8. RADOMIR
Chapter 8
RADOMIR
The name Timir Midrichon stares back at me from Sabrina’s murder board, but the anagram still churns in my gut like a bad omen—what it spells out is circled in red a dozen times— Dmitri Mirochin. My fucking uncle.
Jesus. Dmitri is the Ice Man? If he is, then Leigh is in his hands.
The rage in my chest is a slow-burning fire, curling through my veins, threatening to consume me. But I force myself to stay fucking calm. Focus . Because fury won’t bring Leigh home. Only strategy will.
I rake a hand through my hair, taking deep breaths as I feel the rage dissipate.
Fuck, I truly hope it’s not him—that he’s dead . Because if he’s alive and working with Nikolas’s deranged cousin, Carlos, then Nikolas is right. This isn’t just a vendetta—it’s a calculated move to seize more power than men like them should ever have.
"I’d love to know what their endgame actually is," I mutter.
"They want to take over the goddamn world!" Sabrina huffs, shaking her head.
“Come on. Even for a Bratva psychopath, that sounds far-fetched.” I snort.
This sounds like something out of a bad movie, but my gut pinches, knowing she's probably right. My head tilts as I study the names of the organizations Leigh has tied together—especially now that she's married to me.
"It's not as far-fetched as you think." Nikolas exhales, rubbing his temples. “When Carlos was ten he was diagnosed as a sociopath. To be exact, four experts said he was a sociopathic megalomaniac with obsessive tendencies."
"Oh great!" Sabrina harrumphs. "So we're dealing with a megalomaniac sociopath and a psychopath." She turns and looks at me smugly. “So then, world domination as their endgame isn’t that far-fetched!"
This just gets better and better.
"I feel like we're in a movie and have just discovered a meteor heading for the earth and no one else knows but us," Sabrina states.
"That's a good metaphor," Nikolas tells her. He’s quiet for a few seconds before saying, “Because if those two get what they want... Jesus.” His eyes flash with worry before he turns to me. "There's something else you should know, Radomir."
"Is this where you tell me that you’re actually from another planet and have superpowers?" I narrow my eyes.
"Fuck." He exhales. "Okay, there are two things you should know." Nikolas gives me a long look before speaking. “The Archontis side of my family aren't just Greek prime minister, olive and pharmaceutical tycoons."
"Is this the dark secret you mentioned earlier?" Sabrina asks before I can.
"Yes." He leans back, his expression unreadable. “My mother’s family the Archontis’s, they were originally a Greek Crime family."
Well blow me down with a fucking feather. I wasn't expecting that.
Sabrina makes a noise in the back of her throat. “So not only is Leigh one of the richest heiresses in the world with two global empires at her feet, she's like Greek mafia royalty?”
“No. She is not.” Nikolas denies. He clearly does not like that side of his family. Shit and he works for the UK Government. How the fuck did that happen.
"How can you work for the UK Military and this secret government agency with that hanging over your head?"
"My grandfather wanted to be prime minster of Greece from an early age," Nikolas explains. "So my great-grandfather went legit. He turned the crime side of the family into an elite special forces unit. It wasn’t hard considering all the government officials he had in his pocket he was able to clean up the Archontis name."
"He used brute mob force to pave the way for his son," Sabrina translates in disgust.
"Maybe. My great-grandfather was a force to be reckoned with and well-respected by his men. They were given two options—reform or imprisoned for life." Nikolas shrugs. "My grandfather became prime minister of Greece, and my grandmother turned Archontis Olives and Pharmaceuticals into an unrivaled powerhouse in their sector."
"Then your mother married Dante Vasilikis, the heir to one of the biggest corporations in the world." Sabrina continued for him, skepticism lacing her voice. "I'm betting that your grandmother went pretty much unrivalled because of who her husband’s secret organization."
"No, actually," Nikolas’s voice is sharp as he sticks up for her grandmother. "My grandmother wasn’t a criminal and by then there was no more Archontis crime family. He’d lost his eldest son to the brutality of the criminal underworld, and he’d lost his taste for that life." He glances between us. “The thing is, Carlos was always fascinated with my mother’s family’s background and coveted her special forces team.”
“Jesus.” I hiss. “He really is a megalomaniac.”
The room falls silent as we all digest this new layer of insanity. Leigh has been at the center of this power struggle her entire life, and she doesn’t even fucking know it. Maybe it’s a good thing she lost her memories. Hell, maybe that’s why she doesn’t want them back.
"You said there were two things you had to tell me," I remind Nikolas.
He nods, his expression serious. "As you know, Leigh shares a rare genetic trait with me and my mother."
I exhale sharply. "Yeah, those unnatural green eyes of yours."
"That too. But I’m talking about something far more important." He turns his wrist, revealing a small but distinct medical alert tattoo: RH-Null. There is a number is inked beneath it.
A prickle of unease runs down my spine. "What the hell is that?"
Nikolas meets my eyes, his tone unwavering. "RH-Null. The rarest blood type in the world. Less than fifty people have it globally. And Leigh is one of them."
"Yes, that's right." Sabrina rummages in her bag and pulls out a wallet. Flipping it open she grabs a card and hands it to me. "This is Leigh's medic alert card."
"Why the hell do you have it?" Nikolas looks at Sabrina in alarm.
"Because I got this for her." She pulls a small box from the magic purse and opens it to reveal a gold necklace with the medica alert tag on it. "The chain broke, and I got it fixed for her."
"So she’s been without it for days?" Nikolas’s voice is tight with worry. "Fuck. She doesn’t have it on her now?"
"I don't know much about this shit," I admit. "But I take it Leigh can only get RH-Null blood?"
"Yes." Sabrina and Nikolas say in unison.
"She donates blood to a mobile clinic that comes around to her every six months," Sabrina tells me.
"Does my mother know?" As soon as the question leaves my mouth, I know it’s a stupid thing to ask—of course she does.
"Yes." Nikolas nods.
" Great!. " My heart is now pounding in my chest so hard it feels like its going to hammer its way right through my ribs.
Before I can dwell on it, Sabrina’s phone bleeps loudly, cutting through the room.
She glances down, then groans. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Nikolas and I both glance at her as she silences the reminder.
“What?” I ask, my patience wearing thin.
“It’s a reminder to buy tampons. My period starts in twelve days,” she says, completely unbothered.
I blink. “Thanks for sharing. I could've gone my entire life without knowing that.”
Nikolas glances at her as if she's grown two heads.
Sabrina glares at me. “As a dancer, I have to be prepared. When I was fourteen, I had an incident during gymnastics." She shudders at the memory. "Ever since then, I set reminders fourteen days before my cycle starts. It also reminds me not to have unprotected sex—not that I have unprotected sex.”
Her words trail off. Her eyes widen. “Oh, fuck.”
“What?” Nikolas and I say at the same time.
Sabrina swallows. “Two years ago, the drugstore Leigh and I have gone to since we were teenagers changed hands. A new creepy pharmacist took over.”
I sigh. “Is this more about your monthly problems?”
"The previous pharmacists knew us very well, and they always ensured they had what Leigh, and I needed each month." Sabrina ignores me, her voice sharp. “But this new dude." Her brow rises as she pulls a face. "He'd go beyond that and every month, didn’t matter if we went two days before our usual pick-up date, because we tested it, the guy would have our orders ready and bagged before we even walked through the door.”
“That’s just efficiency,” Nikolas points out. “What’s so suspicious about that? Maybe he was as uncomfortable as I am right now talking about my daughter’s monthly woman problems.”
Sabrina glares at him. “It was creepy. And get this." She looks at me. "He kept pushing this new fertility and women’s health clinic. Telling us that they gave free checkups, bringing high-end medical care to people like us who can’t afford it." She scratches in her wallet again pulling out a business card. "Eventually, Leigh and I thought, what the hell, free six-month checkups.”
Nikolas shifts uncomfortably. “While I’m glad you and my daughter take care of your health, can you get to the point, Rina?”
“For one,” she snaps, “the creepy pharmacist is Russian. Second, the clinic was obsessed with freezing our eggs. They kept telling us we were in our prime.”
A cold chill rushes through me. Little Vasilikis test-tube babies? The thought makes me want to punch something.
“And you know how when women live together, their cycles sync up?” Sabrina presses on.
“I’ve heard of it,” I mutter, and Nikolas nods.
“Well, Leigh and I lived together for years.” She gives me a pointed look. “So if my period is due in twelve days… so is Leigh’s.”
The realization slams into me like a freight train.
“That means…” My breath catches. “Leigh and I had sex during her fertilization window.”
“ Ding fucking dong ,” Sabrina says grimly and gives Nikolas a smug smile. “Now are you still feeling uncomfortable, or do you realize that your daughter is more than likely carrying the next Molchanov, Mirochin, Archontis, Vasilikis hybrid?” She pauses to let her words take effect. “So I'm thinking her net worth just skyrocketed—especially on the black market."
Nikolas lets out a low curse, and my blood boils. Sabrina pushes the business card toward me and the name of the woman’s clinic hits me between the eyes.
I clench my jaw. “My mother sponsored that women’s clinic two years ago. To help women who couldn’t afford care.”
"Huh!" Sabrina chews her mouth thoughtfully. "If she sponsored that I'm guessing she probably took over the drugstore as well because they're affiliated. Which means that..."
Nikolas’ eyes darken. “Galina and Mark planned this down to the fucking finest detail.”
Fury builds in my chest. We were set up from the start.
I yank out my phone, hitting video call.
My mother answers after a few rings. She smiles at me.
"Hello, darling," my mother greets me. "How is married life?"
"Hello, Galina," Nikolas and Sabrina chime letting her know we were not alone in the office.
When she sees Nikolas and Sabrina her smile widens. “Nikolas, it’s so good to see you! And Sabrina, darling, how is your mother?”
"I'm going to say she's fine," Sabrina says unabashed that she hasn't checked up on her mother who has a broken leg.
Before my mother can say more, I cut through the pleasantries. “Mother, is this clinic yours?” I hold up the business card.
She blinks. “Yes. We provide top care for women who need it but can't afford it. Why?” She answers proudly.
"Did you take over Lanes Drug store two years ago as well?" Sabrina asks her.
"Yes." My mother nods frowning. "Why?"
I grind my teeth. “Did you monitor Leigh’s health?”
“Yes.” My mother doesn't even flinch. “I also kept an eye on Sabrina and Tara health as it's important.”
"Did you set Nikolas and Leigh up when you did to ensure she'd get pregnant?" Sabrina doesn't hold back.
She blurts the fucking answer right out there stunning my mother. In fact I don't ever think I've seen my mother stunned speechless before, it's almost laughable if the truth wasn't shining in her eyes.
"I don't think we should be getting into this now." Nikolas's voice is low and warning. "This is not helping Leigh and getting heated over this is only going to cloud your judgment when you need to stay focused and clear."
"What do you mean not helping Leight?" My mother glances from Nikolas to me questioningly. "Has something happened to her?" Her eyes widen. "Is this something to do with the clinic or drug store?"
"No," Sabrina replies and before I can get a word in she's filling my mother in on the situation. By the time she's done I can see the fury blazing in my mother’s eyes.
" Jesus, Christ !" My mother sneers and turns angry eyes on me and Nikolas. "Two of the most capable and power men and you let her get stolen right from under your noses?"
"The Ice Man took her!" Sabrina delivers the coup de grace.
"What?" The tone in my mother’s voice is enough to blister ears before her face falls and fear flashes in her eyes as she turns toward Nikolas. "He's back? Leigh was right—he was coming for her."
The pain and anguish in my mother's voice is alarming.
"Galina, we think we know who he is," Nikolas’s voice is filled with soft tender notes as he addresses my mother making my hackles rise but I push it aside.
"Who?" My mother asks.
"Dmitri," I answer, and she gasps.
"Dmitri—my younger brother?" My mother gapes at me in disbelief. "What makes you think it's my brother?" She frowns. "I'm sure I heard he'd died."
"Or maybe he just had his Dmitri head cut off and it grew back as Timir Midrichon," Sabrina quips.
"Who?" My mother asks in surprise. "The Greek oligarch that married Wanda Manning?"
"You know her?" All three of us ask in unison.
She frowns. “Yes. She attended school with my late best friend, Thea and me."
Sabrina leans forward. “Did Dmitri ever meet Carlos Vasilikis?”
My mother nods, her expression darkening and I can see she's already realized where this line of questioning is going. “Dmitri did know Carlos,” she admits. “Whenever I visited Thea, Dmitri tagged along. I think he was in love with her.”
Nikolas’ jaw clenches. “Do you know where the Mannings live?”
“England,” Galina says. “But they have homes all over the word.”
A knock at the door. Oleksi.
“I found something,” he says, stepping inside and stops when he sees my mother on a video call and greets her fondly.
"Hello, Oleksi, what did you find?" My mother asks.
Oleksi looks at me and I nod.
"The Ice Man helicopter has a hangar at LAX." He puts flight details in front of me. "After the helicopter returned to LAX early hours of this morning the occupants boarded a private jet headed to London.”
“Then that must be where Leigh is,” I mutter, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
"Then you know exactly where you need to be," my mother snaps and I hear her name called in the background. "I have to go. Keep me updated."
She says goodbye and the call ends as I turn I see Oleksi's shoulders go rigid as his eyes fall on the murder board then turns to me, his face twists in fury.
“I’m a fucking suspect now?”
Sabrina shrugs. “Everyone is.”
Oleksi snarls. “And yet you and Nikolas aren’t.”
“Because we have nothing to gain,” Sabrina shoots back. “You, on the other hand—”
Oleksi glares. “Oh really? I'd say you and St. Nik have everything to gain.”
"That's enough," I cut in. “We don't have time for this shit. Sabrina is right everyone is a suspect. In fact you were here in the penthouse while Carlos was taking Leigh."
"How do you explain that?" Sabrina says smugly.
"If you must know, I was in the special room with a good friend Rebecca." He lifts his shirt exposing his impressive body and shows the claw marks. "Would you like Rebeca's number?" His eyes run the length of Sabrina's tiny frame. "She'll gladly reenact our night for you."
"Oleksi!" I bark. "That is enough."
"But do give Uncle Nik her number to verify your alibi," Sabrina stands her ground and is interrupted by a knock on the door.
Viktor enters. As soon as he sees Oleksi his shoulders stiffen as do Oleksi's and tension crackling between them. He greets Nikolas and Sabrina, deliberately ignoring Oleksi, then turns to me. “Mark Dalton woke up,” he informs us. “The doctors say he’ll make it.”
I nod. “That’s good.”
"You wouldn’t happen to have news about my mother?" Sabrina asks sheepishly and Viktor smiles.
"Actually I do, she's fine," he assures her.
"Viktor I was about to call you. I need you to get the jet ready.”
"Going somewhere?" Viktor asks curiously.
"London, I think Leigh's been taken there."
Nikolas look at me “I call my contacts in London. You’ll have everything you need and a secure place to stay while you look for Leigh. I'd love to come with you but..."
"I understand." I nod. "Besides, I need you here if you don't mind keeping an eye on things."
"I'll help him," Viktor volunteers.
"Great." I push myself up. "I best get packed."
"Not so fast!" Sabrina stops me from leaving the office. "I'm coming with you."
"I need to leave right away, Sabrina," I tell her although she would come in handy with her ability to solve puzzles and see things others don't. "Do you even have a passport?"
Sabrina grins and pulls her passport from her purse. “Always be prepared.”
I stare at her. “Of course you have that in your magic purse.” The point at it. "You’d best clear that thing out. Store all the non-explosive stuff in the guest bedroom."
Forty-five minutes later we are heading towards LAX, I keep one hand on my suit jacket. Inside, I have Leigh’s will, her birth certificate, and our marriage license. My mother is going to arrange a meeting for me with the elusive Gold Key Legal Group.
Two hours later we are taking off in my private jet. Sabrina and I are sitting across from each other and Oleksi is in the cockpit annoying the pilot.
With a glass of champagne in hand, Sabrina pulls out a book.
“Travel guide?” I lift a brow. "You know, you don't need that. I'm an expert on London."
She gives me a cheeky grin. “That’s good. Because this isn’t a travel guide.”
I frown as she turns it, and I choke.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"I thought we might need Vivienne's fourth journal, so I borrowed it from Uncle Nik." She winks.
I grin. Smart girl . Turning to look out the window I mutter. " Hold on, Leigh. We’re coming for you, my love ."