Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Vera makes herself at home in the large living room, heading to a sideboard.
“You guys want drinks for this planning sesh?” she asks.
“I’ll take the wine,” Lydia says. “Mom doesn’t have beer.”
I shake my head. I want to be on full alert. Nikko declines as well.
Kolya got into our heads hard.
Lydia sits beside me, sipping a glass of sparkling prosecco.
“Mom, why aren’t you feeling well?” Vera asks, sitting down beside Lydia.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she says. “I’ve had this cough I can’t get rid of, but I’ll get better soon.” Her smile fades. She takes the drink Vera gives her and takes a small sip as if to steady her nerves. “Though honestly, Vera, I think it’s stress. We have a lot to talk about.”
Vera looks sharply at her mother. “What do you mean, stress? What other symptoms do you have?” She’s in full-on Dr. Ivanova mode.
Her mother tells her her symptoms, waving her hand as if to pass her off. “I’m fine, Vera.”
“Maybe you’re not, though,” Vera says with a frown. “And why are you stressed?”
Zofia opens her mouth to speak, then shuts it. She swallows. I’m struck with how alike Vera and Lydia’s eyes are to hers. While Vera is slender and has a touch of the “mad scientist” vibe to her with her wild hair and the occasional times she wears glasses, and Lydia is all curves and feminine allure with a heavy side of snark, all three of the women have a strong resemblance.
She stands, pacing the expansive living room. It’s a calm atmosphere with neutral-toned, modern furniture, clean lines, and wide windows that let in bright light, but it feels anything but calm in here right now.
She turns and looks at Lydia. “I wasn’t entirely honest with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Lydia
I stare at my mother, unsure of what she’s going to tell me. For all I know, she could divulge that I’m not her real daughter, that my father had an affair, and the reason why she spent more time and focused attention on Vera than me was because my father forbade it.
It could be anything, but I’m distracted by my need to claw at my skin. I want this fucking tracker out of me.
I want to build a fire so big, so hot, so powerful that it melts everything around me to dust. I want to sit and watch the flames consume my past so I can walk scot-free into my future.
First, this fucking tracker.
But I’ll have to wait. Bide my time.
Viktor looks at me, concern etched on his face. I turn away, and Vera’s eyes meet mine. We’re both concerned about Mom.
“What is it?” I ask my mother. “Can you tell us the truth now?”
She opens her mouth to speak, her hands clasped in front of her, when she’s seized with a coughing fit. She tries to be delicate about it, but her entire body is wracked with the fit. After a full minute of this, Vera is on her feet.
“Mom, I think you need to see someone,” she says, shaking her head. “This isn’t alright. You’re not well.” Her face is lined with worry as she holds Mom and helps her sit down.
“I’ll be fine, Vera,” Mom says weakly. “All that travel did a number on me.” She gives me a wan smile. “I’m not as young as you two anymore.” Waving her hand, she shakes her head. “But that’s of no importance. It’s vital that we have this discussion.” She sits up straighter and clears her throat. “It is time. Lydia… you were our firstborn. And you are due the inheritance upon your marriage. Because of the nature of your inheritance, the rules stipulated that you were to marry Bratva. At the time, we were not on friendly terms with the Romanov family. The only possibility was your marriage to the Ledyanoye Bratstvo. However, when I agreed to your marriage to the Ledyanoye Bratstvo, I thought you’d be marrying the oldest brother, a man I’d met on many occasions and deemed appropriate. I had no idea who you’d be marrying.”
She folds her hand on her knee.
“Enter the Romanov family. Through Vera and Nikko’s marriage, we became friendly. I shared my concerns with Viktor and Nikko’s mother, and Ekaterina and I decided it would behoove both of our families if you were to marry into the Romanov family. We perhaps thought you could marry Lev or Ollie, as…” She gives Viktor an apologetic look. “Forgive me, Viktor, but you terrified me.”
“You’re not the only one,” I mutter. Vera giggles, and Nikko coughs into his hand. Viktor remains stoic, listening to my mother.
“No harm, no foul,” he says calmly. “Go on, Zofia.”
“Timur Yudin didn’t take kindly to this news. I didn’t realize at the time that his lawyer was privy to the inheritance due to you, Lydia. When I told him the marriage was dissolved, he had a fit. My guards had to escort him off our property.” She leans forward and holds my gaze. “That evening, he met you for dinner. He already knew you wouldn’t marry him. His intent was to hurt you. If he couldn’t have you, no one could.”