30. ANASTASIA
Chapter thirty
A fter stepping off the plane at JFK, I dragged myself through the terminal, my body aching from the long flight. I barely managed to hail a cab, slump into the backseat, and murmur my Chelsea address as exhaustion seeped into my bones. As we drove through the streets, I watched the city’s neon lights flicker brightly against the backdrop of the setting sun. After a month away, the lights seemed more colorful, the smells more pungent, and the bustle of the city more chaotic. It was like seeing an old movie in high definition.
My memories of the past month flooded back, intermingling with memories I thought I’d lost forever. The sudden return of my past, things I’d experienced with Conan—from the way he’d played his guitar to the way he’d played my body—was all too much. I just needed to get home and collapse. When the car finally pulled up in front of my brownstone, I paid the driver, stumbled out, and stood for a moment, gazing up at the familiar building. It felt like a dream, like I was watching someone else’s life. I punched in the security code, grateful my mind had retained that detail.
When I stepped inside, a pile of mail that had accumulated during my absence greeted me. I barely glanced at the mountain of envelopes and flyers; all I wanted were comfy clothes and my bed. Coming home after a month of being away was surreal. There was a layer of dust on everything. The place I’d called my own for the last six years didn’t feel like mine any more. The memories of my life here were mine, but I was no longer connected to them—to my old life.
God, it had been a long day. I was spent, ready to collapse into bed and drift off to blackness. I prayed there would be no dreams tonight. I just needed some peace.
I headed to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. When I opened the door, the stench of spoiled food hit me hard. The fridge was full of rank, moldy leftovers, a testament to how long I’d been gone. Wrinkling my nose, I grabbed the water and quickly shut the door. That was a problem for tomorrow.
Once upstairs, I changed into an old T-shirt and shorts and sank onto the bed, pulling out my cell phone to check my messages. Nik had left a bunch, each one more anxious than the last. I sighed and sent him a quick text, letting him know I was safe and back home. I told him I needed to return to my life and get my head wrapped around what I wanted to do next and that I was too exhausted to talk about it tonight. Promising to touch base in the morning, I silenced my phone and crawled into bed.
Sleep took me quickly, weariness pulling me under.
After a good, hard, restful sleep, I woke up and my head was clear, clearer than it had been since the wreck. I was determined to figure out a way to get out from under the marriage contract and protect everyone I cared about. My best bet was to visit my Uncle Luca and ask for help. Nik had given me a lot to think about regarding Viktor’s plot to take out the leaders of the American mafia families. Maybe I could use that piece of information to convince Uncle Luca to help me.
As my uncle, godfather, and the underboss of the Genovese family, Luca had always provided for me like a real father. If anyone could help me, it would be him.
First things first, though. My house was a mess after I’d been gone for so long, and I needed to eat. I placed a big grocery order online, choosing all my favorite foods that I hadn’t had since the wreck. While I waited for the delivery, I tackled the house. I cleaned up, went through the mountain of mail, and tossed out the dead flowers I’d bought just before racing out to find Nik a month ago.
Just as I finished up, the groceries arrived. The place was feeling more like home again. I put everything away, made a quick omelet, and brewed a strong cup of coffee. The simple act of cooking and cleaning had given me a sense of accomplishment. After finishing breakfast, I headed upstairs to shower, letting the hot water wash away the grime and lingering exhaustion.
There was no time to waste. I would make an unannounced visit to Uncle Luca today. He was the only person who might be able to get me out of the marriage contract and protect those in Tacoma I’d grown to care so much about. I selected my clothing carefully. Luca was old-school and demanded respect in all things. I chose a fashionable yet professional blue dress that would bring out the color of my eyes. To complete my professional look, I picked out some high-heeled shoes, styled my hair down in waves because I knew he liked it that way, and put on just a touch of makeup. Then I grabbed my black Armani bag, slid my laptop and phone inside it and, with a quick glance in the mirror, headed downstairs.
I ordered an Uber and directed the driver to an office building in the Wall Street district. As I stepped out of the car, I marveled at the opulence of the building. Luca’s wealth was evident in every detail. The security guard recognized me and thankfully didn’t bother to stop me when I made my way to the elevator. I punched in the code for the top floor, where Luca had his office. The ride was fast, and soon I was stepping into the well-appointed reception area.
I walked past his assistant without stopping, hoping if I appeared confident enough no one would stop me.
A couple of bodyguards were stationed outside his office. Without slowing down, I barreled right past them and into the office without knocking. This wasn’t standard protocol, but I had to show my uncle I meant business. And I didn’t want to get turned away. My heart pounded, all my nerves firing off like a thousand tiny alarms. I just hoped my smile would keep me from getting shot.
Luca looked up, shock flashing across his face. This expression was rapidly replaced by a hint of amusement. I rushed over, kissing him on the cheek and giving him a sweet hug. The bodyguards stormed in behind me, guns drawn.
“Lower them,” Luca ordered, waving them off. “Respect my goddaughter.”
All he had to do was glare at them with his dark eyes to intimidate them. “Impressive security you provide, letting a petite thing like her waltz right in. Go, and shut the door behind you.”
The men, offering apologies, lowered their guns and left. Luca turned his attention back to me, his brows drawing together in annoyance. “What do you want?” he asked bluntly .
“Uncle Luca,” I said firmly yet respectfully, “we need to talk about a security matter.”
He glanced over his shoulder at me. His mouth twitched with mild concern before his features relaxed. “Anastasia,” he said, motioning for me to sit. “What brings you here so wound up and unannounced?”
“I need your help,” I said as I moved to the other side of his desk.
“I’m a busy man. Make it quick.”
Feigning offense, I sat in the chair opposite him and perched on the edge with my back straight as an arrow. “You’re not happy to see me after a month of me being gone?” I asked with a hint of sarcasm.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my theatrics. Undeterred, I continued. “Most of that time, I was confined to a hospital bed, Uncle Luca. The car wreck shattered me in so many ways. I was lucky to escape with my life.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he said nothing, waiting for me to go on.
“It wasn’t just the wreck,” I said, growing more serious. “I lost my memories. Complete amnesia. Imagine waking up in a hospital bed, surrounded by strangers, with no idea who you are or how you got there. Every part of my body ached. I had cuts and bruises everywhere, and oh, God, how my head constantly throbbed. I had to rely on the kindness of strangers to survive.”
Uncle Luca remained stoic, but I detected a flicker of something—maybe remorse—in his eyes.
“It was hell, Uncle Luca,” I continued, my tone unwavering. “Every day was a struggle—not just to heal physically but to remember who I was. To reconnect with my past, my identity. It was terrifying. ”
He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin, watching me intently.
“And while I was dealing with all of that,” I said, “you were here, carrying on as if nothing had happened. As if your goddaughter wasn’t lying in a hospital bed, fighting to remember her own name. I had to claw my way back to some semblance of normalcy completely alone, all the while worried that I might never get my memories back.”
Luca finally spoke. “Yes, I learned about the wreck, Anastasia, but had to keep things quiet. Drawing attention to you would have brought the authorities to our doorstep. So you can knock it off with the guilt trip. We wouldn’t want the authorities to figure out you were Viktor Volkov’s daughter, now would we? Besides, Elena saw to all of your responsibilities here in the city, ensuring the reason for your absence remained under wraps and notifying the library you would no longer be able to work for them.”
I nodded, understanding but not willing to forgive him this easily. “I get that. But it doesn’t change what I went through all alone. But I’ll just put that aside. For now, I need your help.”
He chuckled at my bravado, leaning back in his chair. “You were rash, going to Tacoma without a plan.” I wanted to argue, to remind him that I’d tried calling him, but he’d ignored me. Instead, I took a deep breath and crafted my response carefully. “I apologize for my behavior, Uncle Luca. I take full responsibility for what happened. You’re right; I should have come to you first.”
His expression softened, as though he approved of my acceptance of his criticism and appreciated that I wasn’t getting emotional.
“I have something very important to share with you,” I said, leaning in and lowering my voice. “I think your life may be in danger. ”
That got his attention. His eyes sharpened, focusing entirely on me.
I took a deep breath and dove in. “Uncle Luca, this isn’t easy for me to say, but I’ve learned something that puts us all in danger.”
He leaned back, scrutinizing me with those cold black eyes, saying nothing but allowing me to continue. I pressed on. “It isn’t easy for me to say this, but I respect you more than I ever did my parents. You’ve been more of a parent to me than they ever were. First, I understand why I’ve been contracted to marry Frankie Moretti. Even though he’s weak, whiny, and frankly, creepy. But if marrying him is what’s best for the family, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”
Uncle Luca’s gaze didn’t waver. I cleared my throat. “But I think Viktor wants to take out the leaders of both the Genovese and Moretti families after I marry Frankie, so that he can take over everything. It’s a power grab, and you’re in the crosshairs.”
Luca’s jaw tightened subtly, his hands curling slightly around the armrests of his chair. “You’re making dangerous allegations, Anastasia. Anyone else would be killed at the mere mention of something like that.”
I fought to keep my composure, struggling against the urge to tremble, and maintained eye contact. “I know how serious this is. I wouldn’t risk telling you if I didn’t believe it to be true.”
Uncle Luca’s eyes bored into mine, searching for any sign of deceit. “What proof do you have?” he demanded. “I need evidence.”
My mouth went dry, but I forced myself to speak. “I don’t have anything concrete, just that someone very close to me overheard conversations about this plot.”
He leaned forward, continuing to scrutinize me. “Who? ”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t betray Nik. “I can’t say. But I trust this person completely. They have no reason to lie.”
Uncle Luca’s eyes narrowed, and he remained silent, waiting for more. But I remained resolute and held my tongue.
He finally spoke, scrubbing his hand over his scruffy beard. “You’re shrewd to come to me with this. I’ll look into it.”
The tension in the room eased a little, and I managed a small nod. “Thank you, Uncle Luca.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied. “This is far from over.”
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “I know. But I had to tell you.”
Luca stood, walking around his desk to stand in front of me. “I’m proud of you for coming to me,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “But be careful. You’re playing a dangerous game.”
I took that as my cue to leave, so I stood and gave him a respectful nod. “I understand. Thank you for listening.”
But then I remembered I’d come here for another reason. Biting my lip, I plowed forward, hoping I wasn’t pushing my luck. I didn’t want to piss the man off.
“Uncle Luca, there’s more. I need a favor,” I said, my heart pounding but my voice steady.
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. “It’s about the people who took care of me in the hospital and saved my life,” I said. “An EMT named Braxton Thorin rescued me from the mangled car and brought me to the hospital. His brother, an emergency department doctor, Atticus Thorin, along with their brother Conan, an ED nurse, treated me that morning. Afterward, they continued to look after me and protect me from the press. Atticus’s fiancée, Samantha, who suffered a TBI too, took me under her wing and provided so much help. Together, they made sure I had everything I could possibly need, including legal help to fight all the charges. They took care of me way beyond what they were obligated to do as medical professionals. They even gave me a place to stay. I’m indebted to them.”
“Get to the point, Anastasia.”
I took a deep breath and continued. “Samantha is the woman Viktor tried to kidnap in December. She, along with Atticus, Conan, and Braxton, outsmarted him. They’re the reason Viktor got caught for all his human trafficking, drug dealing, and everything else and had to flee back to Russia. Now, Viktor has ordered a hit on all of them. They’re good people, Uncle Luca. They have no interest in the mafia. They just want to be left alone.”
Luca sighed, rubbing his temples. “What are the fucking odds of that happening? Damn, this is a tough situation, but my alliance with Viktor is crucial to the family. My hands may be tied.”
“But they saved me, Luca. They deserve to be protected.”
He looked at me for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I’ll look into it. But don’t expect miracles.”
Facing Luca had been a nerve-racking experience, but I had managed to hold my ground. Now, I had one more favor to ask. Asking three favors from a mafia leader would put me in his debt for a lifetime, but what choice did I have?
“One more thing… It’s about the marriage to Frankie. Is there any way out of it?”
Luca’s eyes hardened. “We have already agreed upon the contract. We need the Moretti family’s support against the foreign crime syndicates that have been moving in and building strength in our territory. Plus, if what you say is true about your father, then we’ll need them all the more. You’ll just have to suck it up, buttercup,” he said, patting me on the cheek. “But let me give you a piece of advice… Tomaso Moretti is a violent man. Don’t trust him or speak freely in his presence. He thinks women are only good for fucking and that everyone is disposable.”
“But—”
Luca pierced me with a glare. “You have no choice, Anastasia. Be a good wife to Frankie, give him a couple of babies, and then you can do whatever you want. Have yourself a couple of paramours. Run your little club.” He winked. “That secret is still safe with me.”
“Yes, sir.” I leaned in and gave him a kiss on each cheek. “Thank you, Uncle Luca.”
With that, I opened the door and stepped through, but I couldn’t resist a parting shot. “Dead men have no contracts,” I quipped, flouncing my hair over my shoulder.
Uncle Luca’s low rumble of laughter followed me out of his office. I smiled politely at his bodyguards, my heart racing as I darted to the elevator. Once inside, I leaned against the handrail, the adrenaline coursing through my veins making my legs weak. I couldn’t believe I had faced Luca and stood my ground.
I was proud of myself for standing tall but also disappointed that he wouldn’t budge on the marriage contract or commit to protecting Samantha, Atticus, Conan, and Braxton. Yet I had a gut feeling he would help somehow, especially considering how he’d reacted when I told him about Viktor’s plans.
Shaking off my worries, I headed to Club Xyst. I needed to confront my business partners. They had supposedly been my friends for the past six years, but none of them had looked for me when I suddenly disappeared. It was time to address that.