Chapter 27 #3
“Except I was considered tarnished,” she interjected.
“Because I fell in love with your brother during the best and worst time of my life. Kazimir is right. I suffered because when you love someone, you’ll do everything in your power to find your way back to them.
Kazimir is my destiny.” She even dared turn to face the other way, lowering the shoulder of the shirt she’d chosen to wear.
Exposing her scars. “This was my father’s brand of love. ”
“Jesus,” Stash groaned.
“I realized very quickly that her value was much greater than it would have been had she married someone of Italian blood, as would traditionally happen.” I eyed them both, an icy chill taking hold.
“Where is this going?” Stash asked.
I sat on the edge of the desk, trying to keep my shit together.
“The bottom line is that Don Pollizi always wanted to expand into the United States, just like our uncle wanted, yet our father wasn’t interested.
But let’s talk about what could be at stake, something Dante and our uncle already figured out years ago.
A new location that could easily be controlled.
An influx of cash, a new king. Imagine the power when controlling two countries.
That would take vision and stepping away from the old ways, which I also didn’t want anything to do with.
But you did, Mikhail. You talked to me about expanding yourself.
Dad even told me the day before he was murdered how excited you were at possibilities, suggesting improvements and a shift into the United States.
He was so proud you were finally a part of the regime. ”
“Yes, I made suggestions. So what? My thoughts were more about wishing we could get out of Moscow.” Mikhail shook his head. “You’re serious in thinking I had something to do with what happened to you? To our father?”
“What I learned a long time ago was that men like Giovanni are very convincing. Especially to a young man who hated his older brother deep inside and was promised the world. Promises made including wealth and power. A tantalizing carrot for anyone, but to someone who hasn’t been taken seriously, the offer is as good as gold. ”
Mikhail slammed his drink on the bar, daring to come closer. “Why in God’s name would I do that? You’re my brother.”
“I had to ask myself that very question. You were our mother’s favorite.
She adored you and you adored her. When she was killed, you blamed me for her death.
For taking her away from you. I always knew you were angry with me, that you resented that I was alive when she’d been killed because of my antics.
With Dimitri. Our cousin and you remember, part of the reason she was the one who came to bail us out was because our fathers were arguing about expanding into the United States.
If they hadn’t, one or both men would have gone. ”
Stash continually glanced back and forth between us.
“You had every reason to hate me and I understood that, which was why I tried to make it up to you when you had cancer. I was there, but Mother wasn’t.”
“Why not just kill you instead? This is crazy! None of you are buying this shit. Right?” He glanced around the room.
“The extra money in the accounts,” Stash said. “You were paid well.”
Mikhail moved even closer, continually shaking his head. “I made good investments. Jesus.”
“To answer your question about why not just have me killed instead. Because there is some decency left in you. You couldn’t stomach making that decision, but I assure you that Demarco had no problem with causing my suffering.
One certainty that would keep the alliance as you headed into the United States to challenge our cousin was a marriage.
You had every intention of marrying Rafaela.
Not a bad plan, except she wanted nothing to do with you. ”
Now my voice held the kind of anger I’d experienced for years.
“So you decided to have me kidnapped, not expecting that your brother would intercept and kill the men hired to do the job,” Rafaela said.
I tried to laugh even though it was painful. “Not before I used my interrogative skills.”
“Kazimir. This is crazy. They filled your head with garbage.”
“That’s what I hoped. But even when I was being kept in a cement box, before you left Sicily, you had a meeting with Giovanni and the man who’d incarcerated me.
Rafaela witnessed the meeting. Only she didn’t see you.
If she had, she would have noticed the injury to your arm.
But she heard you. Talking. Laughing. Your very different laugh. ”
Mikhail’s chest was heaving. “No. This is nuts.”
“A laugh that haunted me for years,” she said, much angrier than I was. She took a step closer, shaking her head. “The same laugh as a minute before. How fucking could you. You put your own damn brother in prison when mine was driven away from me. You horrible man.”
When the other soldiers and Stash moved closer, Kirill threw out his arm. He knew I still needed final proof.
“I did no such thing. My God. I’m not a monster. I care about my brother. Yes, I blamed you for our mother’s death. And our fucking father. He never really cared about her. I knew that. He only cared about the bitch from the brothel. Of course I did. But I didn’t harbor a grudge.”
When Stash moved even closer, I shook my head. This was my fight to finish.
“What did you do, slip adrenaline into our father’s drink?” Stash threw out. “Yeah, you mentioned you wanted to use that on Giovanni Pollizi. I thought you were angry with him because of Kazimir. But you were just greedy. You wanted the money, the contracts all to yourself.”
“No. No!”
Sighing, I pinned my eyes on the love of my life, the woman who’d both encouraged me to find the truth and warned me that in doing so, it would change my life. She was right, but this was something I needed to do.
So I pulled out the phone the Ghost had used, knowing that the person who’d ordered her kidnapping for the upcoming wedding would keep his phone close, as timing, with my reappearance, would be of the essence.
With both Kirill and Rafaela watching me closely, I dialed the number.
The ring was instant and telling.
The phone in Mikhail’s pocket.
“The Ghost was supposed to contact the person responsible for kidnapping her to mention where he was to drop her off. In preparation for the wedding already in motion. In Sardinia. How appropriate.” I fought the building rage.
His look of horror was followed by a snarl from Rafaela as she lifted her arm to slap him. As soon as she did, he grabbed her arm, yanking her around with her back to him, his arm around her waist. “Don’t come any closer.”
I moved quickly, immediately pulling out my weapon. “Don’t do it, Mikhail. I know you didn’t want to betray me. Not really. You simply wanted our mother back.”
“You don’t know me at all. You never did.” He pulled out his weapon, pointing the barrel against her head. “You were a selfish son of a bitch. I hated you. You killed her. If you hadn’t gone off like some crazy kid that day, she’d be alive. She was taking care of me. She knew how I felt and…”
He faltered, his gun dropping.
Rafaela’s face was pinched because she understood what guilt could do to a man.
Including her brother.
Stash had his weapon out, prepared to fire, but I shook my head. This was my cross to bear. “I’m sorry, little brother. I’m sorry I failed you.” The words were easier to say than I’d anticipated.
Mikhail was more distraught than I’d ever seen him, tears falling down his face. Why hadn’t I fully understood what he’d suffered? Why?
Rafaela was calm, squeezing his arm. “It’s okay, Mikhail. You’re with family. We’re all here together.”
“No. No!” He pressed the barrel against her temple. “You don’t get a pass. You don’t get to enjoy your life. You don’t…”
The moment was one that I hadn’t expected. Sadly, I could tell he was on the edge. Too close. His agony was too real. But I’d need her help.
With all her other fabulous traits, I sensed she was reading my mind or perhaps I was reading hers. The moment Mikhail lowered the weapon by a couple of inches, the despair more intense, she jammed her elbow into his stomach, pushing herself away and onto the floor.
In any other situation and with any other person, I would have put a bullet in his head.
But this was my brother.
And I loved him.
So I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him against me as I yanked the weapon from his hand. “I’ve got you, brother. I’ve got you.”