Despite the Rage

Phoebe Tonkin

Crystal Reed

Lily James

Alex Daddario

Danielle Campbell

Dove Cameron

Blake Lively

Sebastian Stan

Richard Madden

Matt Daddario

Grey Damon

Casey Deidrick

Max Irons

Taylor Kinney

Jai Courtney

Ben Barnes

Michael Huisman

“Just trust me,” he spoke, watching the other. “And remember that there’s more up my sleeve than you’ll ever think to guess. Unlike you, the brotherhood is my life, and it’s my only life.” He didn’t have any other pleasures–denied himself even alcohol–in sacrifice for the brotherhood the past few years. “Play your part, Nikolai, and learn to listen when your elders speak.” The last part was a joke, punctuated with a soft laugh.

Thank you, @redskynights

LAST SONG: probably something on the radio, but last song I remember putting on was something Motley Crue 

CURRENTLY READING: Harry Potter the Cursed Child, The Queen’s Shadow 

CURRENTLY WATCHING: Stanley Cup Playoffs (GO BOLTS!), just wrapped up The Boys and haven’t started anything new. 

LAST MOVIE: She’s the Man

CURRENTLY CRAVING: A hot bath

“They can’t drink, they can’t die,” he spoke carefully, shaking his head. Aleksey had given up drinking to keep his head clear, knowing that it would lead him into a problem again if he were to start back, but that was part of his life that he’d kept quiet from his family. They didn’t need to know the struggle with alcohol addiction that he’d had. “I’ve got a meeting with McC tonight, so hopefully you’ll get that call tomorrow.”

It was par for the course with them: they’d argue for a while, get heated, and things would settle down, but he always had to remind his brother that he was in that seat because Aleks wanted him there. “Yeah seriously, I think they could just go pass for models, and we’d be set,” he sighed, shaking his head. He carded a hand through his hair, still seated on the table. “Now, you see why I won’t hurt an innocent woman, or children?” he asked, meaning the comment about Nik’s wife. 

“The Irish.” One of the multiple Irish mob families, but the only one he trusted. “We have no problem with the Notoriani, and they’re close with them, on top of it.” Greg and Dante had even grown up together. “There are other ways to get money; what I’m saying is that if it’s found out who you really are? Well, that puts everyone in hot water. So don’t act like I’m the only one that plays with fire in this family.” Sitting on the desk, he put his foot in the chair and watched his brother. “Tides turn, Kolya, as do tables. I’m the good looking one–maybe we should start plastering my face all over everything,” he joked.

“Then trust what I’ve done’s a better idea.” When he found out what it was. “Expect a call from Kellan McCullough by the end of the week. And leave this footwork to me. And your political career has also plastered your face all over, put you in the spotlight, so remember that as a risk. I can go blend in anywhere, but your face is always going to be known. If your political opponents ever found out you have bratva ties? We’re all done.” And besides, this new deal had better perks for him–namely, an excuse to go around McCullough, and in turn the fiery redheads that he had. “Alliances come in many forms, including those that evolve. Thing is? Cutting off ties with Radulov cold-turkey is a bad idea. It needs to taper. Otherwise, we may face backlash, and I don’t want to have to go around busting heads myself.”

This is more than some chemical reaction This is more than some young adult attraction I know I know This is more than some blind infatuation This is more than a strong inclination

“Stressing the importance doesn’t seem to do any good,” he spoke, taking a seat on the desk. “You try to leave me out of things, and even Greg agrees. If you want a soldier, you go to him. He’s the one that’s blindly loyal, and I’m the one that cleans up his mistakes.” Which was the truth–Aleksey had always done his best to clean up their baby brother’s mistakes. “You chose the politics thing–that’s on you. None of us had anything to do with that, and we don’t let our other things interfere with this little thing of ours. While you’re off at state dinners, and cavorting with house representatives and shit, I’m out here forging alliances born in blood. The thing is? You and I are different sides of the same coin, Nikolai. While you prefer to use a serpent’s tongue, I prefer the fangs, but you damn well know we can turn it around if we try. So I suggest you listen, and when I make an executive decision, you know that it isn’t something that I haven’t weighed heavily. I respected your decision on the deal with the cartel, even though I don’t like drug running, now you have to respect mine on the weapons. Name one person that you know that’s going to know more about that than me. I’ll give you a few to think about it,” he spoke, now talking with his hands. 

“I can admit that I’m far from fucking perfect,” he warned him. At the end of the day, they all had a part to play, and while his method of reminding his brother of that wasn’t the best, it was just that–his method. “I’ll question you whenever I damn well feel like it.” It had happened before, and it would happen again. “You’re not seeing what I’m saying–you aren’t leading this family alone, and you never have been.” It had been the three of them, trying to keep things afloat when their parents had died early. “Giving Lesya that much visible power would be a fool’s move and you know it. It would go to her head and she’d go tyrant. We’ve got the blood of Tsars, but we aren’t absolute.” The words were chosen carefully, crafted quickly as he spoke. “Her allegiances are money and whatever man she can step on with her heels and you know it.” Which, at the base of who she was, was the truth. “I’ve been trying to tell you for a month, but you brush me off every time. You’ve got to remember that you can’t ignore things people are warning you about, things people are telling you, simply because you think you have everything under control. None of us are God, Nikolai, and we can’t know everything. I stopped your last order with the Radulov family and pulled it to another group.” To the Irish supplier. “You can be the face, but you don’t know everything. None of us do, but if you’re going to be childish and not listen, and instead go on an ego trip, then we can’t put what we know together. You go to Lesya, and you brush me off like I’m just another soldat, trying to claw his way into someone even knowing his name. That stops now, because this is serious. I saw Constantin with Adlan Yamadayev and they were talking business. Now, do you want your unwillingness to listen to me to be the reason someone comes after your wife? Because not everyone’s got morals like I do.”

“Your game?” There was the laugh, a chest-rattling sound. “God, you’re looking over the details so closely that you miss the entire picture. It isn’t your game, Nikolai, and it never has been. “You’ve played into my hands time and time again, Nikolai, and you’ll play into them again. I’m the first born son, we’re all aware. I remember when we were boys, you were always on my heels, trying to know what I was doing, trying to talk you way into getting into things you weren’t ready for yet.” He moved, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “Just know that I don’t support this, and if the Radulov fold, then we have other avenues, and you’ll know about those when the time comes. “I have my set of rules, if you want to talk allegiances–any man should have his set of rules, and I won’t kill a child just for being related to someone that owes a debt.” Children were easily moldable, their minds easily changed about what they saw or heard, or didn’t see or hear. “He trusted me to make the right decisions, and I’ve made my decisions my own.” And each one had its purpose, its meaning. “The desires of the flesh can cloud the mind.” Which was true–it’s why he’d denied himself any such desire for so long, anything that could cloud his mind–drink or smoke or delight of the flesh. “Our legacy runs deeper than you know, as does my allegiance. You want to question me, then look at yourself. You’re as flawed as I am. You hide behind your words and your games, using double-speak and talking in circles. Not everything’s about that. If I’d wanted that seat outright, it would be mine, and if I desire it at any point, it will be. You only know the business aspect of things anymore. I remember when you were just a soldier, a soldat trying to prove himself, and to me, that’s what you still are. I say this with love, Nikolai, but don’t act like you’re unflawed, or that you’re the only one that can get people to do what you want. Keep in mind my warning: Radulov sells to the Chechens,” he spoke, the last phrase like shutting the lid on a lead coffin. Their greatest enemy, the Chechen mafia. “And he marks his pieces.” Which, the latter of which he’d come to find out when cleaning one thoroughly. 

“I want you to remember what you just said–you’re where you are because I want you there. I’m not ignorant, but I know this risk is greater than the benefit. I know we don’t need to rely on them for supplies.” Having one supplier would bottleneck them in a bad situation, and he knew it. That’s why he had other deals on the side that he’d not even mentioned to his brother. His gaze followed his brother, never letting him out of his sight, his own posture relaxed, open, though his thoughts were guarded. “I think you know that your tongue doesn’t work on me by now. A soldier follows orders blindly, Nikolai. I’ve not followed one order blindly, and you know damn well by now that I’ll undermine your authority and do what I think is best.” He stood up, moving to pull his brother close by his shirt, eye to eye. “I may be cutthroat,” he spoke, his voice dropping low. “But I’m much more than you give me credit for. Call me a soldier one more time, and you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of.” He let go of his grip, his jaw set, blue eyes focused. Whatever his brother wanted to dish out? He’d match it. “You ever think that my choice was made for a reason? To get people where I want them? If there’s one lesson I was taught when papa was grooming me, it was that people are all pawns in someone else’s game. It just is a matter of who’s game dominates. And guess what? You’re exactly where I want you. There are family secrets, however, that you’ll never be privy to. Remember my warning, and know that I don’t support your trust in Constantin, or in Irina.”

“When this blows up, you’re going to get a huge I told you so, little brother.” People often thought he was nothing but the muscle, and he let them think that–there was no use exposing what was going on in his head, because that was the kind of thing that god a man killed, or worse. “I think your judgement is a little clouded when it comes to that pair. They’re working with the Irish, the Italians,” he pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest, looking at his brother carefully. “You’re going to remember that I gave up my rightful position for you, because I generally trust your judgement, but I’m going to call you out when I see it. That’s my job.” One of the notorious Two Spies, Aleksey wasn’t without his own dangers, and he knew how to play the game. “If nothing else, it’s going to put a mark on your political career.” Which was true–skeletons came out of closets, and if his brother was seen patronizing such an establishment? Well, he would be dragged through the mud. “Be careful what you say to the Radulovs, and this is a warning. I know how Constantin is.” And that in and of itself was a terrifying thing–two faced, and always playing the cards to has advantage, just like their own sister. “Don’t become a pawn, Kolyan. How often do I question your decisions? Keep that in mind when you think over my words here, and remember that not even you know what’s going on in my head.”