67. Kaz
“What didyou do to your Italian brother, Kaz?”
I knew this conversation would be complicated to avoid, but I had hoped to delay it. Dedushka has been postponing his visit since I returned, and I know I’m not his favorite right now. He harbors a deep dislike for my wife, even though he spent thirty seconds in her presence. He decided to hate her long before meeting her. I had thought it wouldn’t bother me, but it gnaws at me.
“He’s dead,” I reply. There’s no point in lying to him. “How long until you arrange that meeting with Sevastyan?”
My patience wears thin. Sevastyan must die, not only because he killed my father but also because he came after me. He set Mattia free and allowed him to go after Caelia, risking her life. It’s not up for discussion. I’ll wait until Dedushka is either on the ground or too mentally fragile to be in charge, but I will have revenge.
“You left a mess behind in New York,” Dedushka avoids my question. “Aleksandrov is demanding payment.”
“Then I’ll pay him.”
“It’s not that simple. He’s not asking for money.”
“What the hell is he asking for? He had issues with the Italians for years. Sooner or later, he would have tried to take them down. I merely did him a favor.”
My grandpa nods with a somber expression on his face. He looks better than he did a few months ago. I’ve had to bribe his doctors and staff to ensure he takes his heart medication and doesn’t forget his insulin shots. Some days, he’s forgetful and struggles with simple tasks. The doctors claim these are typical signs of aging, but I hate seeing him like this.
“I advised him to tread carefully. He knows you didn’t do anything he hadn’t considered doing himself, but you returned and left a bloodbath in your wake. Ermanno’s brother took over what remained of his business. He isn’t striking while still recovering, but Aleksandrov fears he’ll eventually become the primary target.”
I shove my hands into my pockets, moving closer to the window. I’ve always loved the view from my office, looking out into the garden. I also love that my wife spends a lot of time there, and I can watch her like the obsessed husband I am.
“You know that none of this would have happened if you had just told me the truth about my father’s death. You covered up his murder and protected his killer. Excuse me for doing what I believed was right.”
I would have never spoken to him like this years ago. Dedushka used to scare me to death when I was younger before I went to prison. I used to look up at him, constantly trying to please him and gain his favor. But it all went up in smoke when I discovered the truth. This family is not what I thought it was.
“Don’t blame me, Kazimir. You’re the one who initially listened to your uncle,” Dedushka retorts.
“I’m not blaming you for my actions. I can only blame you for yours, and trust me, I do. What is Aleksandrov asking for?”
“He wants Katarina to marry his younger son.”
I grit my teeth, blinking away the mist clouding my vision. I will never sell my sister to solidify an alliance. Dedushka should know better than to ask for such a thing. I’ll give Aleksandrov money, guns, or whatever the fuck he wants, but his son will never lay a hand on my sister.
“No.”
“Think about it, Kazimir. Don’t make any hasty decisions.”
“I’ve thought about it. The answer is no.”
My sister would tear him apart and spit him out for breakfast. She would also shoot me if I even mentioned this to her. Katarina wants nothing to do with this life, as she has made it clear countless times. She wants to study, marry a man with a tedious nine-to-five job, and have children who won’t become criminals. And I understand. That’s why I wanted nothing to do with the illegal side of the business, either, leaving Vanya to take care of it. But now, I wonder if that was a mistake.
“And you don’t have a say in this,” I warn him. “Don’t sell my sister behind my back because, God knows, I’ve had enough betrayal from family lately.”
“Call Aleksandrov and sort it out, then. I didn’t want to be part of this shit show initially.”
Over the years, Dedushka has relinquished more responsibilities but struggles to let go of power. He stopped interfering in my and Sevastyan’s businesses, and maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation if he had let go sooner. He could have saved us all the headaches if he had told me the truth.
“And treat my wife with respect,” I add, knowing he most likely won’t.
“That wife of yours doesn’t even speak our language. She won’t know if I offend her or not.”
“She’s learning,” I assure him. “And I’ll know.”
“What did you tell your sister?” He changes the subject, leaving me to interpret it as I wish.
“About what?”
“About her brother, whom you killed.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
I turn around, meeting my sister’s angry gaze as she storms into the office. I was mistaken when I thought she knew better than to eavesdrop on private conversations. She looks between me and Dedushka, waiting for an explanation.
“I think it’s best if you have this conversation alone.” Dedushka excuses himself, standing up from the armchair.
It’s for the best. I don’t want him to get angry, even though I haven’t done a great job keeping him calm. I shake my head as Katarina is about to speak, trying to prevent him from leaving.
“Close the door, Katarina. We need to talk.”
I can’t avoid this. If I don’t tell her the truth, she won’t stop until she uncovers it herself. I don’t want to allow anyone to lie to her. Caelia’s story is not mine to tell, so I’ll try to avoid going into too many details. But I owe her the rest. She deserves to know.