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* * *
I haven’t been here in awhile, but nothing much has changed.
Uncle Aleksi’s two-story abode is larger than life and nothing like the castle Marco lives in. This is modern and has more security than Fort Knox.
We circle around the massive water fountain; it sits in the middle of the drive.
A few moments later, my door is being opened and by the time I step out, Dimitri is behind me, and Maxim is circling around the front of the vehicle.
They say something in Russian to the butler that I don’t quite hear as Leo retrieves my bags from the trunk.
I suddenly feel weary, like I could crawl into a small ball and disappear.
We mount the steps toward the front doors. Two more soldiers stand on either side as I ignore them, and the doors open as we approach.
I follow Maxim as he leads the way through the house and into the drawing room.
I see him right away, his back to us as he stands by the fire. He’s wearing a suit, one hand in his pocket and a vodka in the other.
For a forty-eight year old man, he’s handsome with a well built physique, tall, with graying hair and green eyes.
“Uncle,” I say as I approach closer.
He turns to me, his eyes blazing. They soften once I reach him and he takes me into his arms.
I’m not shocked, he’s always been affectionate with me but only in private.
“Katiya,” he says as he hugs me firmly. “Ya thick volnovalsya.”I was so worried.
When I pull back, he cups my face, assessing me with a scrutiny I’ve never seen before.
“I’m fine,” I reply. “A little shaken, but physically I’m okay.”
“If those fucking Medici barbarians have done anything to you…”
I shake my head. “They haven’t,” I say earnestly. “They rescued me from…from that place.”
“Come,” he says, motioning to the couch. “We must talk before your father arrives.”
I swallow hard. “My father?” I stammer.
“He will be here. Along with Vlad, who was insistent.”
I reach a hand to my mouth as I sit.
Shit.
I was not expecting to have to see Vlad so soon.
“I don’t want to see Vlad,” I tell him as I sit.
Instead of taking the couch opposite me like we would normally do, he sits beside me, still cupping both my hands. “Why not?”
I shake my head, not wanting to talk in front of his men.
He looks over toward Dimitri and Maxim, who stand stoically by the doors at the room's far end. “Proverte, gde moi bratt, soobschite mne, kogda on priedet.”Check on where my brother is, inform me when he's arrived.
They nod and retreat.
