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He sighed. “He came to us with a crazy idea of eliminating several powerful people, including the president of the United States, the Canadian prime minister, and several influential moguls. Many more. He was truly a madman drunk on the power he’d already acquired. We couldn’t allow that to happen. Then he decided to seek revenge on the very group who’d nurtured him. We couldn’t allow him to do that, especially since his father had recently died, leaving Dimitri with unlimited power and resources.”
“In his will.” I was curious as Emily had mentioned her idea that this had to do with the fact I was the firstborn.
“Yes.” Vladimir narrowed his eyes, surprised I knew. “The man’s will held infinite power.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning if what I heard is true, Pavel Volkov left one half of the estate to Dimitri, one half to Dimitri’s firstborn and only son. You.”
I laughed. “I heard Dimitri is worth billions.”
“Not true. Dimitri is a gambler, a loser. He also owed a significant sum of money to various banks and other lenders who funded his rise to power. His worth is much less than you think. Given his son, Sergei, is underage, that left Dimitri in control of his son’s empire until he turns twenty-five. That’s eight long years.”
Sighing, I looked away. “An entire charade for money.”
“You should know by now, Kostya, that with extreme wealth comes ultimate power. That changes people. It’s something for you to think about. With his death, you now rule the Volkov Empire.”
I glanced from the man to his sons, clenching my fists. The last thing I wanted was to rule a freaking empire. However, it was time to place the final piece of the truth together. If I was Dimitri Volkov’s son, then decisions would need to be made.
I’d been a man without a country or family for my entire life. Changing it now wasn’t in my best interest.
After all, I was a killer, born and bred.
CHAPTER18
Emily
Another beautiful day in paradise, only the gorgeous surroundings remained layered with danger. I felt it lurking behind every tree, monsters in the shadows threatening to reach out with their claws, prepared to yank me into hell.
As we approached the estate, I couldn’t shove aside the feeling of being watched. My psychological training allowed me to comprehend that my nervousness was a product of what I’d been through over the last ten days, but my rational mind couldn’t compete with my instinct.
The nightmare wasn’t over.
I was as certain of it as I’d been of anything else. For all Kostya’s assurances that the security system had been beefed up, altered so that no one could ever breach it again, I believed in the phrase ‘never say never.’ My father had taught me that once an enemy was able to breach boundaries, he or she would always find another method of doing it again.
“Kiki!”
Woof!
As the dog came running, I hunkered down, eager to get a few sloppy kisses. She didn’t hesitate, clawing my shirt, her backside wiggling.
“I missed you too. What have you been doing, sweet girl?”
Kiki nuzzled my leg then immediately ran toward her master. It was good to see him break away from several of his men, bending down to engage with the furry creature. Moments like this allowed me to feel gushy over the man.
As Kostya gave orders to several of his soldiers, I remained standing in the courtyard, staring toward the ocean. Goosebumps popped up every few seconds, leaving my heart racing. I’d yet to hear an update on my mother, even though I’d asked several times. Perhaps he didn’t want to tell me the tragic news of her death, waiting until we returned to New Zealand.
As strong as I’d proven to myself I could be, I was second guessing everything at this point, terrified I’d finally break down.
I felt his presence behind me and shuddered, finally able to smile. When he rolled his fingers over my shoulders, the tender touch switched the prickles to electric jolts. I’d seen such a significant change in him over the last few days, including after learning the results of the DNA test. He was Kostya Volkov, the firstborn son.
He’d acted as if it hadn’t mattered in the least, but I knew better. He was the master of masking his feelings.
“Don’t look so forlorn,” he whispered as he nuzzled into my ear.
“I’m not.”
“You’re not a very good liar. Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
