Chapter 55
Ren
Istepped outside and pulled my coat a little tighter around me. It was March, which meant things should be starting to warm up, but the last few days had felt like Mother Nature was pissed off and letting us all know about it.
“I’ll see you when I’m done at Volatile,” Nash said, squeezing my hand.
Everyone else had left, and we would meet up at my father’s house later. His birthday party was tomorrow, and he had insisted on taking Vicky and me shopping for new dresses.
“What time do you think that will be?”
The smirk he gave me had my hand twitching to swat him one.
“You keeping tabs on me, wife,” Nash asked, his thumb moving my engagement ring back and forth like a miniature reminder that I’d willingly chosen to tie myself to him.
“Just curious what time I should be naked,” I said, and his mouth dropped.
“Well, in that case, I’ll be there no later than eleven-thirty,” he said, and this time I gave him the devious smirk.
“Make it eleven,” I ordered as I went up on my toes and nipped his bottom lip.
“Eleven it is,” Nash said, making me laugh.
The doors opened again, and Vicky came out. She looked at us, but instead of one of her usual sarcastic comments, she just turned away and walked over to where we were meeting the limo.
“I’m not sure what is worse. Vicky loud and annoying, or the silent treatment version where I don’t know what she’s thinking,” Nash said, and I nodded.
“Agreed.”
I turned my attention back to Nash and ran my hand up the front of his chest, loving how he always left his jackets open so I could steal his warmth.
“Remember, eleven. If you’re late, for no good reason, then I’ll sleep somewhere else tonight.”
His eyes flared with a hint of jealousy and challenge. This was us. We pushed and poked at one another, but it made us better. It made us grow and learn to live outside of our comfort zone. I wasn’t an innately bossy person, but I was with him, and oddly, Nash liked it.
“That is just pure evil, Princess, but I’ll be there.”
He gave me a quick kiss and then walked off to his truck.
With a sigh, I readied myself for the Vicky teardown. Walking over to where she was standing, I pulled out my phone and spotted the text from Dad, saying he was two minutes away.
Vicky remained quiet. Too quiet. She was staring off into the distance and not even noticing me.
“You…okay,” I asked.
“Perfect.”
She didn’t say anything else, and God help me, I really did prefer the spitting mad, saying whatever she wanted, Vicky.
In its own weird way, it was refreshing knowing where you stood with her.
Now…she hadn’t spoken a single word to me since the locker room incident, and I hardly saw her.
Unless we had class together, she was a ghost.
“You know you can talk to me, right?” I tried as the limo pulled through the gates.
She finally looked at me.
“I’m fine, Ren,” she said, and turned away.
I believed that less now than before she opened her mouth. She was the hardest nut to crack. Hell, even Liam and Nash combined had been easier than Vicky.
The limo slowed to a stop, and the back door opened before the driver could get out. Dad stepped out with a warm smile on his face. His ability to make you feel like everything was okay was infectious. Vicky even smiled, the cold mask cracking as Eddie held open his arms.
“My beautiful daughters. Look at you. You cannot know what it means to me to do this with both of you,” Dad said, drawing Vicky into a hug and then me.
“It’s just shopping, Papa,” Vicky said.
“No, it is spending the day with the two most beautiful women in the world and the lights of my life. Thank you both for setting aside whatever quarrels you have to do this.”
“Anything for you, Papa,” Vicky said, and I expected a dirty look, but she shocked me again as she slid into the limo.
“Same, I’m excited. My last shopping trip was…odd to say the least.”
He chuckled.
Getting into the car, I realized that Marcus was already inside and Vicky was sitting beside him at the far end. She was staring out the window, face passive, purse on her lap.
“No armored trucks,” I asked.
“They are waiting outside the gate. I told Dean Henry that I wouldn’t bring my armed men onto the property to help keep the peace with the Curators,” he said. I nodded. “So do either of you know what you’d like to buy?”
“I’m terrible with this sort of thing. Vicky is the better one to ask,” I said, but she didn’t even look our way.
Vicky didn’t want to talk about fashion. What the hell was going on? Hell really had frozen over.
Dad cleared his throat.
“Victoria?” Her eyes slowly turned to us. “I have two prospects coming to dinner tomorrow night. Your mother gave me a very detailed breakdown of the type of man you’d like to marry.”
“I’m sure either of them will be satisfactory,” she said, and looked out the window again.
Marcus shrugged and stared at her as confused as I was. So it wasn’t just me who felt like they had stepped into an alternate universe.
“Do you want to know who they are,” Dad asked.
“If you want to tell me, otherwise, I’ll meet them tomorrow,” she said, her voice flat and void of all emotion.
“Do you want an arranged marriage,” I asked, and Vicky sighed.
“What I want is not to talk about this with you,” she said, but the statement lacked the usual I-hope-you-rot-in-hell tone.
Okay, I was officially worried about Vicky.
Turning to my Dad, I decided that I’d chat with him about Blake’s college plans for us instead.
“Dad, I wanted to talk to you and get your opinion on some things.”
“Of course.”
I shared Blake’s idea for the house and school, but also brought up the obvious issues. He nodded along as I spoke, and I could see him thinking.
“You don’t want to come home and see it? I’ve been hoping that you’ll want to move there,” he said, and I knew he meant the house in Italy.
“I definitely want to visit and meet the family that I don’t know, but there is so much to consider before moving.
Besides, I’d really like to study something in college that will help me understand business better and feed my creative side.
Since Mum died, it’s been…insane. That is the only way to put it. ”
Dad looked away and sighed. I hated how every time I brought up Mum, it caused him more pain.
“Anyway, I think it would be nice to do this before stepping into…” I glanced at Vicky, not wanting to make her feel any worse by rubbing her face in me taking over the family at some point. “Whatever comes next.”
He nodded. “I’ll give it some thought. I’m not opposed to it, but staying here long term is tricky.
As long as you’re in school, you’re fine, but once you’re done, we’ll run into issues.
You’re technically Russian. The Canadian paperwork is all fake.
Wayward provides a buffer, but the moment you’ve graduated, we will need to sort it out.
The marriage does help some.” Dad rubbed his chin.
Shit. I hadn’t even thought about that. Was my passport legit, or had I been flying around with illegal documents all this time?
I glanced at Vicky, sure that she would at least be sneering in our direction, but there was nothing. She was a beautiful statue placed on the seat beside Marcus. No looks, lip curl, or anything else.
“It’s no problem, I know who I can call to get it sorted. Besides, I’d prefer not to have my daughters so far away. I just got you both together, and we finally feel like a family.”
We looked at Vicky, but there was still no reaction.
“Victoria, are you feeling well?”
She didn’t bother to look over.
“Yes, Papa, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You just seem so…”
She finally turned our way.
“Calm, uncaring, reserved, unaffected?”
“Well…yes, but it’s more than that. You seem sad.”
“I thought this was what you wanted. For me to be less…me.” Vicky glanced between us. “Now, you don’t like it. I’m confused. Which is it? Do you want me to be less dramatic and not let everything bother me, or not?”
“I’ve never said that you are dramatic, or that you need to change, Victoria.”
She sighed, her eyes sad as she looked away.
“You don’t need to. Everyone else already has. If you don’t mind, I’m tired, I’d just like to nap until we reach the store.”
She closed her eyes and hugged her purse to her chest. I never thought I’d see the day when I wanted to hug Vicky and tell her that it was going to be okay, but the impossible had happened.
Dad and I continued chatting quietly about business, new acquisitions, and the companies he was considering selling. It didn’t feel as strange as I thought it would. I enjoyed discussing ideas for improving income or expanding into new markets.
The limo slowed, and we pulled down a driveway that looked like a country property rather than a high-end store. It was long and lined with large trees.
“Where are we,” I asked, eyes going wide as we turned the last bend and the foliage opened up to reveal a wide sweeping property. I imagined that during the summer, the flowers and water fountains were the main focus. It was truly spectacular.
“Do you know Donatella Saint Laurent?”
I shook my head, but Vicky sat up like she had been shot out of a cannon.
“What? Did you just say Donatella? The Donatella?”
Dad smiled as Vicky lit up.
“This is one of her many homes that most don’t know about. But I’m an old friend, and she has agreed to let you wear her newest designs. No one else has seen them, but there is a catch,” Dad said as we pulled up to the impressive mansion that looked like it was dropped straight out of a fairytale.
“Oh my god, anything. I’ll do anything,” Vicky said, looking as animated and happy as I’d ever seen her.
Dad chuckled at her enthusiasm.
“I already sent her pictures of my two daughters, and she was so impressed with your beauty that she has arranged a photoshoot. You will be the models for the launch. That means a red-carpet appearance and centerfold images in all the fashion magazines. I couldn’t think of a better way to ensure the world knows what a lucky father I am. ”
Vicky all but lunged at Eddie as she squealed, and it hit me then that they had a whole life together.
As excited as I was to have my dad in my life, I hadn’t spent as much time as I should’ve thinking about what this must be like for Vicky.
It had to be devastating to learn she had a sister, to lose her place in the family, to share the spotlight that was once all her own, to deal with not knowing her biological father.
“I can’t believe you did this. It’s a dream come true. I love her work. She is inspiring, and her designs are always incredible. And…I’ve always wanted to model, but Mama said it would never happen,” Vicky gushed, her words coming out as one long sentence.
“Nonsense, your mother has a nasty habit of filling your head with lies, and the worst of them is that you’re not beautiful just the way you are. I love you.” He looked between us and smiled. “I love both of you so much, know that, and know that you’re both exquisite and deserve the world.”
There was a beat of silence between the three of us, and I thought I saw something soften in Vicky’s eyes.
“Oh my god, there she is.”
I thought Vicky was going to faint as an elegant woman stepped outside and waved.
The driver opened the door, and Vicky practically jumped out, then covered her mouth as she screamed and jogged up the stairs to the famous designer.
“This is amazing, Dad, thank you,” I said, nodding in Vicky’s direction. “I think it was exactly what she needed.”
“I hope you love the idea, too,” he said, and I smiled. “This is not just for Victoria.”
“I do. It’s a really incredible gift.”
“Good.” He patted my hand and then climbed out.
I couldn’t have predicted that by the end of the day I’d be a centerfold model, but smirked as I pictured the guys’ reactions. Marcus followed me out, and we made our way up the stairs.
“You really know my fashion,” Donatella said to Vicky.
“I do. I know every piece, when it was launched, who wore it, and what dumb critic said mean things about it. I love your work.”
Donatella laughed, her smile warm. “Edmundo, it is so good to see you.”
Eddie held her hand as they kissed each other’s cheeks.
“It is wonderful to see you again. You’ve been very busy,” he said.
“I have to be to keep my best customers happy,” she said, and I made a note to look at what Genovese Enterprises purchased from the Saint Laurent fashion house. It had to be extensive for her to be willing to do this.
“You’ve already met Victoria, and this is Lilya.”
I shook the designer’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. You never disappoint, Edmundo. Your daughters are even more beautiful in person, and they will fit my theme perfectly. Come inside, we should get started so that you’re both ready for when the sun begins to set.”
Before Vicky could dart inside, I grabbed her, linking our fingers. She looked at me, but I didn’t say anything. I gave her a hopeful smile and squeezed my hand tighter, trying to get across what I was thinking and feeling. She hesitated, but then returned the gesture.
I didn’t want to take anything from Vicky. I never had. What I wanted was to stop shrinking myself so the world felt fairer to her. I wanted to stand fully as a Genovese without it seeming like a theft or cruelty.
Strength, I was learning, didn’t come from erasing someone else. It came from surviving the fire and choosing what to build with the ash.
My mother was gone, but I felt her everywhere in the way I kept going when it hurt, in the way I refused to rule through fear or bitterness.
If she could see me now, I hoped she’d be proud.
Not because I was powerful, but because I was still kind when it would have been easier not to be.
Because I was learning how to carry a legacy without letting it hollow me out.
And maybe one day, when Vicky was ready, she’d see it too. Not as something taken from her, but as a path forward we could walk side by side—even if I had to reach that place first and wait for her to catch up.