Zaal
“Boys, come here!” Papa’s voice called Anri and me in from the garden. We looked at each other and smiled. I set off running, sprinting through the long grass.
I was fast, but so was Anri. I could hear him running behind me, picking up speed. I laughed as we rounded the corner and our house came into view.
Grandmama was sitting on the porch. She started laughing as she saw us approach. I pushed myself harder, then Anri was suddenly at my side. We looked at each other and started laughing. We both reached the porch at the very same moment.
I stopped in front of Grandmama. She put down her tea and started clapping. “My boys!” she exclaimed, and opened her arms for us. Both Anri and I ran into her embrace. She kissed us both on the head.
Footsteps sounded behind us and Grandmama pushed us back. Papa was waiting at the door and called us over.
We ran to Papa and he smiled wide. “Come with me, boys.” Papa led us into the house and through to his office.
A tapping on the wooden floor seemed to follow us. When I looked around I saw that Zoya was running our way, dressed in a pink dress and clutching her white stuffed toy rabbit.
“Sykhaara!” she shouted with a giggle, and jumped into my arms. Anri reached over and ruffled her hair. “Where are you going?” she asked. Papa leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek.
“I have something for your brothers,” Papa said proudly.
Zoya’s face lit up. “For me, too?” she shouted in excitement.
Papa shook his head. “Leave me with your brothers. And if you’re good, I’ll take you to town tomorrow and buy you anything you want.”
She nodded her head. I placed her on the floor. She ran back to Mama who was watching us with proud eyes as she fed our baby brother and sister.
“Anri, Zaal, in my office.”
We sat in Papa’s large office, on the sofa opposite his chair. Papa sat down in his black chair, smoothing out his expensive suit as he did so.
“Anri, Zaal. When I was your age, my papa controlled our clan. The Kostavas have always been strong. We’ve always been feared and we always will be.
“But years ago I made a decision for our clan that took us from Moscow and brought us back to Georgia. I issued a command that many took offense to and it cost us our standing in Russia, and with the rest of the Vor V Zakone.
“I still stand by my decision, but it’s no secret it has damaged this family’s reputation. This is our home. Georgian blood runs through our veins. But in order to rule strong, we need to be back in Moscow. And we need to claim our slice of New York, too.”
We both nodded, listening to every word our papa said. He spoke of our clan all the time. He spoke about regaining our place in Moscow after the murder of our rival’s boss. Mr. Jakhua, another Georgian boss, and my papa were always in meetings. They always planned to overthrow the Volkov Russians. My papa hated the Volkov Russians. He said they were greedy and needed taking out.
Anri and I hated the Russians. Papa taught us how to hate them.
Papa leaned forward. “When I was eight, I began listening in on business meetings of the family. You are both eight, and there’s no better time to start than now. You’ll learn the family business, then when you’re older and I’m gone, you’ll both rule our clan.” Papa smiled and sat back proudly. “Two male heirs. I have two strong young men to carry the Kostavas back to greatness.”
Anri elbowed me in the side. I smiled as he nodded in pride.
Papa stood and opened up his safe. He pulled out two black boxes and gave one to each of us. Papa sat back down and pointed at the boxes. “All the men in our family get one at your age. It’s tradition.” He waved his hand. “Open.”