Chapter 33 Rachel #2
“Vena didn’t know the connection between your father and I.
He’d been infatuated with your mother just like Mikhail had been.
She had a magnetic personality and drew people in.
She was beautiful, kind, and thoughtful, but she was also gullible.
Mikhail and I both failed to teach her about our world and the dangers it entailed. ”
“So you just let him marry her?” I seethe. “Just so you could keep your precious secret? Newsflash, asshole, everyone in Chicago knows you’re fucking mafia!” I can’t believe this shit. My father was Russian? Mafia? He had money set aside to provide for us?
“Not back then, they didn’t,” Nicolai yells back at me. “I’d been careful to hide my criminal connections, but after Mikhail died at the hands of the woman I thought I loved—the woman who was merely a weapon our own father used to force our compliance with his wants—I didn’t give a fuck who knew.
“I didn’t let Vena marry her. I left for Russia within days after your father’s funeral.
I was gone for two years, and when I returned, they were already married.
I monitored the situation and embedded spies within his organization.
He seemed to love her, and both you and she seemed to be happy, so I didn’t intervene.
” My lips purse together as I consider his words.
It's true. We were happy for many years. It was the last few years that Vena had seemed to change, to become aggressive and more demanding. Then, after mom died, he became a monster. Just an evil man looking for revenge and power.
“When I learned he was trying to expand his territory, I knew you would be used as a pawn,” Nicolai continues.
“My spies reported he’d met with a few others in our…
profession, and I knew you would be the topic of conversation.
I couldn’t allow my niece to be married off into the life her father had never wanted for her.
“So I approached Vena and made him an offer for your hand, but he turned me down. His pride wouldn’t allow him to admit he needed me to be successful in his expansion. He’d decided to use brute force to get what he wanted, and it cost your mother her life.”
All the pieces were coming together. Vena had wanted more, and he’d tried to take it.
My mother had been murdered as retaliation.
Nicolai had been willing to help him in exchange for me, but I’d taken the boys and gone on the run, ruining all of their plans.
I don’t regret my choice, but now what happens?
“I have the equipment ready,” Dr. Michael pokes his head into the room. “And Boris said to tell you that you have an urgent call waiting.”
Nicolai again picks me up like I weigh nothing and carries me out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and back to the elevator.
I begin to plan how I’ll escape once we reach the hospital, but we only go down one floor.
The doors open to another foyer like the one upstairs, but when we enter the main room, my mouth falls open in shock.
Before me is what can only be called a mini-hospital.
Stretchers, medical equipment, and nurses take up the expanse of space that would be the living room if this were another penthouse apartment.
Nicolai follows Dr. Michael to the right, down a hallway to a room with a large X on the door, warning of the dangers of entering when the light is on, which it isn’t at the moment.
“Where are we?” I can’t keep from asking. Keeping my mouth shut would be in my best interest, but it’s not my strong suit.
“As I’m sure you’re aware, being in the mafia is dangerous,” Nicolai answers. “Things happen that require medical treatment without the authorities being notified. This was created out of necessity and gives my good friend here a job he loves.”
Dr. Michael snorts derisively, “It has its pros and cons, but someone has to keep you in one piece. Now bring her inside and lay her on the table please. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Yes, boss,” Nicolai replies sarcastically, but does as Michael has requested. I’m laid on a hard, cold slab, then Michael and another man in scrubs begin to position me on the table like they want me.
Present…
Here I am a couple hours later, after a CT scan of my head and being connected to monitoring equipment and an IV, I’m sitting in Rosco’s lap, trying to keep my head from exploding after yelling at the two men who are fighting over me.
I now know they both care for me and want to keep me safe, but they don’t need to be fighting each other.
It’s Vena we need to defeat to get my brothers home safely.
“She’s fine, but stop upsetting her,” Dr. Michael scolds. “I’ve already told you she needs to rest. She can’t do that with the dick measuring contest going on in here. Take it outside.”
“Michael,” Nicolai warns in a threatening tone.
“Stop!” Michael holds up his hand, seemingly unafraid of his boss.
“Mikhail was my friend, and he wouldn’t want you upsetting his daughter when she is injured.
Now find a way to get along with these men.
She isn’t afraid of them, so I don’t think they’re a threat to her.
Perhaps you need to stop being Nicolai the mafia boss and try being Uncle Nicolai for a change. ”