29. Tatiana
TATIANA
I ’d like to think I wasn’t a coward.
But at this very moment, a part of me battled. To know or not to know the truth.
A part of me wanted to remain in this state of ignorance.
Whispers in my head warned there’d be no coming back from this.
However, my eldest brother taught me to never back down.
He said closing our eyes to the truth eventually hurt us more than helped us.
After all, it was what made him lose five years with Isabella.
He trusted our mother blindly and it burned him.
It was just another betrayal layering our distrustful Nikolaev nature.
Goosebumps erupted on my flesh. Images of that accident flickered through my mind.
Kill him.
Two little words that changed the course of my life.
Or possibly my life had taken on a different course the moment I hooked up with Adrian, believing him to be the man from the gazebo.
The shadows on Marchetti’s sharp cheekbones gave him a darkened, lethal edge. It almost reminded me of an angry god.
But I came for answers. The truth would hurt as much as the lies, but I’d heal from it. I knew I would.
“Tell me why he had to die,” I rasped, my heart thundering in my chest. My hands shook. Fear, I realized. I was scared. I had more to lose now than ever.
“He targeted our organization,” he retorted.
“What organization?”
His eyes darted to Isla who stood still, her eyes on him. There was a flicker of fear in them and suddenly I worried whether I made a mistake. Did I pull her into something she wouldn’t be able to get out of?
“Thorns of Omertà.” Too late. I knew it was too late the moment those three words left Marchetti’s lips. “And unknowingly he dragged you into it.”
A gasp. Not mine, but Isla’s, filled the room and her complexion paled, making her eyes appear darker than I’d ever seen them.
“Why?” I asked, while something ugly reared its head from the depths of my soul. Images played in my mind. The first time I met Adrian. Hey, pipsqueak. Playing hide and seek. Why are you crying, pipsqueak? The way he handled my bullies in school. Don’t cry, pipsqueak. Boys are not worth your tears.
Did that apply here? Maybe Adrian knew all along this was where we’d end up so he made sure I remembered those words. Tears filled my eyes. They stung, needing to let loose. I bit into my bottom lip, choking on a sob.
Never show them how you feel. Those were Sasha’s words. Not Adrian’s.
“He used you to pay back the Konstantins for killing his parents.” Another gasp.
Whose was it? Everything was distorted. My ears buzzed.
Marchetti’s voice sounded far away. “He blamed them and the organization for losing his parents. Adrian’s father was a gardener to my old man.
During his trip to New Orleans, he took him along.
To study botany. It’s where he met Adrian’s mother. ”
I swallowed. “Illias’ mother.” My voice was barely above a whisper, yet the words traveled through the room like an echo in the church.
His brows scrunched. “Illias’ mother?”
I waved my hand. “Never mind.”
He studied me curiously, unwilling to let it go. “You think Illias’ mother is the very same?”
My lips thinned. I didn’t have proof to support that theory. The picture he left behind was hardly proof.
“Finish your story.” Was that my voice?
To my surprise, Marchetti nodded.
“Anyhow, the gardener had a kid and left my father’s employment. Years later, he attempted to make a run for it with Illias’ mother. She tried to leave the old Pakhan, take the twins and go into hiding with Adrian’s father. It didn’t work out. They got caught and executed on the spot.”
The parking lot. I choked on a sob, but I was determined not to fall apart here. Not now. Not in front of him. I clamped my lips together to prevent them from trembling or letting out a sound that I’d regret. No weakness.
“So Adrian made you all a target as revenge for his father’s death?” Isla asked for me. Her voice was small. Her eyes shimmered like emeralds in the sun. Except they were unshed tears. Marchetti nodded. “How?”
I needed to know what was pinned on me. I needed to know how he used me. I needed to know how little I meant to him.
“He dug for information that could destroy us.” The videos of my brothers flashed in my mind. As well as videos of many other men Adrian kept on his laptop.
I shook my head. “I went through the videos on that laptop.” Bitter tears made their escape and rolled down my cheeks. I could taste them on my lips. On my tongue. “He had stuff on my brothers. Other men. But nothing on you. Or the Konstantins. Even the Yakuza.”
I thought I saw a flicker of regret in his expression before it vanished. “It’s on the chip.”
The fucking chip. Always that goddamn chip.
“Where is the chip?” I asked, tasting those stupid tears on my tongue.
He let out a sardonic breath, his frigid facade terrifying. “We all hoped you could tell us.”
So he didn’t have it. Illias didn’t have it. I didn’t have it. Then who did?
“The Yakuza,” I murmured. “Maybe–”
I trailed off when he shook his head. “If they had it, they’d come down demanding all our territories and give up on chasing you. They don’t have it either.”
There was no reason to hold the gun to Isla’s back anymore so I lowered my arm, letting it fall down my body.
I sighed, slumping my shoulders and meeting his gaze. “What’s on that chip?”
He shook his head. “You really think I’d hand you information that could destroy my family?”
Destroy his family. Destroy Illias family. Adrian was busy.
“What’s on there that could destroy Illias?” Isla asked and my eyes widened. I shook my head. No, no, no. But before I could say a word or plead with Marchetti not to answer, the truth was already out there.
“Among other things, video of Illias killing your mother.”
Deafening silence. Thundering of my heart. Aching in my soul.
Betrayal. Mine. Illias. Ours.
“You knew.” It wasn’t a question but a clear statement. My betrayal cut her deep. My throat tightened. I gripped the handle of the gun, my heart twisting with regret. I should have told her, but it wasn’t my story to tell.
It was at that very moment I knew I’d always choose Illias. Whether right or wrong, I’d always take his side. Although I’d give him a piece of my mind when alone.
“Isla–” My voice cracked.
“How could you not tell me?” she rasped, accusation clear in her voice. “I thought we were–” Friends. Sisters. Family.
“We are,” I rasped, emotions choking me. She stood by me, let me kidnap her. Even helped me get to Marchetti.
And I betrayed her.
Straightening my shoulders, I held her gaze. I had known her for a short time, but I loved her and I cared about her. I couldn’t just let her believe I did it on purpose. To hurt her.
“I can’t give you your story. That’s for your brother to tell.
But I’ll give you my story.” A lump in my throat grew until it choked me and distorted my every word.
“In recent months I found a video of my own mother when going through my husband’s stuff.
I knew she killed herself.” I took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
“What I didn’t know was that she was going to kill me too.
To get back at my father for not loving her.
Sasha, my crazy brother, who was only ten, took me from her and saved me. ”
Isla’s lips trembled and I’d give anything to take her pain away.
By now, tears flowed freely down my face.
I couldn’t stop them if I wanted to. “My brothers still don’t know I learned that truth.
And I don’t want them to. They’re finally happy.
They’ve earned it, and the last thing I want to do is give my mother more power. After all she had done.”
By the expression on Isla’s face, I hadn’t gotten through to her. Her next words confirmed it.
“He should have told me.”
The worst part was that I couldn’t even argue.
“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing I had left. “Let’s go back to the hotel. I’m sure he’s there waiting for us now and make him explain.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m going to crash at my friend’s house.”
“I don’t think so.” Marchetti’s voice had both of us turning our attention to him. He held a gun pointed at Isla. Both of our eyes widened.
“What are you doing?” I screeched. “Remove that gun before I shoot you.”
But then I remembered. My gun wasn’t loaded. Fuck!
He gave me a cold smile. “Before you even move, she’d be dead.”
Jesus Christ! Did I misread him? My eyes darted to Isla, then back to Marchetti, only to end on Isla.
“I-I’m fine,” she assured.
“No, you’re not,” I snapped. “That psycho daddy’s holding you at gunpoint.” My eyes narrowed on him, shooting deadly glares.
“Funny,” Marchetti remarked unamused.
Isla waved her hand. “I’m used to it by now.” I blinked my eyes. What the fuck was going on here? “Tatiana, you go and get my brother. Okay?”
My gaze flickered to Marchetti, but he was impossible to read. His expression was made out of granite. He didn’t seem to be joking around though.
“You put even one scratch on her and what Adrian wanted to do to you will pale to what I’ll do to you,” I hissed my warning.
“Really?” he asked, amused. “Considering you married Illias, you’re part of our organization too. And that means, you’re required to protect Omertà interests. When he married you, he signaled to everyone you’re off limits and under our protection.”
Huh? That sounded like a bunch of rubbish to me. It was so fucking clear I was way out of my element here, but I’d be damned if I’d show him that.
“Now see, he failed to mention that,” I said, keeping my voice bored. “And I’m not much for one for all and all for one, you know. That shit has never been my thing so I’m not gonna start now. Besides, if this means being under your organization’s protection, please take it the fuck away.”
He let out a sardonic breath. I was getting on his nerves.
“Go to your husband, Tatiana,” he drawled. “I’ll deal with Isla.”
Shit, that didn’t sound very good. Enrico Marchetti had lost his status as a hot daddy. He’d been demoted to… just daddy. Fuck, I didn’t know.
My gaze found Isla’s. Strangely, she didn’t seem scared.
“I’m still mad at you,” she muttered. “But I’ll be okay. You go and find Illias.” It sounded foolish leaving her here. Except, I didn’t know what other options I had.
“Tatiana! Go. Now.”
I had no idea Isla could be so bossy.