“Attacks? I know nothing of these attacks,” he says, touching his hand to his heart in a gesture that makes me want to vomit. It’s so fake. “I am so sorry to hear your businesses have been experiencing turmoil.”
I can picture this man… I can picture him gaslighting his daughter. The mental and emotional torment he inflicted on her. Then I can picture him switching in the blink of an eye to this version of himself. It would have driven her crazy. It would have made her question herself and her anger.
And then he’d start all over again.
Atruenarcissist.
Selene glances nervously at me, but I keep my eyes steel on Alek.
“You choose to hide behind your allies. Men who owe you favors that you are using against us. Then you deny everything like a coward?” I scoff, laughing bitterly.
Alek knots his brows and shakes his head. “I assure you, Simon, Selene, my beautiful daughter, I assure you that I hadnothing to do with this. Why would I attack the man who is keeping my daughter safe?”
His sincerity is oozing. It’s dripping like honey, to think to be genuine.
I clench my jaw, trying to redirect my thoughts to a different approach.
Before I can speak again, Alek offers, “I would be willing to assist you in any way I can,” he says. “I could turn against my allies if the offer you made was good enough?”
And there it is.
He has played his cards and set them out on the table. He would prefer an alliance with the Volkovs and the Nikolais by default, rather than with the multitude of smaller families he is currently connected to. Of course. because the Volkovs and Nikolais have power that reaches far beyond this city and the next.
“Offer?” I mutter darkly.
“Yes, an offer. A deal. Something we can discuss. Something that would benefit us both.” He smiles at Selene, so happy and out of context, she winces away from it.
When I say nothing, he leans back in his chair and lifts his hands. “You don’t need to decide now. Maybe take a few days and think about it. We can talk again.”
“Alek, I didn’t come here to make deals with you…”
“I understand, I understand,” he says, smiling. “Let me say this, then you can think about it properly. The Volkovs and my family have been at war for decades. We’ve never seen eye to eye, that much you know. But it’s time for a change. Clearly, our families are intertwined, whether it was by choice or not. Losing the alliances I have in place with the other families is a risk forme. For my business. For my family. It is not something I offer lightly,butI am willing to take that risk, and I want to do what is best for the future. For mydaughter.”
If I were speaking to anyone else, I would agree with the line of thinking. I would agree with the choices and explanations. But there is something so deeply evil about this man that I need to step back and see through the charade to whatever plan lies behind it.
I take Selene’s hand in mine and pull her to her feet. “We will think about what you’ve said.”
Alek stands too. “Yes, yes, that’s good. Take your time. Then on Sunday… come to dinner with the family. Selene… you haven’t seen your brothers in so long, they miss you. They ask about you constantly. They would love to see you.” My insides churn. He knows exactly where to hit her. Her longing for a family that cares about her. Her longing for the brothers she once had before her father stole them away.
“A family dinner?” she mutters quietly, “Would… would they all be there?” she asks.
“Of course! The moment they hear you are coming, they wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he grins. “Sunday, at home… uh, at my place. We can have roast. And please, bring your guards if it makes you feel better. I have nothing to hide.”
She glances at me, her eyes full of hope and fear.
Then she turns back to her father and says, “We’ll let you know.” Her voice suddenly becomes cold and controlled. She lifts her chin and steps around him, heading for the door without a word of goodbye.
I take a long look at Alek Mykros. He smiles. He holds out his hand to shake mine. He doesn’t seem in the least bit affected by his daughter’s coldness or her pain.
“I look forward to your call, Simon,” he says.
I nod in response, then move to follow Selene.
I find her outside, leaning against the car with her head pressed against the window. She’s gasping for air, struggling to breathe. Her entire body is shaking so badly that she can hardly stand. Hurriedly, I pull the door open and push her into the passenger seat, then take her face in my hand. “Princess, you’re okay. You did very well in there. Just breathe. Slow, deep breathes. That’s all that matters. In… Out… Again.”
I talk to her for a while, my voice soothing and steady while her breathing slows and becomes less strained. Silent tears are running down her cheeks, and her face is blank of emotion.
Finally, she looks up at me and whispers, “Can you take me home, please?”
