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“I want to burn it and leave the prison in ashes. It’s what I wanted to do after my mother died, but I buried the pain and repressed the memory of that day. May I ask you a question?
“Of course you can; I will give you anything you want.”
“It’s more than one, but please allow me to ask them all, and then you can answer in the order I asked them. What was on the flash drives? Trying to kill me over it has to be pretty important, and what will you do with the information? Does it matter at this point? Will the information on those drives end my brother’s life?”
“Before I answer your questions, I need you to do something for me,”
“Okay, name it,” I answered.
“Allow me to hold you; we both need it.” Bourne pulled me on his lap with his arms wrapped around my body and held me as I held him back. He whispered how much he loved me and made one promise after another that we would be alright no matter what. I don’t know if it was the mountain air or the smell of the sea, but I felt my mind drift into a tranquil state, and I felt Bourne’s love attach to me as if it were a second skin. I loved this man despite how both our tragic pasts connected us. We couldnot live together by those open wounds, and he was right; it was finally time to heal.
My eyes were closed as I lay in his arms, and he answered my questions. “The drives contained information about associates and business interests involved in human trafficking rings, drugs, guns, and names of public officials, all dirty and in bed with your father while betraying their own families. A powerful man has taken his father's place as head of his family along with the twelve families who are part of the Russian Bratva. His name is Valentin Vasiliev, also known throughout Europe as King, their ruler. To the rest of the world, he is one of the most respected and regarded New York City lawyers. From what I've learned of Valentin, his only role in his family's business was as a lawyer who handled his family's legitimate businesses. He didn't know that his father was making a power play for Pavlo Shirmanov's crumbling empire because Pavlo was sick and didn't have much time to live. Pavlo didn't have anything else to lose with his only son dead. He made an unexpected move against Valentin, and let’s say his cancer didn’t end his life. Years before his death, the Shirmanov family thrived in Russia, and Pavlo ran it alongside his brother, Andreas.”
“The same man from that day,” I whispered, holding back my tears that I didn’t want to fall because of that bastard. I asked, “So, he was in business with my father, and that's the information my mother learned and hid the evidence of all his misdeeds inside the music box, hoping that I would find it one day.”
“Yes, it's what I've pieced together, but your mother choosing to fight back on that fateful day changed their business allegiance, ending in bloodshed. To keep up his ruse, your father couldn’t risk exposure and his connection to their family, so he made the room appear as if his enemies attacked your home. I’m so sorry to remind you of all this.”
“It’s not your fault; it’s my father’s. What else do we know about their relationship?”
“Andreas wanted more power, and I can only assume working with Marco to take down Pavlo was the way to achieve it. As far as we know, Marco didn't have any further business with the Shirmanov family after your mother died. He groomed Lucas further, leading to Lucas taking over.” After another revelation about my family, I fought the urge to toss my stomach. Instead, I moved closer to Bourne for comfort, and he gave it over so easily by rubbing my back. I let out a sigh and instantly felt better.
“It's so twisted and sick, Bourne; I want this to be over.”
“It can be, and I want to talk to you about that. We are leaving the island the day after tomorrow and traveling to London, where I will meet with Valentin,” he paused, lifting my chin and looking intently into my eyes. But, of course, I already knew what he would say.
“You’ve decided to turn over the drives to him so he could go after Lucas?” he didn’t deny it.
“Is that what you want? Because after all you’ve been through, can you honestly say he is someone you want in your life? You said you want this to be over, and it can be, Principessa, but it has to be your decision.”
“Why does it have to be me? It’s clear what you want to happen in all of this.” I couldn’t help my harsh tone when I said the words. I already told Bourne I couldn’t handle any more blood on my hands, and now he’s making me choose to allow my brother to live or die.
“Hey, look at me,” he demanded, but I couldn’t do it. One look from Bourne and I feared I would submit, and then he would have his answer, and there would be no way to stop the bloody carnage from coming.
“No!” I shouted and tried to move away, but he wasn’t having it and pinned me to the blanket.
“Stop it right now! You do not get to do that!” he demanded.
“Do what?” I panted as I struggled under his hold.
“Ignore me and tell me no. Hear me now, Sabina, because I will not repeat myself. Your running days are over. No more retreating to a place no one can go. No more fear, not when I know you are fearless and fierce. And, most of all, you will not hide from me. Not now, not ever. I’m here, Principessa, and I’ve been honest with you. No one has ever told you the truth, but I will. Yes, I will admit I was willing to do anything possible to remove Lucas from your life because he is not good for it.”
“And? Did you change your mind? A flash of conscience?”
“If I have a conscience, it’s because of you. Sabina, you have changed my life, and now I can’t see a day that you’re not in it. I can’t hurt you, and if I eliminated your brother, then that would happen, and I would lose you. It’s no secret how I feel about Lucas; he serves no purpose in your life or what we are building for ours. But I promise you that the nightmare is almost over. As painful as it will be, you are not alone and never will be again. A decision about Lucas must be made, and you have three days to make it.”
“When I spoke to him yesterday, he asked if he would ever see me again. Our conversation was intense, but I remained strong and told him I love you. I am where I want to be.”
“And? Where is that, Principessa?”
“You are my home, Bourne, and I made sure Lucas knows it too.”
“How did he react?”
“It wasn’t great, but I’m done worrying about what he thinks. He asked again if he would ever see me again, and as you can imagine, he was upset and demanded an answer. When I couldn’t give him one, he became enraged. Finally, the silence engulfed our conversation, and I gave him the only answer I could say.”
“Which was?”
“Maybe someday, but you already knew that.”
