Ilya goes back to Moscow when his father dies, obvs, but that’s when it’s revealed that his father also was running the mafia there. Alexei has been overlooked for the next leader because while Grigori had been trying to teach him, Alexei was showing no promise and so instead Ilya is named. but Ilya wants to keep playing hockey (and go back to Shane) and so when he his back, the mafia people are coming for him to get him to lead them and Ilya is so determined to keep Shane safe and away from it and so maybe he pulls back a bit? Shane doesn’t understand and keeps trying to push because he really likes Ilya and wants to explore this thing between them even though Ilya is pulling away. and then maybe something happens and Shane gets taken by rival people who hate Ilya being head of the mob and blah blah etc etc.