AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I worked as a buyer for a grocery store in Michigan when I met him. I went to a manager’s retreat in Florida and heard an intriguing voice from beside me at the bar. The mystery man struck up a conversation with me, and it didn’t take long to realize he was Russian too.
We came to realize we were from the same small town in Russia, but he had lived in the United States since he was a kid. It was strangely comforting to meet someone I already had a lot in common with, and it didn’t hurt that he was unbelievably gorgeous.
I said it was a small world, and he laughed, repeating the same sentiment. Even after we shared our blissful night, he talked about wanting to stay in touch. If we had, then I would’ve had no choice but to tell him about Kat. Instead, I went into hiding.
Reminded about the letter, I reached for my purse that sat on the passenger seat and grabbed it.
I smoothed it out against the steering wheel and read through the note again. Studying each word, I tried to fight the small pangs of guilt that poked at my heart.
Turning the letter over, I finally noticed the faint writing on the back, which clearly came from a shaky hand. Reading it over, I didn’t miss a word.
He was going to Miami for a last-ditch treatment and staying at the hotel I recognized. He wanted nothing more than for me to see him there.
Closing my eyes with a deep breath, I fought an internal battle.
My father was a nightmare—an awful man that only cared for power and strength. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Yet, the end was quickly approaching for him, and I wasn’t cold-hearted enough to reject his final wish.
Even if it made bile rise in my throat, accompanied by dread, he was still my dad no matter how I felt about it.
During my time away from him, I learned how to develop a better sense of empathy. I wanted to be completely unlike him, and I felt more human with each passing day.
It stopped me from throwing the letter out and forgetting about my dad completely.
Sighing, the resolve settled within my chest. At the very least, I had the chance to escape the Minnesota weather for a week.
The car came to life once I turned the key in the ignition, and I gripped the steering wheel hard enough to turn my knuckles white. Dying father or not, I still had work.
On the way, I wondered if he had truly changed. Was it possible for someone to completely throw away their old life by falling ill? I had no idea.
A strange sensation filled my gut from thinking about going back to the place I met Kat’s father. Those persistent emotions riled me up once again, and I braced myself for a long day.
Chapter 2 - Nikolai
Brutal fury gathered in my chest as I stood next to my brothers, leaning against a table with my arms crossed. I glared at the man sitting across from us, claiming to be someone of importance.
“And you are?” I growled at him, waving an apathetic hand in his direction.
Ivan threw me a look, clearly the leader of us all. He faced the man again and sighed, sitting at the far end of the table. Aleksei stood beside him, face built like iron, unwavering in his skepticism.
“If you would, run us through it once again.”
The man brought a hand up to adjust his black-framed glasses further up his nose, and he leaned into the brown leather chair. He had to be in his fifties—maybe even sixties—with streaks of grey running through his black hair.
“As I already stated, I am Grigory Lukin—”
“Yes, we caught that the first time,” I spat, cutting him off. Leaning against the table, I stared down the length of it, ensuring he knew just how pissed I truly was. “I meant, what is your importance? What makes you think you can come in here and make your demands?”
Grigory released an even breath, more relaxed than I liked. He was too comfortable. “I come from a strong family in Russia, the same as you boys. I knew your father well. To ensure peace between our families, your father made a deal with me. According to that deal, Nikolai is supposed to marry my heir. You owe me this marriage pact.”
Hearing it again didn’t soothe my irritation, and I pushed away from the table, crossing my arms again. “This is bullshit.”
I forced myself to look out the window to keep my anger at bay, not wanting it to translate into my fist colliding with the man’s face. To make matters worse, Ivan and Aleksei chuckled to themselves.
Not knowing if it was aimed at my misfortune or their doubt about the man’s claim, I clenched my jaw, nonetheless. I focused on steadying my pulse with a reluctant breath.
My interest was piqued the moment Ivan’s laughter grew, wiping at the corner of his eye. He leaned forward in his chair, resting against his elbows, and looked Grigory up and down. The amusement on his face vanished.
