I wrap my arm around Irina, bringing her in closer to me. She clings right back.
“We were attacked. When we left the restaurant. Some of your father’s enemies wanted him dead. I barely made it out alive. He was killed. His body was taken.”
“By who?” Mom asks. “Who took him? Who… killed him?”
“I’m not sure who. But they spoke Russian. Fellow Bratva members, I take it. I haven’t been in this city in a long time.”
“Where have you been?” I ask.
“Chicago. I don’t know the players in New York, I’m afraid to say. I’m sorry I wasn’t of more help in saving my brother. Your husband and father. Trust me, I wish I could have saved him.”
Sasha narrows her eyes. “You say that a lot. Trust me. But how can we trust you? We barely know you.”
“You’ll get to know me now. I’ll be moving in here to protect you girls.”
“Protect us how?” I whisper. My world has just come crashing down and I barely know how to deal with it. The shock from it all is the only thing keeping me on my feet.
“From men who would come knocking where they shouldn’t be knocking. A lot of men will want to get Lev’s wife and daughters. But I will prevent them from doing that.”
“And let me guess,” Mom says, still not lowering the gun, “you will make arrangements for my daughters to marry men you choose, instead of honoring the ones my husband had in mind.”
“You have husbands in mind for us?” Ana asks.
“For all four of you but nothing was set in stone. Only negotiations,” she explains. “I’m sorry, girls. I wanted to tell you at a better time.”
“So, is our dad really dead?” Irina asks.
Denis nods. “He is. But I’m here. You can trust me. I promise you. I will not hurt you.”
“By marrying us all off?” Sasha asks.
“Not right away. Your father wanted to wait until you were all in your twenties. I will respect that. Tatiana, you can lower the gun. I will not hurt any of you.”
Except, Mom doesn’t move.
“Mom,” I murmur, making her flinch. Slowly, she lowers the gun. There’s a collective release of breath the moment she does it.
“You are not staying in this house. Not until I know for sure what happened.”
Denis nods. “I understand that. But you will learn that I did not kill my brother. You are all safe with me.”
“Just go. We have a funeral to plan and we need time to mourn. So just go. You are not welcomed back in this house until I get all the information.”
Denis doesn’t put up a fight. Before he leaves the house, he stops right before me. “You are a beautiful dancer, Natalya. I wanted you to know that.”
I gasp. “You’ve seen me dance?”
“I have. Your father allowed me to come to one of your shows. I would have loved to have seen you tonight but you can understand why I wasn’t there.” His eyes rake me over. “You have a grown into a beautiful young woman. A lot of men will want your hand in marriage. You can trust that I will keep you safe from them.”
My mind flashes back to the man I spoke to at the theater. He screamed danger and yet, I want to see him again. Will my uncle protect me from men like the stranger?
“Just go,” Tatiana snaps. “Denis. Go.”
He gives us all a nod before leaving the house.
The moment he’s gone, all five of us go into the living room and fall onto the couch. It’s long and large, capable of seating up to eight people. It’s more than big enough for my family of five.
We’re no longer a family of six.
