The Russian Unleashed

by Red Phoenix

  He glances at Thane. “No one else should be here.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Why not?”

  He swallows anxiously several times before answering. “The information is meant for your eyes only.”

  “I’d give my life for this man—while I can’t say the same about you. He stays.”

  Yurlov nods. His hands shake as he pulls out file after file and neatly stacks them on my desk.

  The sheer number of them shock me and I demand, “How long will this take?”

  “Hours,” he informs me, swiping his brow again.

  I sigh in irritation as I stare at the stacks of files. This was not how I planned to spend the day.

  Making a sweeping gesture with my hand, I growl, “Get on with it.”

  Yurlov pulls out the official will and hands it to me. When I take it, I glance over at Thane with a smirk. I had purposely underestimated the Durov estate when he asked me about it earlier because I want to see the expression on his face when he hears how much I am truly worth.

  “As you know, your grandfather stipulated that you would not come into your inheritance until your twenty-first birthday.”

  “Today’s your birthday?” Thane mutters under his breath.

  I grin. “It is, moy droog.”

  He shakes his head, surprised by the revelation.

  It is true I have kept much from him.

  I’m not a trusting man by nature. However, Thane is now my blood brother, and I know I must change.

  Yurlov continues. “Starting today, you will no longer be living off a portion of that inheritance but will take charge of it all—including the stipends to each of your brothers.”

  I sit up in my chair, a slow smile curling my lips. Now, that is a responsibility I may actually enjoy.

  I give Thane a sideways glance. “I wish I could see the looks on their faces when they hear that portion of the will.” My chuckle has a hint of malice in it—the wounds still run too deep. “I bet they’ll regret the way they’ve treated me.”

  Thane puts his hand on my shoulder and says in a somber tone, “Anton, with great power, comes great responsibility.”

  I growl, not appreciating his sage-like advice. I have no interest in entertaining the idea of compassion where my brothers are concerned.

  Yurlov clears his throat.

  I glance at him.

  The instant our eyes meet, he licks his lips nervously and stammers, “Although you have the official document in your hands, your grandfather insisted I read through the entire will in your presence, gospodin.”

  I shake my head, feeling annoyed. “Why? I am capable of reading it myself.”

  Yurlov flips to the second page of his copy and reads directly from it. “It is imperative that you, Anton Durov, understand and appreciate the numerous assets you are now responsible for as the beneficiary of the Durov estate. Only then can you manage the inheritance with which you have been entrusted.”

  I snort in amusement, not surprised that my grandfather spelled out every detail. It highlights his high intellect—and his level of distrust.

  I assume his distrust stems from his son, Vladimir. What other reason would he have to entrust me with the Durov legacy at such a young age?

  I sigh with growing disinterest as Yurlov rattles through the many assets already known to me, but my jaw drops when he begins naming ones I am completely unfamiliar with.

  “Wait,” I order.

  Yurlov looks up at me. “Yes, gospodin?”

  I gesture to the multiple stacks of files. “Do each of these files contain a separate asset?”

  “They do, gospodin.”

  “Oh, hell,” I complain. “This will take forever…”

  I glance at Thane. “I am sorry, comrade. This is not how I envisioned today playing out. We were supposed to have fun on my birthday. Don’t feel you must stay.”

  He shrugs. “I have no issues with staying.”

  I let out a long, frustrated sigh.

  Looking at Yurlov, I snarl, “Continue, then.”

  As Yurlov walks me through each asset tied to the estate, Thane’s words keep ringing in my ears, but I hear it in my grandfather’s voice.

  “With great power, comes great responsibility…”

  I suddenly recall Grandfather saying those exact same words the night he gave me the ring on my pinky. I look down at the ring, suddenly full of misgiving.

  Hours later, Yurlov reads off the total value of the family estate, which I now own outright.

  I stare at him in utter shock when I hear it. “How is that even possible?”

  Yurlov meets my gaze, licking his lips nervously. “You come from a long line of successful men, gospodin. Each one was devoted to not only managing the wealth of the Durov estate but also building upon it.”

  “Did I hear you correctly?” Thane asks him. “You said 411 billion rubles?”

  When Yurlov nods, Thane quickly does the conversion in his head and looks at me in wonder. “That’s almost six billion U.S.”

  I nod slowly, equally stunned.

  I am certain my brothers have no idea about the extent of our wealth or they would have found a way to kill me already.

  But now, I’m left wondering…

  Did my father know?

  I can appreciate why my grandfather bypassed not only my father but every one of my brothers when choosing his successor.

  In the wrong hands, this kind of money could destroy countries.

  Instead of the sense of excitement for my newfound wealth I expected, I’m suddenly feeling oppressed by it.

  Yurlov states, “I must stress, gospodin, that every heir before you has made it his sole mission to increase the value of the family inheritance.”

  “To what end?” I challenge him. “What is the point of owning such riches if no one benefits from it?”

  Yurlov looks at me anxiously and begins wiping his brow again. “That is the way it has always been, and it was the expectation of your grandfather when he entrusted it to you.”

  I growl, resenting the heavy responsibility of this inheritance. I look at Thane, drowning in my misery.

  He surprises me by smiling.

  “Do you enjoy my pain, comrade?” I demand.

  “Anton, you have been given an unprecedented opportunity to influence the world. I can’t think of a better man for the position. In one lifetime, you will change the entire direction of the Durov legacy.”

  Thane’s assertion sets a fire in my belly. In the very depths of my soul, I know that he is right. However, Yurlov seems exceedingly distressed by Thane’s suggestion.

  “Your duty is to grow the estate. You cannot go against the generations before you.”

  I narrow my eyes. “I disagree. My grandfather chose me for a reason.” I lean forward, gazing deep into Yurlov’s eyes. “And I plan to make certain the Durov name is no longer associated with my father.”

  My voice becomes dark with rage when I add, “Every trace of that maggot will be erased from history.”

  I notice Yurlov swallow hard.

  Although I do not know the extent of Yurlov’s dealings with my father, I wonder if he is privy to some of the unspeakable things my father is responsible for, so I warn him, “I am not a man who suffers fools or the morally bankrupt.”

  A droplet of sweat rolls down Yurlov’s forehead and falls into his eye, but he doesn’t dare break my gaze.

  “You and I will speak later…in private.”

  The man reeks of fear.

  Yurlov bows his head low before he turns to leave. Before he makes it to the door, I tell him in a sarcastic tone, “Be sure to send my brothers my regards.”

  After he shuts the door, I turn to Thane and chuckle harshly. “I almost wish I could be the one to deliver the news to my brothers.”

  “You have that right.”

  A cruel smile spreads across my lips. “It is far better if Yurlov is the one to suffer my brothers’ outrage.”

  “Do you thin
k you will keep him on as your legal representative?”

  My eyes narrow. “Yurlov’s future will depend on the outcome of our ‘talk’. I need to know the extent of his involvement with my father before I decide.”

  Thane looks at the mountain of paperwork representing the Durov fortune. “Damn…you realize it’s going to take days to go through all of this.”

  “Da,” I say tiredly.

  I was not mentally prepared for the immensity of this inheritance. If Thane wasn’t by my side right now, I would be drowning.

  Instead, I’m riding on an emotional high knowing I have the world at my feet.

  “Are you ready for some fun, brother?”

  Revelry

  As far as the world is concerned, I am still the same person I was before becoming the sole beneficiary of my grandfather’s will.

  But I am a new man—a man with limitless reserves.

  I can’t quite wrap my head around the idea that I am one of the richest men in Russia, and there are only two other people who know it. I thought I knew wealth, but it is nothing compared to this.

  This entire scenario has a superhero feel to it.

  In the eyes of the public, I’m just a mild-mannered sadist, yet I have the ability to literally change the world.

  I shake my head, smiling to myself. To have such riches and remain in the shadows is a true gift I never appreciated until now.

  I appreciate why my grandfather kept it such a tightly guarded secret. I also understand the reason why the stipends my father, brothers, and I received were relatively low, considering the vast amount of money in the estate.

  It’s all been a carefully crafted ruse.

  My grandfather and the Durovs before him have meticulously hidden the extent of our wealth while investing their resources to grow it.

  Now, all of that money is mine!

  I break out in laughter, thrilled by it all.

  “What’s so funny?” Thane asks.

  I shake my head, grinning. “I’m feeling like a million bucks right now, moy droog—six billion, actually.” I laugh again. “It is a heady experience.”

  He nods thoughtfully. “I can only imagine.”

  “I understand why my grandfather refused to let my father or brothers take on this responsibility. All of them are far too weak for such a duty.” I spit out the words in disgust.

  “Agreed, but be careful, Anton. Being responsible for so much money is bound to change you as a person.”

  I bump shoulders with him. “What would you know about handling money, peasant?”

  Calling my men back in, I tell them, “My plans for the day have changed. Get the jet ready.”

  Immediately, one man leaves to arrange it, while the others wait for their new orders.

  Smiling at Thane, I tell him, “Go change, comrade. We’ll be leaving within the hour—and layer up.” I add with a smirk, “You are about to experience a variety of temperatures.”

  After he leaves, I instruct my men. I know what I am asking them to do would be impossible under normal circumstances, but I assure them, “Money is no object. Tonight, I want to celebrate.”

  “Yes, gospodin.”

  Energized by my new status, I clap my hands together and leave to get dressed. As I climb the impressive stairs of the mansion, I think back on that helpless boy bound to the pole.

  How could he know then how powerful he would become?

  After a five-hour flight, we find ourselves circling the city of Chelyabinsk as we wait to land.

  Thane notices the number of ski resorts outside the city limits and looks at me in concern. “Durov, I hate to tell you this, but I’m not a skier.”

  “We won’t be skiing, comrade. I want to share a cherished Russian tradition with you.”

  I can see I’ve grabbed his attention when he asks, “What tradition is that?”

  “A Russian banya.”

  “Which is…?”

  I punch him in the shoulder. “A powerful bonding experience, moy droog.”

  We go straight from the jet to a vehicle waiting for us and drive out of the city. When Igor stops near a frozen lake, I get out of the vehicle and start down a path in the snow that leads into the trees.

  I call back to Thane, “Follow me.”

  “Where are we headed?” he asks, hurrying to catch up after throwing on his coat.

  I look at the coat and chuckle. “You won’t be needing that.”

  The air is filled with the fragrant scent of burning birch and oak. Thick smoke billows out of the chimney as we walk up to a large cabin.

  I can already feel my body beginning to relax.

  Opening the door, I gesture to Thane to enter first. The room is lit by the flames of old-fashioned lamps, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. This main room has a wet bar and rustic wooden tables covered with tablecloths. The place is empty except for the bartender.

  “Sit down, comrade,” I tell Thane.

  He shrugs off his jacket and lays it beside him on the bench.

  I sit down opposite him and grin. “Tonight is about extremes, moy droog. But first, we prepare our souls for the cleansing.”

  Thane smirks as he looks around the room. “Something tells me the quaint feel of this place is a ruse designed to suck me in.”

  The bartender comes up and sets down a bottle of vodka and two glasses, along with a plate of smoked fish.

  “This is where we tell each other what we admire about the other. I’ll go first, but you must drink.”

  I pour him a shot and nod in approval when he downs it.

  In the dim light of the lamps, I look over at my blood brother and smile. “You are a man of principles. You never sway from them no matter the circumstances.”

  Thane nods. “Thank you.”

  “Now, it’s your turn,” I announce.

  He pours me a shot and watches me drink it. The moment I put down my glass, he states, “You are a man of extreme passion. I admire the fact that you’re not afraid to show your emotions.”

  “True,” I respond. “You are a man of deep emotions as well, but you keep them tightly controlled.”

  He smiles slightly. “I do.”

  I pour him another shot. “While I admire your great intellect, moy droog, I admire your humbleness more.”

  Thane snorts in disbelief. “Really?”

  I nod.

  Thane pours more vodka into my glass, then looks me in the eye. “I am cynical and cautious by nature. But, you…you approach life differently. You live each moment with fierce intensity.”

  “It’s all or nothing,” I agree.

  I pour his next shot with reverence and push it toward him. “You saved my life, brother.”

  He downs the vodka and slams the shot glass on the table. “We’re even on that score.”

  I can tell the alcohol is starting to affect him as I watch Thane carefully pour the vodka into my glass. He stares at me for several moments before saying, “I admire your belief in God.”

  I laugh, caught off guard by his admission. “Why?”

  Thane holds my gaze when he answers, “I consider you my intellectual equal and yet…you can believe in something intangible.”

  I smile and shrug it off. “It is no different than believing in love, comrade.”

  Thane shakes his head. “That’s another thing I struggle with.”

  I look at him with compassion. “It’s because you think with only this.” I point to his head. “But you also have to think with the heart.” I press my fist against my chest for emphasis. “We are made up of both, brother. It is not one or the other.”

  “Huh…” He pauses for a second. “I guess that explains it.”

  “What?”

  Looking me dead in the eyes, he states, “I have no heart.”

  I throw back my head and laugh. “For an intelligent man, you are an idiot.”

  Thane stares at his glass expectantly, waiting for me to pour another.

  “I would happily d
rink you under the table, moy droog. However, it’s time for the banya.”

  I stand up and immediately begin stripping off my clothes.

  “Wait…what are you doing?”

  I point to a secret door in the wall. “Behind that wall is the path to cleansing our body and mind.”

  “And, we need to be naked to do that?”

  “Naturally.”

  I watch with amusement as Thane strips, his movements slow and uncertain, as if he doesn’t trust me.

  After he folds the last of his clothing and places it on the bench beside his coat, I pick up a chapka hat and place it on his head. It is gray and white with a red star set prominently in the center.

  He adjusts the felt hat, looking at me questioningly.

  Putting one on my head, I answer his unspoken question. “You cannot enter without a chapka.”

  Thane looks me up and down with an amused smile. “Somehow, it seems fitting.”

  I nod proudly and walk to the secret door which leads to a tiled room. Benches line the walls just outside the sauna.

  “Ahh…so banya means a sauna?” he asks with relief.

  “Not exactly, comrade.” I open the short wooden door to the sauna. As I do, it releases a thick cloud of steam. I see Thane hesitate, so I push him through the entrance shouting, “S lyogkim parom!”

  I follow behind and quickly close it to preserve the heat. The room has three rows of bench seats climbing up the back and right side of the small room. It smells strongly of birch and oak.

  The air is so hot that it makes breathing difficult. I can already feel the heat entering my lungs, and I smile.

  I can see that Thane is struggling and tell him to sit on the nearest bench. “Relax, moy droog.”

  I sit down beside him and throw my head back as the sweat pours off me. I feel the steam curling around me, caressing my skin, and sigh in contentment.

  Once Thane has acclimated to the temperature, I motion him to move to the top bench and join him.

  The higher you get in the small room, the hotter it is. The rising temperature promotes liberal sweating, which cleans the blood and provides a rush of endorphins.

  I am impressed that Thane sticks it out at the higher temperature for as long as he does but, eventually, I motion to him to head out the door.