She momentarily looked torn between what her husband had told her to do and what I was saying. “I know it’s a risk,” I acknowledged, my voice firm. “But I won’t be a victim of his again. Christopher needs us. We can do this. They won’t see it coming, trust me.”
Finally, a flicker of understanding crossed her face, and a resigned acceptance settled upon her features. With a shuddering breath, she nodded. Relief flowed through my veins, and I took a deep breath and went to open the door.
“Wait,” she screamed, making me freeze. She moved to the control panel and pushed a button. A view of the home’s interior split into several sections on the monitor. “We need to make sure no one is outside in the hallway or near your room.”
Once we were able to determine that the coast was clear, we slipped out and down the hall toward my room, where she stopped.
“Wait for me here.”
Disappearing into a room, she came out carrying an impressive crossbow. It was loaded, and she cocked it. A grim look covered her face as she nodded, and I slipped into my room and retrieved my gun and blade for good measure.
I took another deep breath. Looking down, I realized I was only wearing my robe. The straps on my thighs were visible but acted as a good anchor for my blade. It was too late to change, though, and I rushed to join her back in the hallway.
“What room do you think they may be in?” I whispered, but I didn’t need to, because as we descended the stairs and inched closer to the drawing room, we heard shouting. My heart beat frantically, and we broke into a run.
“What the hell did you just say?” someone thundered.
“You heard me. What kind of sick fuck torments and terrorizes their own fucking family?” Alek shouted.
“Oh, that’s rich coming from the man who is passing her around like a shluha vokzal’naja.”Train station whore.
More shouting ensued, some of it in Russian. I could clearly distinguish the voices of Alek, Ivan, Nik, Sebastian, and Christopher, but the other two, I couldn’t place. Taking the lead, I pushed the door open and stepped inside, ignoring how my heart pounded in my chest. All eyes locked on me, their gazes shifting from their heated conversation to us.
Time stretched, and the man from the photograph materialized before me. The resemblance to my father was staggering. He had the same jaw and the same stern set to his brow.
My grandfather? Here? How? Why?
“Mischa?” he breathed, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
A whirlwind of emotions stirred in my chest. The room seemed to shrink around me as the weight of the past crashed forward. I shook my head, the words poised on my lips, when I caught sight of the second man standing behind him.
He, too, bore the unmistakable imprint of my father’s bloodline. An uncle? Both looked to be made of steel and stone. Recognition hit like a jolt, sharp and electric, lighting every nerve.
A sharp intake of breath caught in my throat, and my chest subsequently tightened with the overwhelming surge of emotions. My eyes locked on their faces, clocking the similarities. It was as if my father were resurrected, his presence transplanted into these two men.
Sebastian, sensing my shock and the weight of emotions flooding over me, stepped forward. Without a word, he swiftly slipped off his jacket and tenderly draped it across my shoulders.
As I stood there, momentarily frozen in disbelief, he reached out, his hand closing around mine. He moved to block my vision, and when his eyes met mine, there was only quiet reassurance and understanding.
I released my weapon, my fingers slackening as he took it from me. The weight of the metal leaving my hand was like a physical release, a surrendering of the burden. My guys were here. They’d make everything right. I pulled his jacket tighter across my frame as he moved once more.
“Kitten, why can’t you ever listen,” Alek said, exasperated, as he, Ivan, and Nik moved to block me.
I tried to push through them, earning several growls. Sebastian pulled me back, shielding me. He gave me a proud smile and a side hug before turning to face my grandfather and uncle. “I suggest you sit back down,” he threatened, his voice taking on an edge I hadn’t heard before. He pointed the weapon at the men.
As the gravity of the situation unfolded, a sudden uproar burst forth from Sophia. “Dostatochno!” she shouted, her voice booming through the room, capturing everyone’s attention.Enough.
I wasn’t sure she meant to, but she pulled the trigger and discharged the crossbow with a resoundingtwang. In slow motion, my grandfather and uncle ducked. Christopher’s eyes widened as he flinched, and Alek roared, “What the fuck?” The bolt harmlessly embedded itself into the wall, tearing through the wallpaper.
As if channeling some inner warrior, she took a bold step forward, her grip on the crossbow unwavering. With each step, her normally graceful movements transformed into a comical display of exaggerated authority. Her back was ramrod straight and her chin held high. Her eyes sparkled with a fiery determination, ready to regain a semblance of normalcy in her drawing room.
Stifled chuckles erupted from Christopher first, followed by Nik and Sebastian. The tension was momentarily defused, and Alek stepped forward. “Wow, really, Mother?”
With amusement outlining his features, Christopher gave her an affectionate smile and took the weapon from her. She leaned into his body and sighed sweetly. With weapons secured, a semblance of calmness settled over the room.
“Mischa, I’m your uncle Konstantin.”
“Please don’t call me that,” I exclaimed with a shiver. “My name is Kinsley,” I asserted, confusion hitting me.
