Page 24 of Bratva Prince

“When my father first began discussing marriage alliances, the Orlovs were considered,” Sofia finally spoke.

Several heads turned toward her.

Dimitri looked at her sharply.Sofia remained calm beneath the sudden attention.

“One of Sergei Orlov’s sons,” she continued.“Nothing formal.Just discussions.”

Alexei’s expression darkened.“What happened?”

“My father changed his mind,” Sofia said.

Dimitri already knew the answer.The alliance with the Volkovs offered far more than the Orlovs ever could.Sofia met his gaze briefly.

“My uncle said Sergei Orlov wasn’t happy about it,” Sofia said.

Alexei barked out a humorless laugh.“No.I imagine he wasn’t.”

The pieces began fitting together.Sergei Orlov had likely spent months believing he had a chance to secure an alliance with the Marino family through Sofia.Then the Volkovs stepped in and took the prize right out from under him.

Pride alone could make men stupid.Power made them worse.

“He lost the alliance,” Dimitri said quietly.“Then watched two stronger organizations unite.”

Sofia nodded.“From his perspective, the marriage shifted the balance.”

“It did,” Alexei agreed.

The room grew thoughtful.The simple explanation made sense.Sergei Orlov wasn’t trying to start a war.Perhaps he was trying to prevent himself from becoming irrelevant.A desperate man with a shrinking sphere of influence was often the most dangerous kind.

Alexei leaned forward and braced his hands against the table.“Then he’s panicking.”

“And panicking men make mistakes,” Dimitri said.

A grim smile crossed Alexei’s face.“Tonight was a very expensive mistake.”

Nobody disagreed.The attack had failed.The alliance remained intact, and Sergei Orlov had just declared himself an enemy openly enough that even his usual excuses wouldn’t save him.Alexei’s gaze shifted between Dimitri and Sofia.

“They came after both of you tonight,” Alexei remarked.

The room quieted.

“Which means this marriage is working exactly the way we intended,” Alexei said.

Sofia’s expression remained unreadable.Dimitri felt something harden inside him.The attack hadn’t weakened the alliance.It had strengthened it, because the moment the gunfire started, Sofia hadn’t run.She’d come looking for him.When she’d found him, she’d pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Alexei straightened.“Double security.Increase patrols.I want every entrance monitored,” Alexei ordered.

The captains nodded.

Orders were issued, and plans were made.For the first time that night, Dimitri felt certain they understood exactly who had tried to kill them.Sergei Orlov had taken his shot.Now he would have to live with the consequences.

****

The estate slowly returnedto a tense version of normal.As they exited the surveillance room, Dimitri glanced toward Sofia.She looked exhausted.Her dark hair was slightly disheveled from the night’s events.There was gunpowder residue on one sleeve, and yet she still looked composed.Still Sofia.

“I’ll walk you back,” Dimitri said, and his tone brooked no argument.

She raised an eyebrow.