19. Chapter Nineteen #2
I turned, facing her. “Yes. And before you laugh, know that I am armed.”
Her hands flew up in surrender, lips tilted up in a smile. “I’m not going to laugh. I am confused though. Why did you get a job? You know Arturo will pay you for the work you’re doing for the Cosa Nostra, right? I mean, that’s technically a job right there.”
“I know, but I don’t want it. This is something I need to do on my own, without help from anyone else. I’ve never had a real job before, and I guess I want to see if I can do it,” I shrugged.
“You’re weird, but whatever.” She walked over and slapped me on the shoulder. “Just know, I plan to come in all the time and annoy the shit out of you, and you can’t say anything because ‘the customer is always right’,” she winked.
“I will spit in your coffee,” I threatened, only half joking.
Her phone rang. She moved to where she’d put her handbag down on her bed and fished it out, glancing at the screen. She smiled.
“Arturo,” she answered in a loving voice.
I stuck my finger into my mouth and gagged. She threw her middle finger up.
“I’m okay, how are you?” she answered. She stayed silent for a few moments, listening to him talk. “No, I have a few minutes. I can talk.”
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” I said, heading for the door to give her some privacy. She nodded, placing her hand over the receiver.
“I won’t be long,” she whispered.
“Take your time. I charge by the hour,” I winked.
Loud, angry voices reached my ears as I descended the stairs. My brows lowered into a deep frown.
I know those voices . My eyes widened. Oh, fuck, I know those voices. Urgency in my steps, I quickly rushed down to the second floor catching sight of my dad throwing a vicious right hook into Nikolai’s face.
Shock froze me solid. I stared, my mouth wide open as they grappled with one another, slamming into the walls, grunting and snarling.
What the ever loving fuck?
A door opened, Aleksandr and Mikhail appearing in the doorway. There was a deep frown on Aleksandr’s face as he watched the events unfold, Nikolai and my dad going at each other like they hated one another. He made no move to intervene. Which meant I had to.
“Hey!” I ran forward and wedged myself between them when the first opportunity presented itself. I shoved at their chests, pushing them apart. “Enough!”
My dad was at my back and I was facing Nikolai head on.
His eyes snapped to me, full of rage. I had no idea what was going on, what my dad said to him.
But I knew it had to be bad. Nikolai didn’t snap like this out of the blue.
He had unbelievable control over himself and his actions.
It would take something drastic for him to all of a sudden start punching on with someone. Especially my dad.
“That’s enough,” I repeated, my voice stern.
His jaw clenched, like he wanted to say something, to fight me on this. But I held my ground, staring him down. He growled and stormed off, disappearing down the stairs. I’d find out his side of the story later.
I turned and locked eyes with my dad. There wasn’t a single ounce of regret on his face.
Not that I was surprised. He’d been dying to get his hands on Nikolai since that day in the hospital.
Since he found out what happened. The only thing holding him back was me. That was clearly out the window now.
Aleksandr and Mikhail hovered in the doorway, an awkwardness buzzing in the air. They had to walk through us to get past, and they seemed hesitant.
I arched an eyebrow. “If you’re done enjoying the show, I need a moment alone to talk to my dad.”
Aleksandr cleared his throat. He nodded once and brushed past, Mikhail in tow.
Once we were alone, I turned my angry glare on my dad.
“I’m not going to apologise,” he said instantly, standing taller.
I had no intention of asking him to apologise. I knew there wouldn’t be any point. My dad was just as stubborn as I was.
“What happened?”
Dad huffed, running a hand over his jaw. He winced slightly, the red mark on his skin an indication that Nikolai managed to get a good shot in. “What should have happened years ago. It was long overdue, and you know it.”
“Dad—”
“No, Tatiana. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear you defend him. I don’t want to hear the lecture. I’m your father. I’m the parent. I lecture you , not the other way around.”
I exhaled, crossing my arms over my chest. “Go on then.”
“How can you forgive him after what he did to you? How can you even talk to him? Stand the sight of him? Be in the same room as him? How—” he abruptly cut himself off, shaking his head in anger.
I tried not to balk at his harsh, abrasive tone. It was rare for him to talk to me this way.
“Where is this coming from?” I asked, confused.
“People talk, Tatiana. Especially in our world. I know he chased you to New York. I know you’ve been working together on this problem the Cosa Nostra are having with The Outfit. I just don’t want you to get hurt again. I’m trying to protect you.”
“How? By fighting with him?”
“By telling him to stay away from you.”
Ha! It would take more than an overprotective parent to scare Nikolai away. In fact, I don’t think anything could scare that man away.
“You had no right to do that.”
“You’re my daughter. My only daughter. It’s my job to take care of you. To watch out for you, no matter what. No matter how stubborn you’re being.”
“I’m not being stubborn, Dad,” I blew out, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting me. “This thing with Nikolai…it’s complicated.”
“What’s complicated about it, Tatiana? He abandoned you—”
“Like Mum did? Yet you have no problem forgetting about that.”
He reared back as if I’d slapped him. Guilt bloomed in my chest. It wasn’t fair, I knew that. Yet I’d said it anyway. I couldn’t help it. It just slipped out.
“What happened between your mother and I was completely different.”
I scoffed. “Right. She was only your wife and abandoned a newborn baby instead. Completely different.”
“It is,” Dad growled. “Nikolai left you lying in a hospital bed, writhing in pain while you gave birth to the life inside you that was no longer living. How—”
A loud, audible gasp hit the air. I stiffened. Dad’s eyes flicked up and his face turned deathly white.
Oh, no. No, no, no. I didn’t want to turn around. I didn’t. I knew what I would find if I did, and I wasn’t ready for it. Fuck. How could I have been so stupid to have this conversation there and then? Of all places? I wanted to punch myself.
“Tatiana?” My best friend’s voice was soft, layered with confusion and hurt.
Dad looked at me, eyes filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Tatiana. I’m—”
“It’s not your fault,” I whispered softly.
“Just…go.” There was no one to blame but myself.
I had years to talk about it with Illayana and I didn’t.
I avoided it because I was too much of a chickenshit to deal with it.
My past was catching up with me now, and I couldn’t run from it.
I couldn’t hide. I had to face it head on.