Part of the family

Posted on Tue Aug 31st, 2021 @ 5:34am by Black Market Nikolai Udinov & El Plexuco

Mission: This Week's Special
Location: Lucky 38, Nikolai's office

If there was one thing a man in his position knew, and abided by, was to not let certain things, emotions show, unless there was call for such. Nik’s jaw had twitched, clenching as the message was relayed to him that the one and only Sasha Petrovich was here to see him. And not just see him, the man, the Pahkan, was waiting for him in his office. In the casino. This was strange for the boss because Sasha was rarely known to step foot onto Deck Five. And yet, He was there. Waiting. Nik knew better than to keep him waiting and after a quick nod to Alexi, wrapped up what he was doing and headed through the casino and towards his office.

Word had floated up to him about the missing girl. Though, she wasn’t just any missing girl, was she? No, she was the youngest child, daughter to Sasha. Missing. This would not do, and Nik was glad he was not in his bosses shoes.

Nikolai paused just outside the door to his office, and without looking at his man, knowing that he would stand there and wait like a good soldier, pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to stop. The door hissed shut behind him, the faint lighting of his office creating certain eerie shadows across Sasha as he sat, quite comfortably, behind Nik’s desk, occupying his chair. He reached up, unbuttoning a button to his jacket, and took a seat in one of the chairs, nodding.

Sasha Petrovich slowly turned in Nickolai's executive office chair. He looked at his brigider, nodding slowly. "I expect you have heard." His eyes locked with the younger man. The steely determination that had build the Petrovich reputation carried extra weight. Today they were dealing with family. "This turn of events is not good. You know Natalya, she is perhaps disrespectful and a bit rebellious, but she would not disappear. Had she left on a ship Oksanna would know. I have spoken personally with the Captains of the vessels that left before the lockdown. She is not among them. This is most disturbing. Who would come into our house to make such heartache?"

No one else would have been allowed to sit in Nikolai's chair, not even any of the Petrovich children, but their father, Sasha, could. He was the boss, the one even Nik answered to. His dark gaze met the man's from across the expanse of the desk and he nodded. He had in fact heard, and knew that everything that was said about the young girl... woman wa true. Though, in Nikolai's opinion he had let his youngest have too much freedom, it had long past come time for the girl to grow up. The first thought was that maybe there was still a small group of the Axe-Tong still onboard and they were seeking vengence. But truthfully, there was no honest answer he could give the man. "Someone terribly stupid, of course."

The old man nodded at Nik's statement. "Da. Terribly stupid indeed." Sasha unfolded his thick fingers from where he held them together in front of his face. "Do you suppose she perhaps may have run off with a young man and ... all this.... is just a misunderstanding? Girls have been known to create such troubles to their mothers. But Natalya... she is different. Of all my children, she has the mind and the will for our business. She would not cause us this trouble out of hand, you think?"

He knew the Pahkan would agree with him, not because he was that conceited or confident that the man would, but because it was terribly stupid to mess with the Bratva on their on turf. But as Sasha continued, speaking about his daughter in such a way that only family could, Nik could only sit and listen...and keep his first thoughts to himself. Angering the man would certainly do him no good. What to say to him in regards to the missing girl, though? He rubbed a finger across his chin, as if contemplating "Your Natayla? No, it is doubtful she would do such a thing." Anyone who was worth their salt knew that the young woman was the leader of the Plexies, the group of teens who roamed the Skyplex as if it were their own. "No, Pahkan. I do not think your daughter would cause you this such trouble."

"I shall offer extra hands, for the searching."

Sasha looked down his nose across the table at his younger brigidaire. "That is good. Many hands make light work, but they must move swiftly. My daughter is not to be tolerated as pawn in someone's game to get at me. We do not touch family, unless family is the problem." He gave Nikolai a slow look over, not accusing, merely suggesting he was considering his loyalty. "Da, we find Natalya and we teach whomever did this not to mess with Bratva. I expect your full attention to this matter."

Nikolai knew exactly that the look meant, it was after all, one he'd given the men under his control, on occasion. He nodded in agreement. Many hand would help aid in the search for the young Petrovich girl. The sooner she was found the better, for he didn't want to endure the wrath that was sure to come from the seemingly mild mannered Sasha. There would be hell to pay on the entire Skyplex if something were to happent to Natalya.

From across the table, he bestowed another look on Nik and if he was less of a man than he was, it would have bothered him. But he was right, the Bratva was not one to be messed with. "You have it." He didn't want to close the casino, but if that was what it took to show his loyality, to have every man he could out searching every single deck, he would.

Sasha shifted his weight back in the chair, his eyes still locked on Nikolai. He knew his lieutenant was aware this was an opportunity to impress him. Nikolai was a valuable asset to the organization, a fact that Sasha rewarded with limited autonomy, especially in the markets Sasha no longer cared to sully himself with. But Nikolai was not family.

For generations, Sasha's family has passed on their business to their children. Sasha was painfully aware that his offspring were mostly not up to the challenge, none had shown the spark... Oksanna was purely by the book and her heart was too big for the family business. She was a legitimate face, working for the Alliance. She brought knowledge and protection, but she could not be counted on for things that needed to be done. Her brother, Dimitri, he tried, but his was a mind of numbers, not passion. The younger Sergi was an organizer, and had the physical presence to enforce family concerns, but his mind was not sharp enough for bratva. Natalya was young, defiant and undisciplined, but she ruled her school mates with a level of fear that Sasha respected. She would perhaps be a good one to marry off to gain greater influence over the core families. The business would likely fall to one of his brothers. Zeno had no known offspring, and none of his siblings had the expereince of running the family.

Sasha look again at the young man across the desk. He was good and loyal. Perhaps it was his time to shine.

"Da. Do what you must." Natalya must be found and those responsible taught a severe lesson. Depending upon when and how they found his daughter, it could be a interesting test for the young lieutenant.