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“And Yulia, I’m told.” I blink away tears. “She did nothing wrong.”
“Go on.” Papa raps his fingers and looks at my son, taking no responsibility for Yulia or apologizing.
“I went to Las Vegas. I had some money. And for further transparency, Dante Caruso helped me. I understand he’s dead, too.” And no need to tell Papa he told me to suck his dick. “And that the entire power structure of the Astoria Cosa Nostra has changed. So I hope you won’t take vengeance against the new don since he had no hand in what happened. I’m here to take full responsibility for what I did. I ran away. I made it look like I was kidnapped.”
Lachlan clears his throat harshly behind me. Even if he wasn’t there, I would never tell Papa Katya suggested it. She’s probably ten times safer than I will be considering her husband is a ruthless murderer and mine isn’t.
Which I’m grateful.
But I’m glad my sister is fiercely loved and protected by Lachlan.
“While I was in Las Vegas, I met Darragh.” I reach for his hand. “Well, I’d met him already, of course. I caught up with him. We spent a few nights together…”
His fingers tighten around mine.
“And now we have a son,” he finishes.
Papa looks from me to my husband and then cocks his head. Taking out the brown envelope, he says, “The information I received says your brother, Cormac, is the father. He is the O’Rourke you lived with in Las Vegas. He is the O’Rourke who kept you prisoner in a dirty motel room.”
Shit…
Before I can start to backpedal and try to twist my untruths, Lachlan lays a hand on my shoulder.
“Cormac is being dealt with, Pakhan,” Lachlan offers with a dangerous tone. “What he did to your daughter is inexcusable in our eyes. You may not have valued your daughters, but my family values the women in our lives. And just as I wouldn’t dare to punish someone in your family or organization without your permission, you will give us the same courtesy.”
“And if I ask for permission?” Papa sneers.
“Permission denied.”
“I love your daughter, Pakhan.” Darragh raises a finger. “I married her. My name is on the birth certificate. James Patrick is my son now.”
“You just lied to me three seconds ago, Doctor,” Papa shouts. “You expect me to believe—”
“We are in love, Papa,” I defend us. “That is the only truth you need. I left here because I didn’t want to be in a loveless marriage. I chose to marry Darragh and he chose to marry me because he loves me.”
My father doesn’t respond, the cold look in his eyes getting icier.
“Papa, this is your grandson. No matter who his father is. He is your legacy. Your only male heir.”
“You think that I will leave this brotherhood to a James Patrick O’Rourke?”
My throat goes tight that he knows my son’s full name.
“He’s half Russian.” I clear my throat. “As a symbol of respect and conciliation, we will give him a Russian Confirmation name. As a symbol of honor to you, Papa. Alexovich. Or Sasha. But you must earn it.”
Mentioning my brothers cracks my father’s armor.
“All of that is a long way off,” Lachlan says cheerfully, still standing behind us. “You’re not going anywhere, are you, Pakhan?”
“Nyet.”
After a few beats of silence, I lay my cards fully on the table.
“I was told you need an underboss,” I say.
“Our leadership is not your concern, Anastasia.”
“I believe it is. It is my intention that my son will lead this brotherhood one day. And…” I swallow. “I’d like you to consider making me your underboss.”
