AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m surrounded by people who want to hurt my sister and me because of my father’s secrets.
Natasha slips into the room and stands beside me. Her hand rests on my shoulder and gently guides me toward an empty chair. It’s a genuine act of tenderness and compassion, not a gesture to keep me in line. I smile slightly in response, acknowledging her kindness for what it is. Not a ploy, but her showing real friendship.
Although everyone is still, the atmosphere vibrates with anticipation. I share in their excitement, a silent understanding that I’m no longer an outsider. For the moment, we have a common goal, and I feel as if I’ve been accepted fully into the Bratva.
I look up at Andrei, taking in his features, his strength, and the courage that holds him in control despite the dangers he sees daily. This is a man who can face anything, and now, I feel lucky to be on his side. Maybe I am Little Ms. Lucky, after all. I pray for Emma, and I pray this feeling of unity will last.
Andrei approaches my father’s bed, and his expression doesn’t betray the anger he must feel. He conceals it behind a mask of patience, but his hands are clenched as he speaks.
“Do you know where you are?” asks Andrei.
My father’s eyes flutter open, and he snorts mockingly. Just like that, Gerald Reyes disappears and Sava Khodemchuk is alive again.
The cold voice that once shocked me returns. “I’m in hell. Not surprised to see you here.”
Andrei smirks, and his fist tightens. “No, you’re safe as long as you answer some questions.”
“What makes you think I want to talk to you?” Dad challenges, his raspy voice menacing.
But Andrei persists. “What do you know about Kenney Grant?”
“My wife’s cop nephew?” Dad’s thin brow lifts. “Why do you want to know about him?”
“He has your daughter, Emma,” Andrei states bluntly, his voice growing more urgent. “He’s holding her for your money.”
“No.” Dad’s eyes narrow, not willing to believe anything Andrei has said. “You’reholding her for my money.”
I get up and step forward, pleading desperately. “Dad, please, Emma is in danger. You have to tell Andrei everything, or we may not get her back.”
He looks at me, and I hold my breath, hoping he might drop the facade of Sava for me. And I hope even harder that he won’t confuse me with Mom and reveal what I’ve done.
He does neither.
“Kenney is a ripe piece of shit. Cynthia told him everything, thinking he could help. He was pissed with me for not having anything left and barely talked to me after that. What he did do is blackmail me into putting him in my will to smooth things over. Says that he would keep an eye on my girls in exchange. So, I did what I had to do to protect my girls. Guess he’s still annoyed that I’m clinging on.”
Wait, Kenny made dad put his name in the will? Is that the papers he’s looking for? Will that point us to the accounts where the money is hidden?
“Do you know who he works for?” asks Andrei.
Gerald shakes his head. “No, but I know he’s not slumming it with the street dealers. He has aspirations like my daughter.”
I move away from the bed and sit back down. My heart pounds so hard it hurts to breathe. Relief cools my heated forehead when he doesn’t mention me again, but I’m dreading what else I’ll hear.
I hate that my father is a crook who didn’t give a damn about anyone.
But he doesn’t even give a damn about himself anymore.
“How did you know Ivan Sidorenko?”
“Igor’s little fucking pitbull.” Dad laughs dryly. “I don’t know how he figured it out. I thought I was careful, skimming pennies on the side. But Ivan noticed and turned my life into shit. He set me up and suggested that I take my family to the Poconos for a vacation. I stumbled into the biggest gathering of Bratvas I had ever seen—I had stolen from each person there.”
Dad is silent for a moment, and I brace myself, wondering what he’ll say next. I grip the chair tightly to keep my hands from shaking. I want to clasp my hands over my ears like a child until he stops talking. But I can’t.
I have to hear the truth.
“So Ivan had me call my wife. Told her to bring my daughters to the Poconos. Once she arrived, he gave me a choice: he told me I can choose to watch which one they’re going to all take a turn with,” he continues, “And that’s when Cynthia offered herself to them in exchange for leaving my daughters be. He accepted the deal. She was never my wife again after that.”
And there it is.
