Chapter 4 #2
I wanted to step in and break up the conversation before we ended up in one of our usual family arguments.
“It’s not a conspiracy,” Ren growled before I could intervene.
Father looked shocked that anyone dared talk to him like that. I loved it, and Nathaniel was beaming like a fucking cat with a new toy.
“The night we were attacked, my mum locked me in a panic room. The men tried to get at me and got close to the cameras. I watched the entire thing. One of the men had a polar bear tattoo. That tattoo,” Ren said, pointing to Father’s hand.
Shock rippled around me as we all looked at one another.
“You’re the head of the Mikhailovs in North America, and I have a feeling that nothing goes on without your knowledge. So, I’ll ask again. Who in the family wants me dead and why?”
“Are you accusing me of something,” Father asked, his tone shifting ever so slightly to issue a warning.
“Father, I think Ren is politely inquiring if there is any reason, even if only for her safety, that you would keep your suspicions about her attack…quiet,” Titus offered.
Titus was the ever-perfect political referee in the family. I loved him, and Fawn, his wife, was sweet, but Titus and I had never been close with the age gap between us.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Please, Dimitri, if you know anything…I watched them murder her. The least I can do is find who did it,” Ren begged, her voice softer now.
“And do what,” Father asked.
Ren looked around before answering.
“I…I don’t know. But it’s constant torture living with questions that I can’t answer.”
Father crossed his arms and shook his head. He might know the person by name, but I knew that look on his face. He wasn’t going to tell her anything. He was going to deny, deny, deny.
“Let me explain something to you—that despite your time at Wayward, you’ve not learned—this world is not fair.
I feel for you. What you went through was, I’m sure, very traumatic.
It’s nothing compared to what all of us have lived our entire lives.
This is a dog-eat-dog environment. The most powerful survive, the weak are destroyed, and we live every day with the knowledge that we are responsible for many deaths.
Everyone, no matter who they are, is a threat.
Families fracture all the time. New alliances are made, and this tattoo…
” Father held up his hand. “Means nothing.”
Ren looked at his raised fist.
“Yes, this represents our family, but thousands of men…relatives, soldiers, and wannabes mark themselves with the Mikhailov crest. The man you saw could easily be an imposter, a guard who defected, or someone from your mother’s ex-in-laws.
But I’ll tell you this. I have not heard any rumors of any Mikhailov here or back home in Russia wanting you dead.
My brother, Vadin, is an arrogant asshole, and I can’t stand to be in the same room with him, but he would not kill his grandchild no matter how much his daughter pissed him off. ”
“So, you know that my mother angered my grandfather,” Ren asked.
I wanted to grab her arm and drag her inside to eat, abandoning this quest. Father was not a nice person when he was pissed or annoyed.
“What I know is that dinner is getting cold, and we are standing outside where even the trees have ears. I won’t discuss this any further. I would like to get to know my great-niece, but if this is the only reason you came here, then you can get back in the limo and show yourself out.”
Father walked away with Ronan by his side. Mom followed in their wake, glancing over her shoulder with sad eyes. Suddenly, it got very quiet.
“Do you really think it was someone in the family who killed your mother,” Titus asked.
Ren shrugged. “I was so certain until this moment. Nash already assured me it was none of you. But there are still so many I don’t know. I just thought he would want to help me. I didn’t mean to start a fight.”
Titus and Nathaniel shared a look.
“That wasn’t a fight. That was nothing more than a tiny spat in this house. If he was angry, he would’ve pulled his gun,” Nathaniel said, and I smirked as Ren’s eyes grew wide. “If you really want to know. I will find out for you,” Nathaniel offered.
“But your dad said…”
Nathaniel’s eyes sharpened, and I sucked in a deep breath. Great, one more thing to divide them. Like they needed another reason to hate one another.
“Fuck my father and what he said. We don’t see eye-to-eye on anything anyway, and he holds no power over me.
I’ll get you whatever information I can find.
Unlike my father, and despite my rather coarse reputation, I believe in strong family ties.
You can trust me. You’ll always be safe with me and my wife, Savannah. ”
“With me as well,” Titus said.
“Thank you both. He could be right, and it leads nowhere, but…I want to know why my mum lost her life. I can’t explain why I feel like there is more to this,” Ren said, her words coming out like she was lost.
“You just can’t shake it,” Titus said.
“Exactly.” Ren held her hand out toward her companions. “The guys have been trying, but we keep hitting roadblocks.”
Nathaniel smirked. “That’s because you don’t have the connections back home yet. Something you might want to consider is having a coming-out party.”
“But…I’m not into girls,” Ren said slowly, obviously confused.
I burst out laughing along with everyone else.
“What my brother is so eloquently not getting across is that it’s time you announce you’re a Mikhailov.
Anyone after you is banking on no one knowing or caring about some random girl’s death.
So, whether it is a family member or not, the larger the spotlight on you, the harder it is to kill you.
This life is a double-edged sword. In this case, you should use your last name to your advantage.
Garner clout and a following, for example,” Titus explained.
“A following? I…I’m not looking to lead anything or anyone,” Ren said.
She didn’t know it yet, but that decision had been stripped away from us women the day we were conceived. She would be forced into it, no matter what. I glanced at Goran again, unable to look away. That was why I had taken my life into my hands. I refused to be Father’s prized cow for sale.
I walked over, wrapping my arm around Ren’s shoulder. “Cousin, you have five guys who already are,” I said, smiling. I looked over at Myles, Blake, Theo, Liam, and Nash as they nodded.
“My point is…I will find out for you. And I always get what I want. Just ask my wife.” Nathaniel said with a smirk.
“Ha, you’re only saying that because she’s eight-months pregnant and can’t kick your ass right now.” Titus laughed.
“And yet, I still got her to marry me and knocked her up twice, didn’t I?” Nathaniel shot back.
“You’re impossible,” Titus said, sighing at our brother’s antics.
“I’m also right,” Nathaniel said.
I missed hanging with my brothers like this, but they were always so busy with work or their own families that we rarely got together anymore.
“Okay, can we cut all the sad stuff now,” I asked.
“How long are you in town? Want to go shopping or to the spa? We can eat at all the fanciest restaurants. I’ll take you to Nathaniel’s clubs and show you around.
Ooh, we can go out on a party boat. What do you say?
” I rambled, excited to have my cousin here for a visit that didn’t involve work.
“I vote shoppin’, and ya can count me in,” Fiona said. “I need some Ren time, so no hoggin’ her.”
“Dad? Are you coming?” Cutter called out from the top of the stairs. “Oh, do any of you speak Italian,” he asked, full of hope.
“Cutter, what did I tell you about harassing our guests?” Nathaniel scolded his son.
His little lip pushed out, but Blake came to the rescue.
“I do,” Blake said, and Cutter’s eyes sparkled as he smiled wide.
“Really? Will you sit by me?”
“Cutter…” Nathaniel started.
Blake stepped forward.
“It’s okay, I would love to. Helps me brush up on it. It’s really no bother,” Blake said to Nathaniel.
“Come on,” I said, dragging Ren away from the group. My stomach fluttered as we walked by Goran, and his eyes followed me. I had chosen Goran in a world that punished women for choosing, and I knew the bill would come due.
But not tonight.