Page 58 of The Pakhan’s Heir

“You… You’re freeing me?”

That makes me smile. I take off my shoes and start unbuttoning my shirt. “You make it sound like I’m opening your cage. I’m just saying that… that you don’t have to be married to me any longer, if that’s not what you want.”

She gives me a slow nod. “Well. Um. Okay. Don’t you think it’s a little dangerous for us to split up right now?”

“Obviously, we can do it after this war is over. I’ll set you up in a nice place in Manhattan. You won’t have to worry about money or anything like that. I see that your needs are well provided. You’ll have your own life.”

She just stares at me, and I can’t read her expression other than shock. I guess she didn’t expect me to offer such a thing. What Pakhan would, after all? This is a little like going back on your word.

“Wait… You didn’t tell me to go back to my father when all this is over. This war isn’t going to end well, is it?”

“What war does?” I sigh and look away from her. I don’t want to see her face when she realizes that there is only one way out of this mess. “He’s got to pay for what he’s done, Nona.”

She doesn’t say anything. I glance over at her and she’s looking down at her hands.

“We can talk more about it in the morning.” I take off my shirt and toss it across the room. “I’m going to take a shower before bed.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond. I get up and walk into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. And once I’m alone, the feeling of the wind being taken out of me almost takes me down. I lean over the sink as the feeling passes.

Letting Nona go is the right thing to do. There’s no reason for her to stay with me anymore. I’m sure once she’s had the night to think about it, she’ll understand why this is the way it should be. We’ll both have time to get used to the idea while I plan my attack on Slavik.

In the meantime… This is the right thing to do. I just have to convince myself.

21

NONA

Alex was already gone when I woke up this morning. After waking up in his arms for all this time, the bed felt so cold without him. I guess that’s the topper to last night’s revelation.

If he had offered me my freedom weeks ago, I might’ve jumped at it. Now, all I can think about are all the reasons I should want my freedom and why it’s silly for me to think that this was going to end any other way. This is the kindest way that he could ever release me.

I’m up and dressed, standing in the bathroom as I run a comb through my hair. It looks shinier and a little more coppery in this light. Or maybe it’s my hormones. I’ve read that pregnant women glow or something like that. I always thought that meant that you would suddenly be so beautiful that you’d be as bright and terrible as the sun.

But when I look at myself, all I see is me with shiny red hair. My freckles are still there. My skin is still as soft and white as cream. And my eyes are still green. I’m still me.

And when this is all over and my father is presumably dead, then I’ll be me somewhere without Alex. My hand goes to my stomach, where this little life is growing inside me. What am I going to tell you about him when you get here, little one? I don’t even know if I’m going to tell him at all. I don’t know if he wants children or if he even likes them. Bratva men aren’t exactly known for their reputation as good fathers. I’ve acquired quite a few bruises over the years to prove that.

I guess I’d better get some breakfast. I’m not particularly hungry, but it’s probably not a good idea to skip it. I’m eating for two now and all that.

As I leave my bedroom, I become immediately aware that the house is not as empty as it usually is. I can hear footsteps on the wood floors under me and the sounds of conversation muffled behind walls. I walk to the staircase and look down just to see two of Alex’s men walking through the foyer with cups of coffee in hand. Judging from the smell coming from the kitchen, someone’s made a fresh pot.

I have a latent memory from when I was a little girl of my house being like this. Full of men walking around, speaking in Russian about things that I had no concept of. The mixed smells of cologne, hairspray, and sweat. I never knew what was happening, but I knew that whatever it was, it was important.

I’m getting that feeling now as I walk down the stairs, only this time, I’ve got a little more information than I did back then. Now I know what it means when the Bratva fortifies its heart. This is the home of the new Pakhan. If he falls, if any of his close loved ones fall, then cracks will form and he can be conquered.

I suppose I should be grateful that he didn’t ask me to leave now. He could have done that and I doubt anyone would have blinked an eye.

The kitchen is empty when I enter it, so I toast myself a bagel and make my way back to the stairs. I thought for a moment about sitting on the back stoop just to get a little sun. There is high fencing around the small yard, so I imagine it’s probably safe from snipers. Maybe. I probably shouldn’t take that chance.

As I walk down the hall, I pass the gaming room and hear the television. Two women are arguing and cursing loudly. Portions of their words are bleeped out every few seconds.

It makes me slow down and peek in with curiosity. It sounds like a reality show or maybe a soap opera, something I know neither Alex nor any of his brothers would be into… At least not openly.

The television is on. The women on the screen have resorted to throwing things at one another while cursing loudly. On the couch, I can only see the back of the viewer’s jet black hair.

It’s Yeva. She’s slumped down almost entirely on the couch and I can only really see the topmost part of the back of her head, but it’s her. I walk in, clearing my throat. She turns and looks over the back of the couch.

“Morning,” she says and turns back around. I walk around the couch to see her sitting there in an old band T-shirt and gym shorts, candy wrappers surrounding her and an empty bowl of popcorn seeds on the coffee table. She’s got a half eaten box of cookies on her lap with the crumbs littering her shorts.