Chapter 14 - Selene
Matvei fires question after question at me, and I keep my chin up and my voice steady as I answer all of them. He makes blatant accusations, and I do my best to provide evidence and solid answers to show him that I have nothing to hide.
Next to me, Simon is fuming. I can see how much he hates this, and I can see how badly he wants to pull me out of the room. I slip my hand beneath the table and gently place it on his leg. His eyes go wide in surprise, and he looks at me with his head cocked to the side.
I smile at him, trying to tell him I’m okay with the calm look in my eyes. Then I turn back to his brothers.
They continue to interrogate me, and I continue to answer, question after question.
“I just have one concern, Selene,” Matvei says after an hour has passed.
I wait for him to tell me what it is.
He sucks in his cheeks, watching me. Then says, “How do I know you’re telling the truth. Everything you’ve said might add up, it might sound right, but for all I know, you could be working with your family in a heavy covert operation against us.”
I consider his words, taking a slow breath before I answer him. I speak from the heart because there is nowhere else the truth comes from.
“All of this bratva business… my father’s business…
yours… I know it means everything to him and perhaps to you, but to me it is irrelevant.
The only thing that matters… and believe me when I say this…
is my children being safe. It doesn’t matter who my family is.
It doesn’t matter who I fall in love with.
It doesn’t matter what I want or what you want.
The only thing I will base every single choice on is my children and how that decision will affect them.
For five years, I lived under my father’s roof, and I hate myself for staying that long.
I carry immense guilt for not taking them out of that environment sooner.
I should have escaped years ago, but I was too scared.
I’m not scared anymore. Now will die to protect them.
You have to understand Matvei… my children are all that matters to me. ”
Matvei presses his lips together.
He is studying me intently, weighing my words.
“There’s something else, though,” I say thoughtfully.
“What is that?” he asks.
“My father’s entire business, his existence, revolves around covert operation. Not being seen. Not being known. Sending a sniper is not his style. It’s loud, it’s abrupt. There is nothing secretive about it.”
“It was a sniper, though. They are meant to shoot from afar and not get caught.”
“No,” I shake my head. “It’s too messy. If my father planned for him not to get caught, I assure you, he would not have been caught.
And he would never have chosen a man who would so easily give up his name if he didn’t want you to know it was him.
It’s bothering me because it doesn’t make sense.
The men following me—they are out in the open.
Everything is visible. Why? Why is he changing his MO? ”
“So, what do you think is going on then?” Adrian asks, tapping his fingers against the table as Matvei stands up and starts pacing the room with his fingers wrapped around his jaw.
“I don’t know,” I shrug. “But…” I say thoughtfully.
“Maybe your father just slipped up?” Egor asks.
I shake my head. “No. Maybe he wants you to think he slipped up. The thing is that you have a very powerful family. Known. Your name is known. Everyone knows your methods, the things you are feared for. You have power that is out in the open. My father has power that no one has seen yet. But it’s there. ”
“We’re stronger than him,” Matvei snaps.
“I’m not saying you are or you aren’t. What I am trying to say is don’t underestimate him. There is so much you don’t know. There is so much that I don’t know. My father doesn’t make mistakes. He plans far too meticulously. He is obsessive about it.”
Matvei sighs and sits down again. He looks gruff when he turns to me. “Thank you for answering our questions. If we have more…”
“I’ll answer again. I have nothing to hide, and I want this to end as much as you do,” I answer quickly.
He nods, satisfied for the moment.
Simon is already on his feet; his hand wrapped around my arm to pull me to my feet, too.
“Can we go now?” he asks in a huff.
“Yes, we’ll chat soon.”
He drags me out of there before anyone says anything more. He’s quiet until we get to the car. “The driver already took your car home, so you can ride with me,” he says as he opens my door. I can’t quite read his expression. He looks furious, but I’m not sure at whom.
Ducking into the car, I decide to keep quiet and let him voice his thoughts before I make assumptions.
We drive for a few minutes before he lets out a heavy sigh and turns his head towards me, glancing at me with strain in his eyes. “I am so sorry you had to go through that, Selene. I never wanted you to have to go through that…”
“Simon, no, don’t be sorry. I wanted to help. It wasn’t an issue for me,” I say quickly, gently placing my hand on his leg.
He looks down at my hand, then back at the road.
“You did really well. You were calm, straightforward, speaking clearly and… I think you did the right thing. I know it was hard and maybe felt like you were betraying your father, but you did the right thing.”
I nod, pulling my mouth to the side and biting the inside of my cheek—a nervous habit I often had when I was in my father’s house.
Sucking my cheeks in, I let out a heavy sigh and shake my head.
“It’s not easy to betray him. But in so many ways, he betrayed me first. But I’m not like him… so it weighs on me.”
“Don’t worry, princess, he doesn’t stand a chance against us. We’ll take him down quickly.”
I snap my head towards Simon, frowning deeply. “Quickly?” I huff, annoyed.
“Yes, he is going to feel the full wrath of the Volkov clan.” Simon sounds self-confident to the point of being arrogant.
“Did you hear a word I said in there?” I blurt out, my agitation growing by the second.
Simon knots his brows. “Selene, I’m just saying that we are a strong family, and he doesn’t stand a chance against us. He’s bitten off more than he can chew this time.”
“Simon, just stop. You are being far too arrogant. You didn’t hear a damn thing I said.
He is far more powerful than people know because everything he has done for decades has been in secret.
I told you… Your name is known. People fear you because of what they know about you.
You shouldn’t assume my father is not to be feared simply because you don’t know what he is capable of!
” I hear my voice rising as I speak. How can he not understand this?
“Selene. Take a breath, I’m just trying to reassure you that I will, my family will, keep you safe. We have connections, we have allies, we are the strongest alliance in the city… You don’t have to worry about anything, Selene.”
“I do have to worry!” I huff.
“No, you don’t. You have no idea what we are capable of,” he chuckles.
“Don’t laugh, Simon. This isn’t a joke. This is my children’s lives.”
“My children, too! Why would you say it as if you were the only one who cares about them? I am telling you I will keep them safe. Why does that bother you so much!” he asks, angry and combative.
“I don’t understand why you are worrying so much when I’m sitting right next to you, telling you not to,” he says sternly.
“I have to worry because you aren’t. Don’t you get it? If you aren’t worried… if you aren’t scared of what my father is capable of, then you are underestimating him, and that will not have a good ending.”
He scoffs, shaking his head. When I glance at him, he has an amused, arrogant smile on his face.
It infuriates me. I clench my fists and bite down hard to stop myself from saying something really nasty in a moment of anger.
“Come on, princess, you need to trust me on this,” he smiles at me. “I’ll keep you safe. All of you.”
“How can you keep me safe when you are underestimating the danger you have to face to do so?!”
Simon clenches his jaw, realizing that I am not letting up on this argument.
“I think what father did to you made you fear him more than he is worth. He is not unbreakable, Selene. He is a man. A man who bleeds and dies like the rest of us,” Simon huffs.
I’m livid, but in all honestly, he might be right. Maybe it’s fear bleeding through. Maybe I envision my father as much bigger than he really is. But still, you should never underestimate an enemy. Not when the price you’ll pay is losing your family.
I thought he understood. I thought he realized how dangerous my father is.
But he’s speaking about it as though this is going to be a breeze.
That means he isn’t going to prepare properly for the reality of what is about to rain down on us.
And that means he can’t possibly keep the children or me safe.
Simon reaches over and places his hand on my thigh. At first, I want to push it off, but the heat of his touch is reassuring and settling. Even in an argument, he doesn’t want to push me away. He’s still reaching for me. That has to mean something.
“Hey, I’m sorry,” he mutters gently. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know that you’ll be safe.”
“I know,” I sigh. “And I just want you to know what you’re really up against,” I say quietly.
He nods, keeping his eyes on the road. We don’t speak about it anymore, and when we arrive at the penthouse, I feel unsettled, like I want to run again.
Like it’s not as safe as I thought it was.
I feel like his underestimating my father means that I have overestimated Simon.
He’s a fool if he doesn’t take this seriously.
Raya greets us at the door. “How did it go?” she asks, raising her brows.
“It went very well, actually, surprisingly. I think Matvei is happy with the intel he got,” Simon answers.
“The twins have bathed, they ate most of their dinner, I read them a story, although I am sure they will try to convince you I didn’t, so they can get a second story,” she giggles. “They were a pleasure to spend the day with.”
“Thank you so much,” I say, pulling Raya into a hug.
“You look exhausted,” she says, pulling away to look at me.
“I am. It was a long session.” I smile tightly.
“Matvei can be really intense,” she nods. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair. Call anytime if you need me to help again. You two have a nice, relaxing evening,” she smiles, hugging Simon before letting herself out.
I sigh softly and turn to Simon. “I’m going to check on the twins.”
In their bedroom, I find them in bed, sitting up as though waiting for us, but they are both fast asleep. Quietly, I shift their positions, tucking them in and turning off the main lights so only the soft pink glow from under the bed illuminates the room.
Then I step out into the hallway. Simon is waiting for me there.
“Are they asleep?” he asks.
“Fast asleep. They must have had a blast with Raya,” I smile. “Well, I’m going to go to bed now, too. I hope you sleep well,” I say quietly.
Turning towards my bedroom, I still feel heavy with worry.
But Simon grabs my arm and gently tugs me back to face him. “Sleep in my bed again,” he says with quiet confidence. His eyes pierce into me as he looks down at me. I tilt my head up, trying to read his expression. What does he want from me?
“Simon… I…”
“Just to be with me,” he pushes. “Just to be near me.”
I look up into his gorgeous caramel eyes. All I see is care. A deep tenderness that spills from him into me and tugs at my heart. I want to be wrapped in his arms. I want to be soaking in the warmth of his body.
My heart flutters nervously. “Ok,” I say, barely a whisper of a reply.
He lets his hand slide down my arm until his fingers are knotted with mine, then he leads me to his bedroom.
We are both quiet as we strip our clothes off from the day.
He hands me one of his t-shirts that fits me like a dress, and he slips into a pair of sweatpants.
We climb beneath the covers, and while I know he said it was just to be near him, I find myself snuggling closer and lifting my face towards his to kiss him.
Just as our lips touch, we hear the patter of little feet.
“Mommy, Daddy, you are home now!” Arron says, flying into the room with a space man teddy bear in his hand, and Solenne right behind him, holding her dragon.
“We are home. What are you two monsters doing up?” I ask, shifting to sit up in bed. Simon does the same as the twins’ crawl onto the foot of the bed, climbing it like it was a mountain as their little fingers pull at the blankets for leverage.
Out of nowhere, Solenne drops a book onto my lap.
“It’s story time,” she insists, wedging herself between Simon and me as though that space was made for her.
Arron looks tentatively at the space that is not filled by Solenne. I grin and shift over so he can fit in there, too. He chooses to nuzzle in on his father’s side, and Simon wraps his arm around him.
“What are we reading?” Simon asks, picking up the book.
“The boy who stole the moon!” Solenne says excitedly. “I choosed it for Arron. It’s a new one!”
Simon’s deep, soothing voice begins to fill the room with a story about a boy who stole the moon. My heart warms, my worry melts away, and I find myself relaxing at the rhythmic tone of his storytelling.
Maybe I was too harsh on him. Maybe he can keep us safe.
My eyes close, and I drift slowly into dreamland with images of a boy pulling the moon on a string behind himself.