“A tragedy, brother,” I said quietly. “A true tragedy.”
“Wait a minute. You’re marrying her? You’re going to continue with the alliance?” Stash was shocked as he should be. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does in the sense of gaining power. Yes, we’re going to be married, but here’s the thing. Don Pollizi found out early this morning like everyone else that I was likely alive. Just as the two of you did. Now, since a wedding was already in the works, I’m certain her father is very upset and likely already sending men to Paris to try and pick her up and keep her… locked away. Just in case I made my way back to her.”
Mikhail stiffened. “Who was she supposed to be married to?”
I moved from around the desk, pulling my phone into my hand. “Let me finish the story and it’ll all make sense. Because of how I felt about Rafaela, I made it a point to see her first after Kirill helped coordinate an escape. At that point, I was just watching her. Keeping her safe. Because I knew somewhere in the back of my mind, she was a pawn in a sick game. I mean, the Pakhan is supposed to have a family. Right? An heir. She’s a beautiful woman and could fetch a very high price. Typical.”
“Except I was considered tarnished,” she interjected. “Because I fell in love with your brother during the best and worst time of my life. Kazimir is right. I suffered because when you lovesomeone, you’ll do everything in your power to find your way back to them. Kazimir is my destiny.” She even dared turn to face the other way, lowering the shoulder of the shirt she’d chosen to wear. Exposing her scars. “This was my father’s brand of love.”
“Jesus,” Stash groaned.
“I realized very quickly that her value was much greater than it would have been had she married someone of Italian blood, as would traditionally happen.” I eyed them both, an icy chill taking hold.
“Where is this going?” Stash asked.
I sat on the edge of the desk, trying to keep my shit together. “The bottom line is that Don Pollizi always wanted to expand into the United States, just like our uncle wanted, yet our father wasn’t interested. But let’s talk about what could be at stake, something Dante and our uncle already figured out years ago. A new location that could easily be controlled. An influx of cash, a new king. Imagine the power when controlling two countries. That would take vision and stepping away from the old ways, which I also didn’t want anything to do with. But you did, Mikhail. You talked to me about expanding yourself. Dad even told me the day before he was murdered how excited you were at possibilities, suggesting improvements and a shift into the United States. He was so proud you were finally a part of the regime.”
“Yes, I made suggestions. So what? My thoughts were more about wishing we could get out of Moscow.” Mikhail shook his head. “You’re serious in thinking I had something to do with what happened to you? To our father?”
“What I learned a long time ago was that men like Giovanni are very convincing. Especially to a young man who hated his older brother deep inside and was promised the world. Promises made including wealth and power. A tantalizing carrot for anyone, but to someone who hasn’t been taken seriously, the offer is as good as gold.”
Mikhail slammed his drink on the bar, daring to come closer. “Why in God’s name would I do that? You’re my brother.”
“I had to ask myself that very question. You were our mother’s favorite. She adored you and you adored her. When she was killed, you blamed me for her death. For taking her away from you. I always knew you were angry with me, that you resented that I was alive when she’d been killed because of my antics. With Dimitri. Our cousin and you remember, part of the reason she was the one who came to bail us out was because our fathers were arguing about expanding into the United States. If they hadn’t, one or both men would have gone.”
Stash continually glanced back and forth between us.
“You had every reason to hate me and I understood that, which was why I tried to make it up to you when you had cancer. I was there, but Mother wasn’t.”
“Why not just kill you instead? This is crazy! None of you are buying this shit. Right?” He glanced around the room.
“The extra money in the accounts,” Stash said. “You were paid well.”
Mikhail moved even closer, continually shaking his head. “I made good investments. Jesus.”
“To answer your question about why not just have me killed instead. Because there is some decency left in you. You couldn’t stomach making that decision, but I assure you that Demarco had no problem with causing my suffering. One certainty that would keep the alliance as you headed into the United States to challenge our cousin was a marriage. You had every intention of marrying Rafaela. Not a bad plan, except she wanted nothing to do with you.”
Now my voice held the kind of anger I’d experienced for years.
“So you decided to have me kidnapped, not expecting that your brother would intercept and kill the men hired to do the job,” Rafaela said.
I tried to laugh even though it was painful. “Not before I used my interrogative skills.”
“Kazimir. This is crazy. They filled your head with garbage.”
“That’s what I hoped. But even when I was being kept in a cement box, before you left Sicily, you had a meeting with Giovanni and the man who’d incarcerated me. Rafaela witnessed the meeting. Only she didn’t see you. If she had, she would have noticed the injury to your arm. But she heard you. Talking. Laughing. Your very different laugh.”
Mikhail’s chest was heaving. “No. This is nuts.”
“A laugh that haunted me for years,” she said, much angrier than I was. She took a step closer, shaking her head. “The same laugh as a minute before. How fucking could you. You put your own damn brother in prison when mine was driven away from me. You horrible man.”
When the other soldiers and Stash moved closer, Kirill threw out his arm. He knew I still needed final proof.
“I did no such thing. My God. I’m not a monster. I care about my brother. Yes, I blamed you for our mother’s death. And our fucking father. He never really cared about her. I knew that. He only cared about the bitch from the brothel. Of course I did. But I didn’t harbor a grudge.”
When Stash moved even closer, I shook my head. This was my fight to finish.
