Page 77 of Avenging Azalea

“Then, believe me when I tell you that it happened. Father only stopped a few years later when Mom and I began stepping in, and then he turned his fists into words. I thought it was the drinking. That was when he was hitting the bottles heavily.”

“I remember that part. I’d find him passed out in odd places when I got home.”

I nodded. “Look, I get that you’re angry, but Nathaniel has his reasons, and none of it has to do with the rest of us. I’m still leaving because I stood by and watched Father do one terrible thing after another to Mom and Nathaniel, and I can’t referee anymore in good conscience. With that said, I’ll talk to Nathaniel and make sure that any more attacks he plans are aimed directly at Father and not Mikhailov Enterprises.”

“You’d do that?”

Taking the photo back, I repacked it in the box.

“Yes, of course, I would, and Nathaniel will agree because I know he loves you, even when the two of you are at odds. Maybe you should try telling him that you support him, even just once,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning against my desk.

“Thank you, that means a lot.” Ronan turned to leave, but before he could walk out, I stopped him.

“Hey, you said that I’d changed too. What did you mean by that?”

He looked over his shoulder at me. “You shouldn’t marry Vera.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Not this again.” As if I wasn’t already struggling with the decision.

“I’m serious. You want to know why our relationship changed? We used to hang out all the time, but three years ago, you brought that girl home.” I bristled. “I don’t care if you love her or not. Fuck her or don’t fuck her, that’s none of my business. But that was the moment you stepped away from the family. Whether you realize it or not, you started only showing up for mandatory family meals. You stopped going to the clubs unless it was for work. You dropped out of the weekly poker game, and I can’t remember the last time you came to visit. You forgot I even existed.”

I pushed away from my desk. “She was sixteen, abused, and sold to us. I couldn’t just let Fawn wander the house alone every night. She needed to feel safe.”

Ronan smirked, turned, and leaned against the door.

“It doesn’t matter why you did it. I’m telling you that you did. You asked why we grew apart. There’s your answer. Once I got over the initial butt-sore feelings, I stopped giving a fuck. You were happier and less stressed, and your work got better. But this shit with Vera will change you back. I can already see the shadows at the corner of your eyes. Face it, Titus, you were never cut out for this life. You turn a blind eye but hate what we do. Vera…she’s all in on every deal and is involved in worse shit than we are. I’ve seen Mr. Vilanova’s portfolio, and Vera heads most of the divisions. She may look sweet, hell she can even act it, but under her skin is a snake. A poisonous one and she will go for your jugular the moment you say, I do. Get out, do whatever you have to, but I know you, brother and…she will break you.”

“I can’t. I already talked to Father. He and Mr. Vilanova are somehow tied up with the Curators. That was what he didn’t say to you at dinner last night. If I pull out of this marriage, then it puts all of us at risk. I saw the letter. I can’t do that. At least not without a really fucking good reason. I’ve been going over it again and again and I can’t see a way out.”

“Son of a bitch. That’s what he’s been dancing around for weeks. What you need is a spectacle to get out of marrying her. Something that Father and the Vilanovas can’t dispute.”

“A spectacle?” I laughed. “I love you, brother, but I’m in this now, and I’ll do what I must to protect the family.”

“Come with me to the club tonight. No girls, just us hanging out like old times.” Glancing around the office, I sighed. Pack and sit at home alone or go with Ronan. It was probably a dangerous choice, but I nodded.

“Alright, for old time’s sake, and because your ass is way too drunk to drive.”

“Like fuck I am,” Ronan said.

I pointed at the door he was leaning against. “Oh yeah, then why were you about to walk into my closet?”

“Fuck off, I wasn’t.” I laughed as he opened the door to check. “Prick, no, I wasn’t,” he said.

“Maybe not, but I made you look soooo.”

“Fine, you drive. I don’t want those dogs in my vehicle anyway. I just had it cleaned,” Ronan said as we walked out of the office, my girls right on our heels.

“Spare me. My dogs are cleaner than half the women you have sitting on those seats,” I shot back.

“Ouch…but you’re right.”

We laughed as we reached the elevator. It had been a long time since things felt this easy with Ronan. Had it really been me all this time, creating the division between us? Had I been blaming the wrong Mikhailov? Maybe…maybe not, but either way, this moment gave me hope that no matter what bullshit Father pulled next, and there would be a next…the rest of us could pull together and overcome it.

Sometimes, hope was all you ever got to hang onto in this world, and I was going to grip it with both hands.

Chapter