Dmitry's Closet by Nelson, S. (read people like a book .txt) 📕

“I’m sick of this shit,” one of the loyal council members said, slamming his crystal goblet on the table. “Who is the prick?” The vodka splashed against his hand.

Dmitry smiled. “We’ll get to that in due time.” His wicked stare swept the room.

“For now, I’d like to talk to you about Anatoly.”

The men looked over at the young man, standing in the corner of the room in a black suit, hair clean cut and guns concealed. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Come here, Anatoly.”

“Yes, Papa,” Anatoly responded, stepping forward from the other men who watched on confused.

“Papa?” one of the council men repeated. “He is now...a Vor?”

Dmitry stood up and moved out of his seat at the head of the table. He waived at the seat and had Anatoly sit down. The room became silent. Every eye was on the young man, on his dramatic transformation.

“Anatoly is not only Vor, he is my biological son.” Dmitry laid his hand on his son’s broad shoulder.

The men looked at Dmitry standing beside Anatoly and soaked in the news. Suspicions put to rest, both father and son smiled at the collective council.

“What is this?” Nicolaisnapped. “Now, we’re supposed to believe that you actually have a son? You have treated that boy like your slave for years. He would say anything that you wanted him to say. He is your lapdog.”

Dmitry threw a piece of paper on the table. It was the DNA report certified by a Russian doctor that they all knew well. 99.999%. It was certified, sealed and signed.

“The resemblance is there,” said another council member. “I would not have believed it before.”

“Dah, it is...” another one agreed.

“So, what does this mean?” Max asked, unmoved by the show.

Dmitry leaned against the table. “The high council of Moscow and New York have approved Anatoly. He is a Vor now. He will no longer be my foot man, my lap dog.”

“And you want him to sit at the table with this council? There is little room for another,” Max said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“No, I don’t want him to sit by you. I want him to lead you.” Dmitry answered. “Here as my predecessor.”

The men shuffled around in their seats.

Dmitry did not speak immediately. Instead, he poured himself a glass of vodka and let them men grumble. He drank quickly. Then quietly placed the glass back on the table.

“Max...Nicolai... I don’t think that you have to worry about Anatoly and his new position. You won’t be here long.”

Anatoly took his gun from its holster and gave it to Dmitry.

“Both of you have been conspiring against me since I left for Russia. I have tapes,” he turned towards the rest of the council. “They were planning on Ivan killing me, and they were supposed to kill all of you to usher in a new reign of the Medlov family.”

All eyes turned to Max and Nicolaiwho sat together.

“It’s a lie,” Nicolaisaid, denying it all.

“Is it?” Anatoly asked.

“It is,” Max said standing up. “I swear to you. You can’t believe a thing that Ivan says. True, he did come to us, but we turned him down cold.” His voice was trembling.

Nicolai looked at Max, stunned that he had admitted to any part of the discussion.

“Lying suka,” one of the council spat.

“The tapes don’t lie,” said Dmitry. He shook his head and grinned deviously at the men. “And neither do I.”

“Take them away,” Anatoly ordered to his men, who quickly grabbed both men kicking and screaming. They dragged them to the stairwell where they all disappeared behind the large door.

“Remember, it’s about what you don’t have to do,” Dmitry instructed Anatoly.

“He’s young,” another council member said unconvinced.

“He’s loyal,” Dmitry said proudly. “He has served you all well as my understudy, and he will serve you still as your leader. He has been approved. He has been steadfast. And gentlemen, he is my choice.”

The room became silent again. The men thought to themselves.

“Agreed,” one man finally said sighing. “I assume that he will lead under your tutelage or do plan to completely disassociate yourself from all that you have built.”

“I will continue to beall that he needs to be, but he is ready. He knows everything there is to know.”

“And nothing changes with our percentages?” another asked.

“No,” Dmitry said quickly. “Nothing changes period, except that I won’t be here in Memphis anymore.”

“Where do you plan to go?”

“Away,” Dmitry answered. “Prague.”

The men looked up. Dmitry waited for the response that he so desired. While he could demand their support, to know that he had their approval and their word to follow his son would mean so much more.

“We were once young men. I think he will do well,” another councilmember said. “Let’s give it a vote. Shall we?”

∞♥∞

Ivan stood in the living room listening to the entire conversation taking place in Mother Russia. While Cory had not managed to plant one successful wire, Ivan had successfully planted many the night before because of little Tatiana, the barmaid, whom he had been sleeping with since he arrived in Memphis. It had only taken him a few dollars and promises of a future together to get her to bow on her worthless knees and give him whatever he wanted.

However, he was absolutely flabbergasted now. The little shit that he despised was his nephew. Ivan swore in Russian and kicked the table. He should have known. It should have been apparent to him. Dmitry trusted no one, but he had allowed the boy to be so close.

Although he would never admit it, there was a strange solemn void in Ivan’schest now, more so than ever. All he had ever wanted was a family. And in a way, he had one through these two men. It was a