Chapter 28 Seth
SETH
The time had come.
In just two hours, I was going to fight my brother to the death.
Was I ready? Yes. Did I want to kill him? The fucked-up answer was yes.
I shouldn’t want to see my brother dead, but he deserved it.
It was the price he needed to pay. So many people had suffered because of him, and it had to stop.
My guys knew what they had to do. Benny, Joey, and Stefan would be with me, while Drake stayed at the house with Diego to watch over Wren and my mother.
I could hear Wren in the kitchen, rummaging around while I shoved some clothes in a bag. The deal tonight was no weapons, but I never went anywhere without my SIG Sauer.
My phone beeped and I pulled it out of my pocket to see a text from Benny.
Benny: Your parents are coming down the road.
I hurried out of my room and went into the kitchen, where Wren was busy going back and forth to the cabinets, pulling out various ingredients.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
Wren ran a hand through her hair, clearly worried by the look on her face. “Distracting myself. Your mother’s cooking dinner, so I thought I’d make dessert.” She held up her phone so I could see a picture of some chocolate lava cakes.
“I’m sure they’ll turn out great.”
Shaking her head, she stormed over to me, her grip tight as she grabbed my arms.
“Making dessert while you’re fighting in a death match is so fucking wrong. How am I going to get through tonight and act like nothing’s going on in front of your mom?”
I nodded toward the door. “They’re about to arrive.”
Her face fell and she wrapped her arms around my waist. I held her tightly and breathed in deeply, loving the scent of her skin and the smell of her shampoo.
“Come back to me,” she whispered.
I pressed my lips to hers, memorizing the feel of them against mine. “I will. I promise.”
A few seconds later, the front door opened, and my mother’s joyous laugh echoed in the foyer. Wren stepped back and sucked in a quick breath before plastering on a fake smile.
“I can do this,” she said, trying to convince herself.
“Yes, you can,” I told her as my mother appeared around the corner.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Wren, and she hurried over and hugged her. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Wren nodded excitedly. “I am.”
My mother smiled at her and then approached me and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for letting me have a girl’s night with Wren. I’ve waited thirty-two years for this.”
Diego came in with a dozen grocery bags of food hanging on his arms while my father followed him in. It was his first time seeing Wren, and I was happy to see an approving smile on his face. He walked over to her, and she stiffened when he kissed her cheek.
“You are more beautiful than my son described.”
Wren relaxed and a genuine smile spread across her face. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Michelson.”
“Julian,” he corrected her.
She nodded once. “Julian, it is.”
My mother chuckled and beamed at my father. “Wait until you get the chance to spend time with her.” She linked her arm with Wren’s. “She’s very entertaining to talk to.”
My father leaned in close to my mother and kissed her. “Have a good night, dear. We’ll be back later.”
I could see the turmoil in his eyes when he looked at my mother. In just a few short hours, she wouldn’t have that angelic smile on her face; she would be heartbroken. I didn’t want to hurt her by taking away one of her sons, but it had to be done.
My father turned to me and jerked his head toward the door. “It’s time, son.”
I locked eyes with Diego, and he nodded in understanding. It was his job to protect the women at all costs.
While my mother busied herself with the groceries, I went over to Wren, and she wrapped her arms around my waist.
“I love you,” I whispered, kissing her head.
She tilted her neck back and met my gaze. “I love you, too.” Then, her voice dipped lower. “Give your brother hell.”
Letting her go, I stepped away and started for the door. “I plan to.”
I took one last glance at both her and my mother before turning the corner. Joey and Stefan pulled out of the driveway while my father hopped into the back of Benny’s car. My vehicle needed to stay behind in case Wren had to get away.
Once Benny hopped into the driver’s seat with Darion beside him, we headed to the warehouse.
“Who did you call?” I asked my father.
He released a heavy sigh. “Only the Rossis, Salvatores, and Kazakovs. They’re your biggest supporters. The Porcellos and the Sellingers are neutral. However, Nikolai was the one who called them in. I heard he offered them a large chunk of money to take his side.”
That didn’t surprise me.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the warehouse.
It looked like a dilapidated building with broken windows in the front and graffiti-covered walls.
As we exited the car, I could feel the tension in the air.
There were a few vehicles parked in the back, including Valentin’s.
His father, Riccardo, was standing by the large rusty metal door that led inside, along with Emilio Kazakov, the kingpin of his family.
They were both good friends of my father.
“I’ll be right inside,” my father said as Benny parked the car. He looked at me, his eyes full of regret. “I’m sorry you have to do this.” Without another word, he got out quickly and joined Riccardo and Emilio with Darion by his side. I was only sorry my father had to be there to witness it.
Grabbing my bag, I hopped out and Benny and I went inside. The interior was dark and musty, with only a few dim lights flickering overhead. The sound of dripping water echoed through the empty space.
As we made our way through the maze of corridors, I could hear voices in the central part of the warehouse; it was where the fight was taking place. I didn’t want to go in there until it was time. A room was at the far end of one of the corridors, and Valentin was waiting for me outside the door.
Benny placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to join the others while you prepare. I’ll come get you when it’s time.” I nodded and he disappeared back down the corridor.
Valentin took my bag and waved a hand toward the inside of the musty room, his expression guarded. There was nothing around but empty shelves covered in dust and a cobweb-covered desk.
“Nikolai’s not here yet,” he said.
“Of course not,” I scoffed. “He likes to make an entrance.”
Valentin set my bag down on the desk and I took my holster off, handing it to him before changing out of my suit into black shorts. Valentin stared at my gun and carefully placed it in my bag.
“Do you think your brother will have a weapon on him?”
Huffing, I stretched my neck from side to side. “I’m prepared for anything.”
“He’ll lose all respect from the others if he does,” he said.
I turned to him and shrugged. “I don’t think he cares.”
Valentin nodded in agreement. “You’re probably right,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “Be careful out there, Michelson.”
He took my bag and carried it out with him. Voices echoed down the hall, but I tuned them all out.
Leaning against the desk, I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. There wasn’t much I could do to prepare myself for what I was about to do. I heard footsteps coming down the hall and it wasn’t long before I heard my brother’s sinister laugh.
“I thought you’d be here warming up, not meditating.”
My eyes flashed open and I glared at him. He was shirtless and wearing only a pair of jeans.
“I don’t need to warm up,” I hissed, pushing away from the table. “Did you come here to slip me some drugs or find another way to give you an advantage in the fight?”
Nikolai’s gaze hardened. “I told you, I don’t have to cheat. I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time.” He jerked his head toward the hall. “I’m just glad all those people out there will get to see that I’m the strongest in our family.”
A few seconds later, our father appeared in the doorway, his face blank as he glanced back and forth between us. “It’s about time. Are you boys ready?”
Nikolai held up a hand, his evil smirk directed at us both.
“Not yet. There’s something we need to make clear.
” His smile diminished and his expression transitioned into outright anger as he turned to our father.
“When I win this fight,” he said, stepping toward him until their noses almost touched, “I’m not stopping my operations in California.
You said you didn’t want our family divided, but that’s exactly what you did when you took your other son’s side.
” He pointed a finger in our father’s face.
“You did this. I will carry the Michelson name, but I’ll do it alone.
” Nikolai pinned his murderous glare on me but directed his words to our father.
“When you lose your golden boy tonight, don’t come asking me for help. ”
Our father didn’t flinch with Nikolai’s words, nor did he let any sign of emotion pass across his face. It wasn’t what Nikolai wanted; he wanted to see our father suffer. When he didn’t get that, he fumed.
“Goodbye, Nikolai,” our father said to him. Nikolai snarled and pushed past him out the door. Several seconds went by, but then my father turned to me. “I have faith in you, Seth. I know you won’t let me down.”
I shook my head. “Never.”