Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Yana shakes him. “You accessed the files before Rafail planned to marry.”
“Yes,” he admits. “She looked so familiar it was uncanny. So I investigated and knew that she looked almost identical to Polina Romanova.”
Mikhail and Rafail share a look. “We are all adopted,” Mikhail says, his jaw tight. “We’ll need to bring my mother into this conversation.”
Nikko lowers the gun trained on Rafail. I release a breath with a gasp. Zoya gently squeezes my hand, and the lump in my throat dissolves. Hot, fat tears silently roll down my cheeks.
Rafail nods before returning his attention to Gleb. “Go on.”
My mind, however, is reeling.
She looked almost identical to Polina Romanova.
We were all adopted.
Does that mean…? Anissa… somewhere out there, I have a sister?
“When I heard Polina was coming to Moscow, I knew.”
“You,” Rafail snarls. “You were responsible for Anissa leaving, weren’t you?”
Gleb stares at him, the whites of his eyes bright in the dark night. His silence condemns him.
“It was your chance to bring the fire of hell from the cartel to both the Romanovs and the Kopolovs,” Semyon concludes, shaking his head. “You motherfucking son of a bitch.”
“Semyon,” Rafail says so low you can hardly hear him. A warning to keep his shit together. Semyon clamps his lips together, simmering.
Gleb doesn’t answer.
Rafail’s gaze hardens, his jaw taut as he turns to Mikhail. “We have family obligations, but make no mistake—this is not over.” His gaze shifts from Mikhail to Gleb, his eyes flashing in a way I know all too well. “Gleb will face swift punishment. And believe me, it will be as merciless as he deserves.”
Rafail’s gaze darkens as he turns to me, his expression cold and intense. Unreadable.
What does this mean for us?
We were never married.
He lied to me.
He took me as his own and had no right to.
Shifting his gaze to Mikhail, his voice is low and controlled. “You and I will discuss Polina.” His eyes lock onto mine again, but this time, they’re burning with pain and frustration but also a barely restrained fire. “I know I don’t have a claim on her,” he says, his voice tightening. “But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to let her go without a fight.”
Chapter 29
RAFAIL
I’ll never, as long as I live, forget the look of betrayal on my wife’s face.
No.
Not my wife.
The truth hits me as hard as it did the day I found out my parents died. She was never mine.
I’ve fallen in love with a woman I have no claim to.
The Romanov brothers might kill me still, and I half wonder if I wouldn’t welcome death, but I said what I meant: I will fight. I will fight for her.
I get a call from Popov. I look to Mikhail, and he gives me permission with a stern nod. I defer to no one, but in this moment, it feels right to allow him permission to call his shots. Hell, if one of them had kidnapped one of my sisters, I know exactly what I’d do.
“Yes.”
“We have Soloto’s associates in our sights.”
I fill him in as quickly as I can before one of Anissa—no, Polina’s brothers interjects. “Popov. Nikko Romanov here. We met six months ago. Your uncle knows my wife.”
I have no idea what the connection is, but the fact that Popov and the Romanovs aren’t rivals will prove to be useful.
Polina stares at me as words are exchanged, plans are made, and Popov promises to give us updates as they close in on Soloto’s men. Popov’s men pour into the street and surround us. They’re young, strapping men he’s recruited from the Armed Forces, a tactic he’s well known for. In a few short words, I introduce them to the Romanovs. We don’t need any more bloodshed.
“We must ensure the rest of my family is safe,” I tell Mikhail and Popov. I quickly explain the situation.
“Go,” he says with a nod. “Polina comes with us.”
Polina’s jaw drops open, and she stares, half-torn between allegiance to her family and mine, when little Zoya speaks up, her timid voice clear as day. “Only if I go with her.”
“Zoya—”
She holds up a hand to me. “No, Rafail. I’m going with her.” Bright blue eyes meet mine. “I have to.”
One of the Popov men stares in open admiration. Zoya notices and flushes as bright as an apple. I narrow my eyes at him, and he looks away.
Jesus. She isn’t a kid anymore. When did that happen? I want to lift her in my arms and squeeze her tight, my brave little sister. I want to shake her and give her a stern talking-to for putting herself in danger.
“Agreed,” Polina says, holding her chin up high.
Christ.
“And me,” Yana says, pushing herself to stand. She shakes her head. “Not sure any of you have noticed, but there’s a severe shortage of women in these families.” With a sound of disgust, she rolls her eyes. “And we need to stick together.”