Page 108 of Precious Legacy
“Sweetheart,” Mom coos, coming to wrap her arms around me and guiding me to the kitchen island. “Do you want something to eat?”
I glance at Roman and my brother, who are both watching me carefully from the corner of the room. But they’re not alone—Roman’s parents are here, too, making the large kitchen feel smaller than normal.
“Coffee is fine,” I mumble, feeling how raw my voice sounds. It’s like sandpaper rubbing together, and when I reach up to rub my throat, I wince. Everything starts flooding back to me—the attack, Prescott trying to kill me, me reaching for the gun and…
“Lani?”
“Huh?” I snap my gaze to my dad, who approaches me carefully. Last night was the first time I’d seen true fear in his eyes. Sure, it was also mixed with anger, but I could practically taste his simmering anxiety. The little words he whispered in my ear were everything, though.“I’ve got you, baby girl.”
Pulling me against his chest, Dad kisses the top of my head. “You need to eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
I hear the irritation as he sighs, but thankfully, he doesn’t push me. He just holds me for a while, and just like I felt with Roman, it’s exactly what I need.
“What were you guys talking about?” I ask, taking the coffee mug from my mom. Coffee feels like the only savior for my throat right now. I usually enjoy the steaming temperature, but peering down at the dark liquid between my palms, I don’t think I want to irritate my vocal chords any further.
Roman clears his throat and I turn to face him. I know he’s not looking at me like he should. His focus is over my shoulder, as if he’s silently asking my dad’s permission to speak. After a second or two, he finally nods. “We were discussing… erm…”
“It’s okay,” I rasp. “You can say his name.” I don’t like the way he’s looking at me right now. It’s like he’s afraid to rehash what happened last night. Tiptoeing around me will only piss me off, though.
“We were discussing what happened,” he explains.
“And?”
“We know why Prescott came after you.”
I swallow the lump that forms in my throat.Payback,that’s what Prescott said, but payback for what?
“He was related to someone from your dad’s past,” Roman continues. “His brother was killed years ago?—”
“The same brother that…” I look at Mom, remembering the threat she cast in Prescott’s direction the night I was arrested.
“Not him, sweetheart. This was someone else.” She’s vague with her response, and I can tell there’s more to it than she’s prepared to divulge to the rest of the room.
“So who was it?” I frown. I’m still trying to understand why he was even at my place last night, how the man who assaulted me is also connected to my family in another way. I freed him from Roman’s torture, and killing me was… what? My punishment? For what, surviving him?
Roman shifts uncomfortably on the spot, his gaze traveling to where my dad sits.
“It doesn’t really matter, now,” Dad says. “He’s dead, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.” I notice his fists bunching up, a telltale sign that speaking about it conjures up bad memories. It’s only when mom comes to his side, tucking herself in with his arm that I put the puzzle together. Dad loves Mom unequivocally. He’d do anything to protect her and thisfamily because he’s fierce like that. I can tell there’s a lot to unpack there, but for now, I keep my mouth shut and return my attention to Roman.
“Prescott clearly wanted to hit the family where it hurts, and he had such easy access to you that… well…”
“I was the perfect revenge.”
He nods before stepping towards me.
“But I thought this was all to do with the Russians?” I question.
Leaning on the countertop beside me, he links his hands together, exuding all the shadowy confidence a man in his power should. “He was, but we’re guessing it was just so he could pin your…death…on them. It would obviously start a war and he was counting on just that.”
My thoughts are a jumbled mess as I stare down at my mug of cooling coffee. Being the pawn in a vendetta that spans my entire life is a bitter pill to swallow. Nobody can tell how long Prescott had that plan in the pipeline, but now he’s dead, it doesn’t even matter.
“He said I was payback,” I murmur. “It makes sense now.”
“Don’t let what happened set you back, Alanis.” Dad rests a hand on mine, his lips curling into a sincere smile.
“I won’t.”
