Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Tatiana
On the way to work, I mull over the horrendous and tragic history Dante shared with me.
When my parents died, half of the estate went to Leander.
The other half would’ve gone to me. That’s the agreement my father had made with my betrothed, Joni Stein.
My endowment was part of the business deal my father negotiated.
He put a price tag on me and sold me to the highest bidder, a man who could further my father’s agenda.
And I was stupid enough to believe Dante would save me.
Leander squandered and mismanaged his inheritance.
Why doesn’t that come as a surprise? Dante only had to be patient.
Before long, Leander had to put the condo up for auction.
I followed the news. My brother sold most of his company shares to cover his debt.
He knew better than anyone what would’ve happened to him if he didn’t repay the bratva the money they’d loaned him.
My father appointed my brother as trustee of my shares in Teszner Agglomerate, which were supposed to transfer into my name on my twenty-first birthday.
Those shares will go to Leander if I’m declared dead.
That’s why he’s fought so hard to get my death certificate issued.
He couldn’t even wait the full seven years that’s customary in the case of a missing person.
Leander would rather see me dead than lose those shares.
Bringing me out of hiding could ruin everything for my brother, but such a move doesn’t come without risks for Dante. Of course, he’s not worried that I’ll tell the police who killed my parents. First of all, I don’t have proof. Secondly, Dante owns half the force and judges in the country.
He knows very well he doesn’t have to worry about Leander coming clean either. After the murder my brother committed, that’s not a hornet’s nest he wants to stir up.
The news report stated the rocket that hit the car in which my father and his convoy was traveling was from Eastern Europe origin, an RPG and not a Bazooka.
The responsibility for the attack was pinned on the Russians.
After all, with the huge amount of money Leander owed them, they had a clear motive.
The logical conclusion was that they sent a message—a strong one, no less.
No arrests have been made due to a lack of evidence. The case has been closed and the dust swept under the carpet. No one wants anyone to rock the boat.
The conclusion? A lot of people would like to see me dead—my brother, the bratva who won’t mind getting their hands on me to even the score with Leander, and even the crooked cops who’d do anything to protect themselves.
No matter from which angle I look at it, I’m screwed. Ironically, if Dante insists on taking me back to New York, the safest place for me would be with him. How’s that for a Catch-22 situation?
I ponder my options all the way to my client’s home, racking my brain for a way out, only to admit there’s none when we arrive at the house.
The moment Jazz gets me alone in the lounge, she pulls me aside, well out of earshot of Dante’s men.
Her expression is pained. “I’m so sorry, Tiana.”
I steal a glance at the men scurrying up and down the hallway with boxes they carry from the basement to the dining room where I’m sorting the old invoices on the table. They insisted on helping me, no matter how much I objected.
I squeeze her shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
She frowns. “I shouldn’t have spoken to Reino.” Staring at a spot on the wall behind me with glazed-over eyes, she mumbles, “That bastard.”
Noah is building a tent between the coffee table and the sofa with a tablecloth.
Even though he’s lost in his survivor game, I lower my voice because my words aren’t meant for his ears.
“Dante found me through the hospital records. He used face recognition software to flag my fake ID. Once he knew my false name, he tracked me through my electricity bill. I’m the one who’s sorry for getting you into this mess. ”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“A lot of businesses use AI-driven facial recognition systems these days. There’s no reason why criminals won’t. I should’ve thought about that before using my ID.”
“And do what? Not go to the hospital just like you didn’t when Noah was born?”
“The midwife was more than competent.” I can’t help being a tad defensive, already regretting that I told Jazz about that. I couldn’t refuse when she asked me about the birth, not after she’d flown all the way here to help me. “I made sure of that.”
“Fine. You were lucky there were no complications.” She shakes her head.
“This time was different. Tiana, you fainted with a four year-old alone in your house. What if you’d knocked your head on the corner of the table or a counter?
What if you’d cracked your skull open on the tiles?
You could’ve died. What would’ve happened to Noah if you hadn’t regained consciousness? ”
“Stop.” I raise a palm, unable to stand the grisly scenarios she’s painting of what could’ve been Noah’s fate even though the same whatifs still give me nightmares. “I know what could’ve happened.”
“When you left New York and we agreed to cut all contact, I was convinced you’d start a new life with a new identity somewhere—a life with a job, an apartment, neighbors to share potluck evenings, a kindergarten for Noah, and a boyfriend.
” She adds gently, “But you weren’t living. You were barely surviving.”
“I didn’t have a choice. People were looking for me everywhere. I did what was necessary to keep Noah safe.”
“I know.” She sighs. “All I’m saying is that you couldn’t carry on living the way you did. Disappearing is one thing, but surviving on your own with no support network to fall back onto is another.”
“Are you saying it’s a good thing Dante found me?”
“No,” she exclaims. “I’m saying you need to make a life for yourself with friends you can trust—people you can rely on when you need help.
You’ve done a damn good job on your own.
To be honest, I have no idea how you managed alone for so long.
No woman, no matter how strong she is, is Superwoman, and you know what they say about no man being an island. ”
I open my mouth to protest, but she doesn’t give me a chance.
“So, Tatiana Teszner, you can cut yourself some slack for using your ID because you had to go to the hospital. You did the only thing you could do, and you were right to have called me. None of what happened was your fault, so stop beating yourself up about it.”
I’m not so sure about that, about the part that none of what happened was my fault, but there’s no point in arguing about just how guilty I am. Debating those old skeletons isn’t going to bring any of the dead people back.
Jazz hesitates before continuing with caution. “Dante said he’s taking you and Noah back to New York.”
The prospect ties my stomach into a knot. “He told me this morning.”
“He sounded very proprietary for a man who’s supposed to want you dead.”
“He claims the price on my head was just a reward for information that would lead to finding me.”
“Do you believe him?” She glances at Noah, who’s made a bed with cushions in his tent. “Or has finding out about Noah changed his mind?”
“As it turns out, he’s after something other than my inheritance.”
“What more does he want?”
“He wants to bring Leander down, and I’m supposed to help him.”
“Leander?” She reels. “Dante has already taken everything from your family. What can he possibly gain from going after Leander?”
I hate to admit what kind of man my father—my own flesh and blood—was, but Jazz already knows the worst of it. “Dante said my father had ordered a hit on his brother, and Leander had executed it.”
“His brother?” Her eyes flare. “Good grief.” She blinks. “I didn’t even know he had a brother.”
“Remember how Dante disappeared after working for my father for two years? It happened just before then. When our paths crossed again another two years later, Dante and my father were enemies, but he never told me why. He couldn’t.
If I’d known the truth, he wouldn’t have been able to use me to get his revenge. ”
“This is terrible. And we thought he just wanted your father’s territory.” She adds hastily, “Not that it justifies what he did to you.”
“It’s always been about a vendetta and never about the money.” Bitterness rises up inside me. “Although, I suppose the money didn’t hurt.”
She paces in front of me. “I’m not saying Leander doesn’t merit what’s coming to him, but Dante has no right to use you just as he did before.” Stopping, she faces me again. “How the heck are you supposed to help him?”
“I have a feeling it’s got something to do with my company shares that Leander is managing. I think Dante is going to force me to sign them over to him.”
She gasps. “He can’t do that. That’s all you have left. If he’s taking you back, you may as well claim your inheritance.”
“If that’s what it’s going to take to get rid of him, he can have my shares. Whatever the case, I’ll know what he’s scheming soon.” Too soon. “He wanted to leave straight away, but I won a bit of time by convincing him to let me finish this job.”
Concern transforms her features. “Win time for what?”
“To come up with a plan that will get us out of this crazy situation.” Although, I have to admit, I’m out of plans, and the clock is ticking. “He’s taking us back next week.”
“Tiana…” She bites her lip. “There’s something I haven’t told you. Hell, I was going to, but there just wasn’t time.” Her eyebrows snap together, her blue eyes brimming with sympathy. “Dante bought your parents’ condo when Leander put it up for auction.”
I wince. “I saw the news.”
The wariness in her gaze intensifies. “Dante lives there now. He lives in your old home.”
I wipe a hand over my brow. “I know.”