Chapter 20 – Ravyn
“Mom, where are we going?” Elara asked, raising her head to look at my face, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
I turned to her, a small smile playing on my lips as I tried to mask my own nervousness. “We're going to see some really important people, honey,” came my reply, fingers smoothing her blonde hair down.
She mirrored my grin, her gaze darting toward her brother as he sat by her side. Both of them were perfectly tucked in—seatbelts strapped in the backseat with me.
Nik held her hand in silence, his sharp eyes fixed outside the window. All dressed up in a black tux that fitted his small features, my boy looked exactly like his father. It was almost as if he was a mini version of Lev Tarasov. He had the man's blood coursing through him anyway.
Staring at Elara was like looking in a mirror. The resemblance was striking, uncanny, and with one look at her, anyone would know she was mine. Today, I'd dressed her up in a flowered knee-length flair gown, just like mine. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, the same as mine.
Although Nik looked a lot like his dad, he still had a few of my features: the same shape of my nose and the flicker of my face beneath the surface. Mom and Dad wouldn't need any formal introduction to know the kids were mine.
Andrey, Lev's most trusted lieutenant, was at the wheel, his gaze fixed on the road, sharp eyes occasionally scanning the streets as he drove. Deep down within me, I wished Lev was here; somehow, I thought his presence would soften the situation a bit.
I'd have felt better if he was with me and the kids—safer and more secure. Andrey must be great at his job because if he weren't, Lev would never have entrusted us to him.
There was an important meeting that needed his attention, hence the reason he couldn't tag along. I saw it in his eyes that he wanted to come with us, but he couldn't ditch the meeting. Lev had always been loyal to the Bratva, and I understood that. I respected that.
His willingness to tag along and the fact that he even considered choosing to go with us over going for the meeting was a testament of how much he valued us.
If I had waited until tomorrow, I would've been on the road with him. But I was too anxious and worried to wait a minute longer. This reunion had lingered long enough, and it was high time I set eyes on my parents.
They might have unintentionally made my life a living hell, a prison, but in the end, they were still my parents.
However, the million-dollar question remained: How would they react to seeing me after these many years that had gone by?
I had left without saying goodbye. No heads-up whatsoever. And for more than half a decade, I never actually reached out to at least let them know that I was okay. Wasn't I just as terrible as they were? Maybe even worse.
As exasperatingly difficult as my parents were, they never abandoned me, but I did that. I chose my freedom and happiness over them without even giving them a chance to right their wrongs.
Would they understand me? Would they forgive me for the pain and hurt that I put them through?
The closer we drove to the mansion, the more cold sweat dampened my forehead. My heart was hammering in my chest, my whole body overwhelmed with tension. This anxiety was killing me; my throat was dry, and my breath had become quite difficult to catch.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Nik's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm?” I looked in his direction, my brain going blank for a moment.
“Are you okay?” he repeated, his eyes glued to mine, boring deeply into their depths as if searching for answers.
I blinked a few times, clearing my throat in an attempt to mask my feelings. “Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay.”
“You don't look okay,” Elara's tiny voice chipped in, a hint of sadness and concern flickering in her gaze.
“What? That's not true,” I lied, trying to sound convincing, denial creeping into my tone. A nervous laugh escaped my lips, and I blew a raspberry. “I'm fine. I truly am.” My lips curled into a plastic smile, my gaze shifting across the two of them.
The last thing I needed was to get them all worked up. My kids were super perceptive and could sense even the slightest change in my mood. I had to do a better job of masking my emotions.
“Are you sure?” Nik asked, unconvinced but willing to buy my response. He stared at me, his eyes narrowing, forming tiny creases on his forehead.
“Positive,” I replied, my smile broadening as I struggled to compose myself.
In the rearview mirror, I caught Andrey stealing a glance at me, and our eyes locked in a fleeting moment. He could tell I was lying, and I knew he could see right through my mask of confidence. However, he didn't interfere; he just fixed his eyes back on the road.
These men's ability to conceal and hide their emotions should be studied. They were so good at pretending not to care, even when, deep down, they did. Showing emotions was a sign of weakness; at least, that's what they were taught all their lives.
“Are we there yet?” Elara asked, her voice dripping with anticipation.
I turned my attention to her and crinkled my eyes at the corners. “Trust me, sweetheart, when we get there, you'll know.”
She squinted, her head slightly tilted, mirroring her puzzled expression. When she looked at her brother, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
Dad's mansion was just as enormous as Lev's, and I was certain the view would take their breaths away.
After a few more minutes, we arrived at the compound, the magnificent vista unfolding before us. The car ascended the meandering driveway lined with towering trees and manicured lawns. Ahead was the majestic mansion with its sleek modern lines, gleaming surfaces, and expansive windows.
“Whoa!” the twins chorused, their eyes wide with astonishment, their gazes fixed on the unwinding landscape, vibrant gardens, and towering trees outside.
As we drove further into the expansive compound, the sound of songbirds filled the air, blending with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers.
Eventually, the driveway led us to the mansion’s entrance, where a magnificent fountain danced and splashed. Its misty veil rose as if to greet us as Andrey pulled over and brought the car to a halt.
“Now, we're here,” I said, my lips curling into a smile, eyes darting across the kids.
Speechless, they just stared at me with bright smiles on their faces. They hadn't been exposed to buildings and compounds like this, given that I raised them in a small town where nothing much ever really happened.
Therefore, their amusement was excusable.
Andrey killed the engine and caught my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Would you like me to accompany you inside, ma'am?”
“Thanks, but that wouldn't be necessary,” I replied, returning my attention to the kids. “Hey.”
They fixed their gazes on me, eyes shining with excitement.
“Could you give Mommy a minute?” I beamed at them, my expression soft and warm. “I need to put a couple of things in order first, and then I'll come get you. Is that okay?”
“Will you be long?” Elara asked, a hint of impatience gleaming in her eyes.
“No, honey, I won't,” I replied, smoothing her hair backward. “I'll be back in a jiffy.” My smile broadened.
“Okay,” she replied, her voice almost a whisper.
“Stay with Andrey, okay? I'll be right back.” I grabbed the door handle and pushed it open, my heel resting on the pavement.
I got out of the car, blew my kids a kiss, and shut the door behind me. As I walked past the front passenger seat, I paused, taking a quick look at Andrey. “Keep them safe, will you?”
He nodded, and I headed toward the entrance, my heart racing with anticipation as I neared the front door. It felt like forever since I was last here, but everything still remained the same.
I climbed up the few long steps at the entrance and halted by the door, taking a deep breath. “You can do this,” I whispered under my breath, lifting my hand to ring the bell.
As I waited for someone to answer the door, my knees felt like they could no longer carry my weight, and my throat was dry all of a sudden.
Not long after, the door creaked and opened, revealing Rosa, the maid, standing on the other side. She locked eyes with me, squinting with furrowing brows as I stood there in silence.
Her eyes widened slowly, and her brows arched in shock and surprise. At last, she recognized me. “Ravie?”
“Hi, Rosa,” I replied, wiggling my fingers at her, my lips curling up into a smile.
“Oh, my God!” She dashed out of the house, embracing me tightly. Her eyes misted as she pulled away, watching me in astonishment. “Please, come on in,” she said, her voice breaking as she wiped the tears streaming down her chubby cheeks. “Your parents are about to lose their minds.” A chuckle escaped her mouth.
I took one last look at my kids in the car before following Rosa into the mansion. A wave of nostalgia hit me as I stepped into the building, the foyer's light enveloping me.
Memories of my childhood and adulthood in this house came rushing back all at once, amplifying my heartbeat. Rosa's happy voice droned on and on, but I was so distracted by my anticipation of what was to come that I couldn't pay attention to her.
Rosa had worked for my parents for as long as I could remember. She was like a second mother to me, and I realized now just how much I'd missed her. The tears in her eyes, the joy on her face, and the excitement in her voice were testaments to how much damage my absence had done.
Would Mom and Dad feel the same way as Rosa when they saw me? Would Dad cast me out of his sight? What would they think about my kids? How would Dad react after knowing who the father was? He had clearly warned me to stay away from Lev Tarasov. How would he feel knowing Lev was the father of my children?
The moment we got to the living room, my breath lodged in my throat as I saw both Mom and Dad sitting on a sofa, watching the news.
Rosa cleared her throat, halting beside them. “Sir, ma'am, there's someone here to see you,” she announced, her smile broadening.
“Who is it?” Dad asked, turning around to face the door where I stood coldly.
I locked eyes with my father, and in that moment, it was as if time itself stood still. I could hear the sound of my heart pounding in my chest while I struggled to maintain my composure.
Mom turned to face her husband, who looked like he'd seen a ghost. “James, what is….” Her voice trailed off as she traced his gaze and set eyes on me.
“It's her,” Rosa said to them, wiping her tears. “It's our Ravie baby.”
Mom rose to her feet, her misted eyes never leaving mine. One step at a time, she approached me, shock flickering in her gaze. She stretched out her hands and blinked back the tears that welled her eyes as she halted in front of me, hoping she wasn't seeing things.
“Please tell me this is real,” she said, her voice cracking, lips trembling.
I was too numb to speak, my tear glands charging up, and all I could do was nod my head, my heart constricting. A familiar feeling of comfort washed over me as she cupped my face in her palms.
“Oh, God, you're real!” She stared into my teary eyes, shocked that she could actually feel my skin against hers.
“I'm real,” I replied, sobbing.
Mom pulled me into her warm embrace, her arms wrapped tightly around me, her tears dropping on my back.
“Ravyn, honey.” Dad's soft voice was laced with excitement, shock, and relief.
I slipped out of Mom's hold and watched my father walk toward me, a lone tear trickling down his cheek.
“Dad, I….” Words failed me, and luckily, he didn't seem ready to entertain any explanations yet.
My eyes widened in surprise when he hugged me, his strong arms holding on to me like he was never going to let me out of his sight again.
“You're home,” he said, his voice strained from the struggle to keep his sobs back in. “You're really home.”
This wasn't exactly the reaction I was expecting. Who were these people, and what did they do with my parents?
“I've missed you so much,” he confessed, letting go of me, his thumb wiping my tears.
My face contorted in anguish, lips trembling in a desperate bid to contain the emotional turmoil brewing inside. “I've you both as well.” I wept, giving in to all that pain and hurt, my eyes shifting across my parents’ faces. “I'm sorry that I left. I'm sorry that I didn't call or….”
“We're sorry, too, sweetheart,” Mom chipped in, her fingers interlocking with mine.
“Wait. What?” I paused, pushing my head back a bit, shocked by her response.
I had risked ruining this moment by telling the truth. Initially, I was of the notion that they thought something bad had happened to me. So, confessing that I had run on purpose was supposed to come as a shock to them.
However, it was obvious from the looks of things that they weren't surprised or shocked by it at all. Instead, I was the one who was surprised and shocked.
“After you left,” Dad began, his tone mild and sorrowful, “we thought that something bad might have happened to you, but as time went by, we realized that our actions were the driving force that led you to run away.”
Was this really happening, or was I dreaming because this was too good to be true?
As Dad spoke, I felt my tension, my anxiety, all those pent-up emotions dissipating gradually.
“You’re an intelligent woman, Ravie,” he added. “The fact that, with all my resources, we couldn't find you only meant one thing: You didn't wanna be found.” A mix of pride and guilt seeped into his tone.
“And that's how we knew you ran away on purpose,” Mom chipped in, delicately squeezing against my fingers. “We were so hard on you, so selfish that we didn't realize how suffocated you felt.”
“We spent the last five years praying and hoping that you find your way back to us…that you find it in your heart to forgive our ignorance and nonchalance,” Dad said, his voice dripping with remorse.
Is this for real? I wondered, my expression softening, a wind of relief brushing against my face. Mom and Dad had said everything I wanted to say to them. And the best part was that they understood their faults and were genuinely apologetic.
“I’m sorry I took so long to come around,” I said, sniffling, my heart lighter than it had ever been.
“What's important is that you're here, safe and sound.” Dad's eyes crinkled at the corners.
One more thing remained, and I just had to summon the courage to spill the beans.
“I didn't come alone,” I said, my breath hitched in my throat as I looked across the two of them.
They exchanged glances, then returned their focus to me.
“Mom, Dad,” I began, drawing a deep breath in preparation for their reaction. “I have two kids,” I blurted out, shoulders slightly shrugged.
Their brows arched, eyes widening in shock. “Oh.” The word fell out of Mom's lips. “That's…that's unexpected,” she added, stuttering, a little nervous.
“I'm a granddad?” Dad asked, his lips curling into a smile.
“Yes,” I replied, mirroring his grin.
“Harley, can you believe it?” He turned to her, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “We're grandparents!”
Mom's smile was a bit weary, hinting that she was still in shock, her eyes wide with surprise. “Where are the kids?” she questioned, her tone laced with desperation.
“They're in the car,” I replied, my smile broadening as I gestured toward the door.
“Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go say hello!” Dad led the way, his pace hasty.
Rosa and I followed up behind my parents, excitement filling the air. We rushed outside, only to be met by a huge shock.
Wait a minute, what's going on here? I thought, unable to process what my eyes were looking at. My heart sank into my stomach, and a sudden heat overwhelmed me, prompting cold sweat to dampen my forehead.
The car was gone, and Andrey lay on the pavement, bleeding at the back of his head. I wasn't sure whether or not he was still alive, and the voices around me faded away as I stood frozen in place.
My legs turned to jelly, unable to carry my weight as I fixed my eyes on the spot where I'd left the car and my kids.
“Wh…what's going on here?” Dad's stuttering voice caught my attention, bringing me back to the present. “Who is this man on the floor?” Fear and concern flickering in his tone.
“Is he dead?” Rosa whispered, tension thick in the air.
That wasn't particularly my problem right now. I had a bigger issue that I’d yet to process, and my brain was functioning well at the moment.
“Where are the kids?” Dad asked, daring to step toward Andrey.
He hadn't gone further when Andrey's groan stopped him in his tracks. Dad paused and withdrew, unsure of who Andrey was or what his presence here was for.
Andrey wasn't dead, after all, and he had some explaining to do.
With his hand over his bleeding skull, he managed to stand, his gaze meeting mine. Andrey's eyes were blazing with fury, a deep scowl settling on his face as he approached me, limping.
Beneath his annoyance was a glint of guilt flashing in his eyes.
“Andrey,” I called him, my voice barely audible, my heart pounding like a drum in my heaving chest. “Where are my children?” I asked, my eyes misting, lips quivering, overwhelmed with the fear of his response.
He swallowed hard, clenching his jaw, his face red with anger and guilt. His silence weakened my feet, my eyes widening at the realization that they'd been taken.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as a wave of terror washed over me, my legs barely able to carry my weight. I stumbled backward, but Dad was quick to catch me.
My parents’ concerned voice droned on, but as the seconds ticked by, I drifted off into my own thoughts, their voices fading into the distance.
My worst fear had come to pass, and nothing could have prepared me for this.
This must be some kind of joke. I must be dreaming; maybe I'd wake up soon. No matter how much I tried to deny it, the truth remained that my kids had been kidnapped.