Natalia descends the porch steps and crosses the grass toward us. She stops a few feet away, arms crossed. “She’s safe. For now.”
“Let her go.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, I’ll kill every single person here until I find her.”
She laughs. “You really are your father’s son. Delusional as him, too.”
I take a step closer. The armed men tense up, but don’t fire. “This isn’t about him. This is about you and me.”
“Is it?” Her gaze shifts to Iakov. “And what about you, darling boy? Have you finally come to your senses?”
Iakov doesn’t answer.
Natalia clicks her tongue. “Disappointing. I would have made you my heir, you know. You would have had all the power and resources of my Bratva at your beck and call.”
“I’m nothing like you,” Iakov spits. “I don’t want power.”
“No, you wantlove.” She couldn’t possibly sound any more disgusted with that word. “Both of you have been ruined by something so frivolous and pedestrian. Socommon.” She shakes her head. “You could have been great. But instead, you chose weakness. And what a silly choice! Love makes you do such stupid things. Like walk into enemy territory unarmed.”
I raise my chin. “Then why haven’t you ordered your men to shoot us?”
She smiles. “Because I’m curious to know what you think you’re going to accomplish here.”
“I’m going to take Olivia and leave.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then we’ll have a problem.”
“We already have a problem, Stefan.” She shakes her head sadly, like she regrets what she has to do, even though she’s the one who fucking planned it all. “You tried to kill me. You exiled your uncle. You destroyed everything I built.”
“You destroyed it yourself when you killed my father.”
“I didn’t kill him. His tumor did.”
“You drove him to it,” I growl. “You broke him. You?—”
The front door opens again and Mikayla steps out. She’s pale and thin, but her eyes are sharp. She moves to stand beside Natalia.
Natalia’s smile widens. “See? My true child is Mikayla. She’s the only one with the guts to do what needs to be done.”
Mikayla doesn’t say anything. She just stares at me.
“I’m aware she’s had her doubts,” Natalia continues, “but she’s always come back to me. She’s been loyal and true.”
“Really?” I ask. “I’m surprised. I would have thought she’d have more loyalty towards her sister.”
Mikayla’s eyes narrow. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t know?” I glance at Natalia. “You didn’t tell her?”
Natalia blinks. “Tell her what?”
“That you killed Mila.”
Mikayla goes very still.
