Chapter Forty Nine

***

Manhattan, New York

Alessandra

He let me go, allowing me to stand and approach the man once one of the guards finished laying out the extra things I had requested on a side table not too far from where a terrified Brad was handcuffed. I noticed that neither of the men in the room had left, that among them was my husband's cousin and the former Head of the Bratva before Draken made his presence known.

I had met Ioann Zolotov once before, at my wedding but he had kept his distance since then, wading in and out of the manor too quickly before any words could be spoken between us. I sensed no animosity from him- only curiosity that seemed to be mirrored all around the room. The man beside him was, however, different. Amused and genuinely eager for what was to come. His smile was chilling as he granted me a simple nod of acknowledgement before leaning back into the wall and watching like everyone else.

I hadn't anticipated a small audience but I didn't care as much. The only gaze t