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They both ran to my embrace, hugged the hell out of me and obediently went inside. I exhaled and approached approached my sister then, taking a seat in the chair in front of her.
My eyes were cold and piercing, and anyone else would have been left paralyzed in fear. But my sister just returned the glare. Vanya’s appearance was striking, with several pieces of silver jewelry adorning her neck, wrists and fingers. Her long, dark hair framed her slim cheek boned face and cascaded downher back, and her eyes held a mix of intelligence and mischief. With her slim figure and style, she could pass as a model and even during her trips around Europe, where her 'fashion madness' usually reached its greatest heights. However, the most admirable thing about Vanya was definitely her strength in spite of the cards she’s been dealt. That same strength made her one hell of a mother to her kids.
“So this is what a girl has to do in order to spend some quality time with her favorite sibling.”
“Vlad?”
Her smile twisted into a frown. “Vlad’s far from my favorite sibling and although I have a soft spot for Sergei, we both know I can’t bear him stirring shit wherever he finds himself at. I’m talking about you, of course.”
“Ah. Well, lucky me.” I mocked.
“Indeed. So, tell me. What have you been up to? You look exhausted and drained.”
“Yeah, well, running the organization has been—”
“Ever since you were little, you’ve always had a habit of distracting yourself with work rather than facing your problems,” Vanya cut me off, as she peeled an orange. “It’s alwaysthe organization this, the organization that. When was the last time you were actually happy?”
Her question left me entirely bewildered and silent. Although her gaze was focused on her simple activity, I could still feel her whole attention fixed unswervingly on me. The question was not a rhetorical one.
“What are you talking about?” I leaned back and laughed off the question. “I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, but I’m always happy. Honestly, ridiculous.”
She shot a glare at me for a moment before reverting back to a smile. She resumed her hum and continued, “I thought you’d have learned by now that you can’t lie to me. I can see it inyour face, the sadness you’re always trying to hide. Plus, heaven knows our brothers are either utterly useless or adding to the problem.”
This was why I oftentimes avoided visiting my sister. I could never get anything past her perceptive gaze, and every time I left, it felt like I was doing so completely unclad and it was a race against time to put my mask back on before anyone else could see me—truly see me. I didn’t want today to be the same.
“I know you suffered a tremendous loss, but that was years ago. You have to move on. You’re really not getting any younger. You need to get yourself a wife and settle down. You can’t keep playing the lone Mafia Boss forever.”
And there it was, the constant pestering, the conversation everything ultimately circled back into. At this point, she had become a broken record and the more she insisted, the less inclined I was to consider it.
“If I sound like a broken record, it’s because you make it so,” she sighed. Her telepathy was at work again.
“And what do you know about my life here? I’m telling you I’m happy, but you don’t want to listen.Youalways want to play the savior, but I don’t need saving,” I replied at last, my patience finally eroded.
“Well, I know you can’t keep fucking different young girls every night and call yourself happy!” Her voice rose.
Damn, Anton. He must’ve been reporting my activities to her.
Back when I was a teenager, Anton, a few years younger, had been assigned to me as a personal assistant. He developed into a true friend while rising up the ranks of the organization with me as we grew.
Despite his unwavering loyalty to me, he had always been partial to my sister’s requests. I didn’t know whether it was because of a greater respect for her or a forbidden love interest,but he would always obey her whims with as much earnestness as he would mine.
“What I do or who I sleep with is none of your business,” I countered.
She let out a deep sigh and said, her voice lower this time, “I just worry about you, that’s all.”
“Thank you, but I don’t need your worries.” I rose up calmly. “I’ll be sure to come again sometime. I’ll see myself out.”
As I walked out of the compound, I felt the inimitable feeling of sheer nakedness I always felt during these visits. I had hoped this time would be different. I took one final look at the mansion as well as the surrounding buildings, then got out my gold cigarette case and pulled one out.
Anton was standing by the car in the same position he had taken when I left. I closed my eyes and took a long puff, hoping to blow away my frustrations as well.
I paused and from the periphery of my eyes, I stared at Anton. Immediately noticing my gaze, his face stiffened as though he had committed a terrible crime and I had suddenly become aware of it. His thoughts must’ve raced frantically, hoping I hadn’t learned about his treasonous communication with my sister.
After a while, I sighed and smiled, looking up at the cloudy sky that promised to pour soon. I signaled Anton and we got into the car. I was going to let the whole thing slide...for now.
“Moving forward, it has to stop,” I warned him.
“Of course, boss. I apologize,” he replied with deep sincerity.
