Chapter 7: Mikael's Will

One week later.

Memories of how Nikolai declared that he never played games rushed into my mind as we sat in the Odessa hall conference room. I had been distracted the whole week while Igor and Viktor briefed me on the changes they had made in the boxing club. Ma had been over the moon as Nikolai settled in and trained with the boys and rang praises about how well he gelled with everyone. 

Word spread around and soon the place was filled with new members and even the old members who never appeared showed their faces. Nikolai had created a buzz, and the Odessa gang were all dying of curiosity. The idea irritated me, and I was in a foul mood the whole week. 

I sighed and watched Ma's eyes bore at me. She was seated next to Anton and Ma’s brother, Leonid Bastav. Igor and Viktor sat next to me, looking impatient as ever. Across the room sat Pa’s old friends and old members of the Odessa gang, Benedikt Karp and Rustik Edwards. In seconds the doors of the hall opened and Uncle Boris and Sasha walked in, accompanied by Vladamir, their son, and Idonia, Boris's wife. 

“Greetings, family. I hope we are right on time,” Uncle Boris spoke up.

“Boris, you’re just on time,” Greb spoke up as he stood next to Alexa. He smirked and sat on the opposite side of the conference table.

The Odessa lawyer, Sergey Zhenya, finally walked in. He bowed. “Greetings, Odessa family. Thank you for all coming for the reading of the last will for Mikael Eriks. I will follow due process as he had instructed. It was the late Mikael’s wish that the envelope remained sealed until you were all present. I shall unseal it in front of all of you.” 

Sergey took the document out and then proceeded to read it out loud. “I, Mikael Eriks, with a sound mind, entrust Sergery Zhenya to execute my last will. In case something happens to him, Greb Oleg will be entrusted to execute the will.”

Greb gasped, appearing surprised at the words. It seems Pa knew that someone would tamper with the will and made a backup plan. 

“Irina Eriks, my wife, you own all my properties as it should be. You shall share all these with my sons, Ivan, Anton, Igor, and Viktor. I know the boys will take care of you as Ivan leads the family. All my wealth belongs to my sons and shall be divided equally among them. 

As per the code of the Odessa gang, after my death, my last wishes would be fulfilled by the leadership of the Odessa gang. I appoint my son Ivan as the leader of the Odessa gang. He is fit to lead, wise, and tough. If anyone feels otherwise, they will be going against my words, will, and decision,” Sergery announced. 

“What?” Uncle Boris banged the table with his fist. 

“Lower your voice, Boris,” Ma calmly stated but her tone was threatening. Uncle Boris's eyes blazed while Ma added, “You may proceed, Sergery.” 

“Ivan will be assisted by Anton and my brother, Sasha Eriks.” We all heard Sasha gasp and then look at Uncle Boris in a panic. “Boris, I leave you as the advisor of the Odessa gang. I hope everyone can rely on your wise counsel and wisdom.”

Boris's face was filled with embarrassment as he leaned back on the chair. I would have bet on my life that he did not expect Pa to mention him in his will. I saw a small smile play on Idonia’s face as she seemed satisfied that her husband had been mentioned. 

“My friends, Benedict and Rustik, watch over my children, be their eyes and ears on the ground, and let no harm come to them. Ivan reminds me of myself when I was young, and we all started this line of work. He is not quick to react but weighs all options before making a decision. His heart is filled with kindness and wisdom, and he will make a good leader. In this transition, Anton and Sasha will assist Ivan in taking over. He will rule the gang members and must obey him as their leader,” Sergery continued to read.

I realized that Pa knew everyone so well. He knew they would attack once he passed; hence every mention was a threat to each one of them. Even from the grave Mikael Eriks was fearless and deadly. 

“Last but not least, I urge everyone to maintain peace. I have left guardians who will be watching over my family. In the incident of an attack, they will move in and don't ever blame me for being ruthless. I can take away what I built in seconds and the Odessa gang will not exist anymore. The end.” 

There was pin-drop silence in the room and then we heard the little sniffles that came from Ma. She closed her eyes as she held back tears, her hands trembling.

“Ma, calm down,” I whispered. 

She opened her eyes and said, “Your Pa was a great man. He even planned to protect all of you from the grave.” I took her hand in mine and held it in comfort. 

“Ivan is still young, how could he lead Odessa?” Uncle Boris's voice rose. 

“There is still one more envelope to open,” Sergery interjected. 

We all turned to him in surprise. Anton stated, “What are you waiting for?” 

Ignoring Boris's words, Sergery proceeded to open it and then removed the document. 

“This is the second part of my wishes to be fulfilled by my beautiful wife Irina. Greb will take you to Mount Ural. There you will find Nikolai Lev. He is the man I trust with my life and will be the man who will transform the Odessa gang. This duty I entrust to you, my beloved,” Sergery announced. 

“Isn't Nikolai the coach you hired for your sons?” Uncle Sasha spoke up.

“Yes,” Ma nodded and raised her chin.

“How did you know where to find him and yet the will had not been read?” Boris interjected. 

“The will has not been tampered with,” Sergery voice rose. 

Ma laughed cynically and Greb spoke up before she could. “The late boss had requested me to act in case something happened to his family before the reading of the will. And I did.”

“I am still waiting for an investigation report on who it was that attacked. Constantine did not deserve to die,” I spoke up. 

“He did not,” Igor and Viktor said in agreeance.

“Boris, it seems you didn't know Mikael well.” Ma turned to Boris. “Yet he has entrusted you as the advisor of Odessa. Giving you the power to voice your opinions and offer counsel.”

“Irina, does Ivan know the business well?” Boris's eyes blazed. 

“Isn't Sasha appointed to assist him?” Ma raised one eyebrow.

Boris's mouth pulled into a thin line and they remained silent. I could see how Uncle Sasha looked uncomfortable while Idonia sneered. 

“If you have something to say Idonia, you may as well speak up.” Ma leaned back on the chair, pulled her hand out mine, and crossed her arms in front of her chest. This was a sign we all knew too well—Ma was ready for a fight. 

“Calm down, Irina. I have nothing to say,” she whispered. 

Sergery walked over and placed the two documents in front of me. “Boss, this is one copy each of the last will. The other two will be held at the attorney general's office as instructed by the late Mikael. If you excuse me, I will leave you to it.” 

I nodded at him, and he turned around and left the conference hall. Once the door closed, Alexa spoke up. “Boss, I need to rush back to the office as I have been informed there is a problem with the shipping route from Europe.”

I watched how Boris, Sasha, Benedikt, and Rustik cringed when Alexa called me Boss. 

“Don't worry about it,” Anton responded. “Ivan has organized five new shipping routes from Europe via Russia. Brother, I am leaving with Alexa to handle this. Greb, you will also follow us. May we be excused?” Shock registered on all their faces as they all stared at me in wonder.

“It seems you have been a busy, cousin,” Vladimir said, sarcasm on the tip of his tongue.

“His name is Boss Ivan,” Anton snapped back at him as he waltzed past. He left the conference room with Alexa and Greb.