado, I wish to introduce you to Anatoli Scarfoni, Evgeni Scarfoni's eldest son."
When he points at me, I dip my head briefly with respect.
"As the leader of the Knights, and the Pakhan of the Komarovski..."Aleksander keeps his gaze on me, "I hereby declare Anatoli Björn Scarfoni the presiding Sovietnik of our brotherhood. He will be my second-in-command, so in my absence he will take over making the decisions for the organization as a whole. His first act of leadership will be to choose the Obshchak and other subordinates who make up our esteemed elite."
"Thank you, Pakhan," I say and turn to face my brothers. "After much consideration, I have selected my brother Zakh to be the new Obshchak. I have also chosen my brothers Malik and Mikhail to jointly hold the position of head of our security."
Of course, Zakh doesn't look surprised, but Malik looks taken aback. Mikhail, on the other hand, glares at me as if he wants to rip the skin clean off my body.
Since the head of security role previously belonged to Uther, the men around the table are visibly shocked and disgruntled.
"Very well. We all welcome the new members of the elite. We are now whole as an organization." Aleksander bows his head respectfully but his face displays the displeasure Leif warned me about when he spoke to him. Leif thought it was respectful to tell him early enough because we knew he would try to fight it. Aleksander would have also needed to call Uther to release him from his duties.
The meeting continues for an hour, during which the new changes and other business matters are discussed, then Aleksander dismisses us.
Before the men start filing out of the room, Aleksander taps my arm.
"You stay," he mutters. "I'd like a word."
"Of course, Pakhan."
I catch Leif, Zakh and Malik looking at me just before they walk through the door.
Once the room is cleared, Aleksander gives that sterner look I've grown accustomed to with him.
"What did you want to speak to me about?" I straighten and assume my usual poker face.
"I'm sure you knew I'd have questions even after speaking with Leif."
"I did."
"Why have you removed Uther Galitze from his position?"
Of course I knew would get backlash from him so I came prepared. Everything I tell him needs to sound like the truth so he stops being suspicious of me. At the very least, my explanation needs to be sufficient to hold him off from digging around. Things are set up so no one can find out what I know about Uther's crimes, but nothing is ever certain. I've always been one to keep my mind open to all eventualities.
"I felt the time had come for a change, and I wanted the role to be held by one of my brothers." I felt Malik was perfect for the role but I only chose Mikhail so I can keep an eye on him. Uther will still be working in the same division, so I can watch him, too.
"Be that as it may, I'm sure you're aware of Uther Galitze's level of skill and years of experience. That makes him trustworthy."
No Aleksander, those years of experience made him a tool others could use for their benefit. All Uther did was use his position to screw with you.
That's what I want to say, but I don't. Nor do I tell him that it was Uther's fault Aleksander lost twenty of his best men to his enemies when they walked into a trap Uther set in Uzbekistan last year. Uther was playing sides and set them up, using them as a decoy so an international terrorist could flee the country. Aleksander's son and nephew were present at that expedition and barely made it out alive.
I also won't tell him that early last year, Uther leaked information to the Feds and that's why Aleksander was being investigated. Worst of all, I definitely won't tell him that it was Uther who killed one of his personal bodyguards when he found out what he was up to.
That's just a few of the worst things I have on Uther. There's more I collected because I knew I needed to come at him with a weapon solid enough to make him bow to my control.