Russian Bastard

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Zeke

"Place those tables there," their party planner, Christie Gold instructed her team of helpers while gesturing to the end of the hall. "We should have them as two concaves facing inside from the walls don’t you think?" she asked, looking up at him.

He didn’t know why she bothered asking when father gave her free reign on almost all of their parties. Of course, they could always change something they didn’t like, but that rarely happened and really, he was only there because there was a family meeting that his step-mother, Gina Federov, excluded him from. Now, he was here watching the preparations for tonight's event, with Bianca Ferruchi standing next to him, keeping him company.

Nonetheless, he nodded at her. "Yes, the layout looks good as always," he complimented, bowing slightly to appease her from his mindless reply.

Christie smiled at him in understanding. She's been their party planner for years and, for all intents and purposes, she has grown to be a friend. She knew about his history and she probably knew that he was kicked out of the family meeting with Gina.

"Christie!" Alex, one of the people she brought to help, called to her from across the room. "How should we set these up?" he asked, gesturing to the lights next to him that needed to be set up for the performances later.

"Hang those next to the balcony and prop those up on the other side," she said as she walked closer towards the makeshift stage, leaving him with Bianca. He almost forgot that he was supposed to perform later as well.

As he watched the preparations take place, he and Bianca sat by the bar. He thought of the piece he was supposed to perform for tonight at the party. Although his father was initially against it, his mother insisted that he learned music and she loved the piano. It was because of her that he learned. It felt like it was the only connection he really had to her since she lived so far away. He rarely saw her so whenever they were together, he would always perform for her and in the past few years, he has been playing his own compositions for her. But those compositions were just for her ears. Tonight, he was going to play Beethoven's Bagatelles Op. 126. It was a beautiful piece that his father chose.

While he mulled over his thoughts, Bianca ordered a mojito. She mostly kept silent and he was grateful, she was his closest friend, practically his sister and she could usually read him like the back of her hand.

As he was just about to order a drink, she spoke. "What's on your mind, Zeke?" she asked him quietly as she took a sip.

He paused. He ordered his drink first before turning to her. "I was thinking about the exchange tonight." Bianca was a close associate of his father's so she knew of tonight's main event.

"What is there to worry about?" she asked, confused. "Security tonight is tightened and your father even got more just to be safe. I doubt anything would go wrong."

"It's not that," Zeke said. "It's stupid, really." He shook his head, brushing it off.

Just as Bianca was about to protest, Francesco showed up wearing a classic grey suit with his hands in his pockets.

"Father is asking for you," he said without preamble. He glanced at Bianca briefly, something flashing in his eyes before looking away.

Zeke downed the drink he had just ordered, telling Bianca that he'll be right back, and followed his brother out of the room.

Francesco led him through the mansion, through the marble hallways, and into their father's meeting room near the back of the house. He held almost all of his meetings here in this office. It had a mahogany desk by the railed window that took up most of the wall, and a sitting area that dominated the center of the room, with leather chairs and a glass coffee table in the middle.

"Ah Zeke, there you are." Father said as he was sitting at the head of the space, holding a glass of Merlot. Gina was sat on the couch next to him looking displeased while his other half-siblings, Ivanov and Nina, sat on the couch opposite. Francesco sat next to his mother while he took the seat next to Nina.

"I trust that you remember that the Belluchi's are coming to deliver the packages, yes?" Father asked him.

"Yes, of course," Zeke said, bewildered. There was a lot of preparation for this event and it was mostly a coverup for the exchange with the Belluchi's—he doubted anyone would forget tonight's main agenda.

Father nodded. "Good. I would like you to help oversee the exchange with Francesco. That way, should anything not go according to plan, there will be two of you there."

Zeke nodded while Gina started to protest, "Pavel, dorogoy, he of all people should not have to be present during the exchange," Gina appealed to their father, insinuating how he didn’t belong as part of the Vasiliev's, but he merely ignored her. There was no swaying him.

Gina pressed on. "Surely—"

Father held up a hand at her. "I've made up my mind about this." He gave her a stern look that left no room for discussion. "Not only will he be there to assist Francesco, he will be there to indulge Agnieska. She was very fond of Zeke and I want this exchange to end in our favor."

Gina pursed her lips, still not happy but she could no longer protest. Pavel Vasiliev's word was law on these grounds and even his wife cannot sway him when his mind was made up.

"The money is all there." His father gestured to the two black heavy-duty cases on the coffee table. "One million dollars for the whole package. I've also left a list inside of what we ordered. Be sure to check them," he added to Francesco and Zeke.

"And what is my role for the party, papa?" Zeke's youngest half-sibling, Nina asked. "I assume I am not attending it just to enjoy it, am I?" she asked cheerily without any resentment.

Father smiled at her. "I'm afraid not moya milaya," he said. "Once Tatiana and her party arrive, you must meet them and keep them occupied until it is time for the exchange. We don’t want them to tire so easily of the event."

"Well!" Ivanov said loudly, downing his drink before standing up. "Love these family meetings but it looks like you don’t need me here after all so I'll just—" he began as he slowly started to walk out the door before being cut off.

"Not so fast," Their father cut him off, narrowing his eyes at him. Ivanov was the troublemaker in the family, a virtual twenty-seven-year-old baby—a year older than Zeke but the most charming and lovable of the family. He mostly dealt with the PR of the family when it comes to the legitimate side of the business.

"You will make sure to do the background check on the people that Tatiana will bring," Pavel ordered. "We don’t know if they can be trusted and I do not like to leave much to chance."

Ivanov groaned before saluting him. "Yes sir."

"That’s all for now,” Their father sat back. “You may leave," he said to all of them, gesturing to the entryway.

Everyone was almost to the door when he called out, "Zeke,” he said. “stay for a while."

Zeke walked back, confused but sat back down. He was curious about what his father had to say.

"I am sorry you were not immediately called to the meeting," his father said to him with pursed lips. "You know what you're step-mother is like." He sighed.

"It's all right, batya." Yet even though she was not his real mother, it still hurt—to be shunned for simply being born. But he was not going to voice that out to one of the greatest mafia Dons in the world, even if he was his father. "I'm used to it."

"Nonetheless, I am still sorry moy syn." He sighed, massaging his forehead as if to stop a headache. "No matter what I say, she cannot seem to accept you."

Inwardly, he scoffed. His twenty-six years of life were proof of that statement.

"It can't be helped." Zeke sighed, tired of the discussion. "May I leave now, batya?"

His father nodded. He stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and walked away.

As he approached the door his father called out to him once again. Zeke turned back to face him.

"What I said was applicable to you too, you know," his father called out, looking at his glass as he swirled around its contents in his hand. "The Verratti deal hasn’t been signed and your uncle is yet to agree. Should Tatiana gain affections for you, I will not stop you from pursuing such a relationship," he said. It was obvious that he did not expect a reply back so he turned back to the door and left.

He shut the door behind him and was surprised to see Gina standing there, leaning on the wall of the long hallway. When he approached her, she looked up and gave him a neutral face, though it did little to hide the glare she directed at him through her eyes.

"Do not think of even trying to steal that Belluchi b***h from my sons," she said firmly, openly glaring at him now. "She should marry a true Vasiliev. Not some half French dog who does not belong in the family," she spat before walking away and back to the main room, leaving him in the hallway.

He clenched his fist at the insult to his mother, but kept silent. No matter how much Gina enraged him, he was helpless against the Federovs. The way he was for now, at least.

But her threat met deaf ears. The Federovs were a powerful family, but no match for his father. She could not do anything if he chose to pursue the Belluchi girl.

***

Translations

Russian:

dorogoy - my dear

moya milaya - my sweet girl

batya - father (informal)

moy syn - my son 

Don't forget to like and share! I'd really appreciate it