1. Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Seven
LUKA
T he lilies stunk. It was a putrid scent that wafted in and out of every room. There had to be fifty vases of the fucking flowers. The emerald wallpaper was dated, and the mauve carpet didn’t help. I scowled at Viktor. Was this the best he could do for my father? It looked like something out of a bad 80s movie. I was furious we were here. Furious it had been rushed. Furious at the damn florist.
My mother pressed an embroidered handkerchief to her nose. The netting on her black veil kept snagging on her wedding ring. “I still can’t believe it. I’m so glad you’re home, Luka. We couldn’t get through this if you weren’t here.” She said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
She was a strong woman. She always had been. I wasn’t sure I could trust that she was faltering now. But maybe death had affected her.
Babushka sat in a corner with the other babushkas. I looked around the room for my Aunt Sasha. She had not attended Ivan’s funeral five years ago. But my father was the head of the family. I expected to see her.
The first wave of guests entered the room, stopping in front of my mother before making their way down the line. Katya was at the end on the other side of Andrey. She refused to sit in a chair, no matter how many times Andrey tried to get one for her. It was still strange to see my sister six months pregnant.
I hadn’t had much time to talk to anyone, including her. I wanted to know how things were going with her husband. I wanted to know if our mother was putting up a charade or if she was crumbling. Who signed off on Viktor’s arrangements at this fucking funeral dive?
My flight from Paris landed with only enough time to drive to the funeral home before visitation began. I had changed suits in the men’s room. I couldn’t greet mourners wrinkled from airplane clothes.
Viktor walked up behind me. “I’ve set up a meeting for you at the compound after tonight’s event.” His voice was quiet, so the other couldn’t hear. “Pahkan,” he added. “Nikoli will be there.”
I nodded. I was not ready to hear the title of boss, yet. Not at my father’s wake.
I knew it had to be done quickly. Dmitry Novikov no longer walked this earth. Someone had to make sure that everything he had built wasn’t eviscerated in a matter of days. And that was exactly what would happen if we didn’t act swiftly to transfer the power from his hand to mine .
“I will wait for you at the compound, sir.”
He disappeared and left me to face a crowd of people I hadn’t seen in years. Each one made up a kind story about my father. A funny tale. A classic Dmitry memory. We shook hands. Some of the women hugged me and began to cry when they slid over to my mother. They were all fucking lying through their teeth.
I was relieved when I saw Mikhail Sokolov. He slapped me on the back. “God, so sorry about your dad. Fuck, it happened so fast.”
“Thanks. It’s good to see you. Thanks for coming.”
“I would have brought Chelsea, but she’s home with the kids, you know. We didn’t think we should bring them to this.”
“Right. Two kids. That’s good. Good for you, man.”
Mikhail rubbed the side of his face. “She won’t care if I stay out tonight. It is a funeral, after all. Want to grab drinks? I’m buying.” He smiled. “You still drink that bourbon, or have you moved on to French drinks?”
I didn’t know if it was a quick kick of jetlag taking over, or if it was the foul smell of the lilies. I felt my stomach turn. I had to get out of this fucking line. I didn’t want to small talk. I didn’t want to pretend Dmitry had one ounce of good in him. The lies invaded every corner of this room.
“Tomorrow night?” I asked, skirting away. “I have a meeting when I’m done here.” I took a giant step away from the group. “We’ll catch up then.”
“Sure, sure,” he answered, sounding confused. “Already taking over? ”
My mother had pulled Mikhail into a tight hug. I ducked out the side door and looked upward, trying to breathe in deep gulps of air. Thank God there was an escape out of that room. The humidity would take a while to adjust to again. This was nothing like Paris. I’d been home all of three hours, and I already missed the crisp air. Being in New Orleans wasn’t supposed to get to me, but it did.
The door cracked. I heard the murmur of people talking. Coffee cups clanking on saucers. I didn’t want to know who the footsteps belonged to and then I realized it was Katya. I smiled.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” She wandered over.
I exhaled. “Getting some air.” I draped an arm around her shoulder. “How are you doing?”
She shrugged. “Funerals suck. Papa’s seems to really suck.” Her hand rested on her belly. My little sister was about to be a mom. That made me an unprepared uncle.
“I can’t imagine if he were here, he’d be happy about it. Where’s the champagne? Cigars? Expensive scotch? The vodka?”
She laughed. “It does seem really cheap, doesn’t it?”
“I’m glad I’m not the one who planned it.” Although he wasn’t here to fire the staff. He wasn’t here to yell and boil over until he broke fine crystal. He wasn’t here to tell me I’d fucked it up.
“Viktor was just trying to take care of things for Mom, but he’s used to taking instructions from Papa. I guess he’ll be answering to you now. Do you have a Sovietnik, yet? ”
“Yes. It’s Nikoli.” I had made good on my promise from all those years ago. Amara had been spared in her father’s murder. She was kidnapped without harm and returned. He did everything I asked. I could trust him. He was a good right-hand man. An asset.
Her eyes turned upward. “It’s nice out here. Those people,” she groaned.
“I know. How are you doing? Need a chair?” I teased.
She rolled her eyes. “Andrey won’t let me ride. He told the stables to stop saddling for me. It’s awful. You have no idea.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure the horses miss you too.”
“Maybe you could go with me? I’ll show you who I’ve added to the stables. I have an incredible stallion right now.”
It was hard to tell her no when she was this excited. “Yeah. Let’s go out there this week.”
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do as head of the Novikovs?”
“About what exactly? There’s a lot at stake right now.”
“The will,” she whispered it like it was a dirty word.
“Viktor and I have a meeting tonight.”
“What happens to Paris?” she asked.
“I don’t know yet.” I had brought a fresh round of recruits to the castle compound. I had left them unexpectedly with one of my top trainers. They were working on target practice when I left. I needed to check in as soon as possible.
“Someone has to take over the vineyard operations,” she stated .
“Since when did you care about our vineyards in France? You do realize that is only one side of the operation there. The other part is…” Katya had never been fully briefed on how the Bratvas were trained or where it happened. Tonight, was not the night to give her a lesson in our pipeline of creating our security and workforce.
I saw the way she pinched her lips together. There was something she wanted to say. Something she wanted to ask. I knew my sister better than anyone.
“What is it?” I prodded.
“It’s just…” Her eyes darted to her belly. “Paris…if you need someone…I’d like to see the vineyards.”
The door to the funeral home flew open, and a man in a brown suit hurried toward us. I groaned.
“Mr. Novikov?” he stuttered.
“Yes?”
“I need your signature on a few items,” he explained. “I’m so sorry.”
“Our family attorney is handling everything,” I shot back.
“I can’t find him. And I know this is a delicate time.”
Viktor had left to prepare for our meeting. I looked at Katya. “We’ll continue this later, okay?” I kissed her on the cheek.
“You promise, Luka?”
“Of course, little sister.”
I walked inside with the funeral manager. I stood in his dusty office for thirty minutes, signing approvals for the services already performed. I tossed the pen on the desk when I was finished.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Novikov. I’m sorry I had to ask you at this time. I’m sure your grief is unbearable. Your father was a great man. A great man to everyone in the city.”
I mumbled.
I left his office, ready to drive to the compound. The sooner Viktor and I could begin extracting the paperwork for my father’s estate, the sooner I’d be able to take control.
I walked past the receiving room. The staff was clearing out the coffee and the cake. Someone ran a vacuum over the faded oriental carpets.
“There you are.” My mother’s hand landed on my sleeve. “I’m going to take my own car back to the house. I’m going to lie down.”
I leaned to kiss her cheek. “Probably a good idea. Andrey and Katya are already gone?”
“Yes. He was concerned. He doesn’t want her on her feet.” My sister had never been fragile like crystal.
“I’ll be up late with Viktor. I’ll see you at breakfast before the service.”
She began to leave but spun on her heels. “We will ride to the church together as a family. You understand?”
“Yes.” I slid my hands in my pockets.
“Good night, son.”
“Good night. ”
The attendants continued to work around me. I was the last of the mourners inside. Once the vacuum stopped humming, I was struck by how quiet it was. Without the people crying. Without people scurrying to fetch coffee and more boxes of tissues. Somewhere in this building was my father’s body. Cold. Lifeless. Alone.
I stopped before pushing through the glass doors.
The rain started slowly at first. One giant splatter followed by another. I watched it splash on the sidewalk. One. Two. Three. Throwing water. Making small wakes. I knew I couldn’t observe time pass this way. The gutters began to fill, and the downpour began. I had to get to my meeting. I was now the Pakhan.
But the rain made my soul feel heavy. It made everything feel darker and more desperate. My life in Paris seemed so far away. Yet, the one in New Orleans was just as distant.
It kept falling harder. I pushed the door open, following the line of the sidewalk when I noticed where the sidewalk met the parking pavement. A car had pulled up to the entrance.
One high heel stepped onto the curb. A slender ankle bound by a strappy lace that tied at mid-calf. My eyes traveled along her leg, dragging along toned muscle. Skin that I had memorized. Tasted. Touched. Her dress was swept to the side, gathered to keep the fabric from being soaked in puddles.
My eyes continued to roam, but I wondered if there was a way to make them stop. To stop myself from what I knew was at the end. To stop the inevitable. To stop the way the blood pounded in my veins.
“Amara,” I muttered under my breath. She was somehow ethereal even in the darkness. Her movements airy. Graceful. Fuck. I had forgotten how she moved. I had done everything in my power to erase the memory of her body.
She held her dress in one hand. In the other an umbrella. Our eyes met. I saw the confusion spread across her face. Was it from me? Was it from the locked doors of the funeral home?
“Luka.”
“Visitation is over,” I explained. I didn’t have words planned for when I saw her. But I sure as hell didn’t think it would be those.
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. I should have been here earlier. I guess I got the time wrong.” Her lips looked as edible as they always did. Lush. Pink. She let the umbrella tip sideways. It shielded half her face. I wanted to see her eyes again.
“It’s okay. You didn’t miss much.” I wasn’t sure how to answer. Why was she here?
“I’m so sorry about your father, Luka. I came to pay my respects to your family. I feel awful I’m late. I wanted to tell Anna how truly sorry I am. My assistant sent a card earlier and flowers. Did my flowers arrive?”
It was then I noticed the dark shadow hovering behind her. Was that fucking Ciro? Five years later, and he was still lurking? Anna? She knew my mother by first name. What dystopian hell was I living in?
“Thanks for stopping by.” The rain pelted my face. It was soaking into the collar of my shirt. I wanted to grab her by the arms and shake this nightmare away. Who was the woman in front of me who was five years older and moving through my old life as if she knew all the details and I knew nothing?
I was immobile as long as she stood in the rain .
Ciro took the umbrella from her and offered his arm to help her navigate the puddles on the pavement. “Let me help you,” he offered.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the service. Good night. I hope you get some rest.” She glanced at me over her shoulder while Ciro escorted her to a black SUV.
Who the fuck was that woman?