by K. J. Dahlen
“And if the certificate is a fake?” she asked. “Then what? He should have asked me what I wanted to do about this.”
Yuri nodded. “Perhaps, but it’s too late now.”
“Do I have to meet them?”
Yuri chuckled. “I think it would be a good idea. Not too many refuse to see Sergi.”
“But there’s no way to know without a blood test if they are my family. I think we should get the test done before I meet them. That way, we would know for sure, one way or the other.”
Yuri nodded. “I’m sure Sergi and Misha will insist on the test.”
“Good, then maybe we can wait for the big meeting until after the test.”
Yuri shook his head. “I don’t think that will work. But Nikoli and I will be there the whole time. You don’t have anything to fear.”
“So says you,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Come along, Nikoli and breakfast is waiting.” He held out his hand and when she took it, he pulled her out of the bedroom and into the living room where Nikoli and Nicky were waiting for them.
Chapter Twelve
When Raven saw Nicky, she grinned. “You’ve been up all night again, haven’t you?”
Nicky grinned back. “Yup, sure have been but I’m proud to say the fort is wired for pictures and sound.”
“You got it done already?” Yuri was surprised.
“Yes I did. It wasn’t that difficult to do and once I had everything I needed, it went quickly. The feeds are all tied into your security room.” He turned to Raven. “Is it true? Nikoli told me what you found last night.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. Considering where we found it, the certificate could be fake.” She looked at Nikoli. “I really wish you would have asked me about what I wanted to do before you called your friend.”
Nikoli reached for her hand and patted it. “My dear, I meant you no harm. I remember well the heartbreak Misha went through when Joy disappeared. We don’t yet know what happened to her but this could explain at least a part of it.” He looked over at Yuri then back to her. “You will never have anything to fear from Misha or Sergi.”
“And if we find the certificate was fake? Then what? I don’t want you to make a deal with either Carlos or Andria to find out what they know. They both deserve what they have coming for the part they played in Nicky’s kidnapping. I’d rather never know than rely on either of them.”
“My dear, all we need is a simple blood test to know the truth,” Nikoli told her.
Raven shook her head. “That’s only the beginning. Misha will want to know what happened to Joy. Carlos will try to make a deal and then he’ll walk away free and clear. He’ll be free to start all over again and the first thing he’ll do, is come after me.”
Nikoli smiled. “That’s where you would be wrong my dear. If you think for one moment that Serrgi will make a deal with the likes of Carlos Lopez, you couldn’t be more wrong. Sergi is old school Bratva. Carlos is nothing more than a coward and the moment he tries his bullshit with Sergi, he will feel the full wrath of the Bratva.” He looked over at Yuri. “In fact, it is maybe a good thing Sergi is coming. If we can get the evidence we need to bring Grigori down, Sergi can pass judgement right away. Justice can be swift and if we can find the truth, it will be brutal.”
“Then let’s all do our job and get the evidence we need to bring him to justice,” Yuri suggested. “But first, let’s get some breakfast. Raven didn’t eat much last night and she needs some food.”
Nicky looked crestfallen. “I forgot.” Turning to his sister, he apologized. “I should have remembered.”
She smiled. “No worries. I just need a good breakfast.”
Nikoli looked confused. “What did I miss?”
“Raven doesn’t eat red meat or ham. We all had steaks last night,” Nicky informed him.
Nikoli looked startled. “Is there a reason you don’t eat red meat?”
“I just don’t care for the taste of it. I tried to eat it as a child but I got sick on it once, so I never ate it again. I can’t say I miss it.”
“Well, that’s curious,” Nikoli claimed.
“Why would that be so particular?” Nicky asked.
“Someone else I know has the same reaction to red meat.” Nikoli nodded. “In fact, his whole family suffers from the same affliction. It has to do with a medical condition that’s passed from generation to generation.”
Raven felt dread running down her spine. She was almost afraid to ask.
“Who is this person?” Yuri asked for her.
“Sergi Constantine,” Nikoli replied his eyes wide. “Misha and I shared many meals together and when I noticed they never ate red meat, I asked about it. Misha told me it was a family thing.”
Raven moved over to a chair and sat down hard. “That doesn’t mean anything. I can eat red meat if I want to.”
Nicky came over and sat down beside her. “No Raven, you can’t. You know what happens to you when you do. You get sick for three days every time.”
“That doesn’t mean a thing,” she insisted.
Nicky reached out and pulled her chin up to his. “Are you afraid?”
She nodded. “Terrified. So much has changed in so little time.”
“What’s the worst that could happen?” he asked her gently.
“She’s afraid that Carlos or Andria will try to make a deal for information,” Yuri explained.
Nikoli chuckled. “Sergi would never let that happen.”
“That’s what I tried to tell her but I don’t think she believes me.”
“She will when she meets him,” Nikoli assured her. “No one else knows they’re coming, so there won’t be any protocol to deal with. As soon as their plane lands, they’ll come here to meet you.”
“When are they due to land?”
“They left last night, so with the time change they should be here sometime this afternoon.” He informed her. Turning to Yuri he said, “I’ve heard from Sazon. He and Barshan have taken Grigori and they should be back later tonight. They’ll take him out to the fort and leave him.”
Yuri nodded. “I’ll have everything set up by that time. After breakfast, I have to go downstairs and talk to our friend Joshua. I also need to tell Joseph that Sergi is very interested in his latest plans to attack us.”
“Joseph still thinks Demi will back his play. When I spoke to him the other day, he assured me he would deal with him. Sergi will want to make an example out of him. He’ll want to send a message to the Ukraines not to mess with us.”
“I do not think Demi will want to cross Sergi,” Yuri agreed with Nikoli.
“He won’t. We’ll have to wait and see what Sergi wants to do.”
“Let’s get everything in order then. Joshua is fucked either way. His greed will cost him his life.”
“This will also set an example for anyone else that thinks to cross us,” Nikoli stated. “Sometimes, a small show of power settles the dust.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “As if the head of the Russian mob could do anything small. Can we order breakfast now?”
Yuri chuckled. “Of course. Do you want to go downstairs or have it up here?”
“Up here please.” She watched as Yuri ordered their meal to be delivered to the penthouse.
“They can’t get to you here,” Nicky assured her.
Raven shook her head to silence him but Nicky wouldn’t be silenced.
He turned to Yuri. “She’s afraid Carlos has a contract out on her. He’s had people looking for us for ten years now. With him in custody, she’s afraid they’ll come here and find her.”
“Are you afraid for your life too?” Nikoli asked his son.
Nicky shrugged. “Not as much. She made sure I stayed in the background, so they wouldn’t know what I looked like. She’s the one who always went out. She’s the one who worked outside our apartment. I mean I had a job but she always made sure I was disguised. She took the most chances.”
; “No one would dare hurt you here,” Yuri stated.
“I know but I’d rather not take any chances.” Raven frowned. “I haven’t seen any of his men around but that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there looking for him. He hasn’t been in contact with anyone for days, so they must be worried about him by now.”
“My men will not let anyone in the hotel that shouldn’t be here.”
“I know.” Raven shrugged. “I’ve lived a certain way for so long, it’s hard to let it go now. I know in my heart that I’m safe but the fear deep down inside me just won’t abandon me. It’s been there too long.”
“Let’s eat and then we can finish with Carlos’s files,” Nikoli commented. “Yuri has some work to do downstairs anyway.”
It was close to lunch time when Nikoli got a phone call. They had almost gotten through all the files and were compiling evidence as they went along when Nikoli got the call he’d been waiting on. He hung up the phone and called Yuri back to the penthouse.
He turned to Nicky and Raven. “Misha and Sergi are on the grounds and are on their way here.”
Raven ran to the bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Yuri arrived just in time to hear the door slam behind her. When he asked about it, Nikoli told him what happened.
Nicky went toward the door but Yuri reached out his hand to stop him. “Just give her a moment.”
Nicky shook his head. “You don’t understand, she’s looking for an escape route. She doesn’t want to be here when they arrive.”
“She can’t go anywhere,” Yuri told him.
“You don’t know her very well if that’s what you think,” Nicky countered. “Carlos taught her well how to get in and out of any place. She’s been in here a number of times before so she probably already has a route in mind.” He nodded at the room in question. “Check it out if you don’t believe me. You won’t find her in there. But you better move quickly before she has a chance to get out.”
Yuri moved toward the door and when he opened it, Raven was nowhere to be found. “Damn it!” He swore. Turning to Nicky he asked, “Where would she be?”
Nicky went into the room and looked around a moment before he made his way to the kitchen. “Raven, please don’t run from this. You always told me to confront my fears. You said if I did that, the fears would go away. This is something that has to happen. You always told me that someday we would find our family. Remember that? When I asked you about my father, you told me that we’d find him someday. Guess what? We found him. We found your father too. Now you have to be strong enough to meet him.” He waited for a moment then called out to her, “You can do this. All you have to do is give him a chance. You want this as much as I do, just give him a chance!”
A moment later, the door to the dumbwaiter opened up and Raven came out. Tears were running down her face and she went to Nicky. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her for a moment. Yuri growled a bit and Nicky slowly let her go and backed away holding his arms out.
Yuri pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I won’t let him hurt you,” he vowed.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “I panicked. I know it’s silly but I don’t know if I’m ready for all this.”
“I know it’s a lot of change in a short time but if you don’t believe anything else, believe in me. Believe in us,” Yuri told her. “You belong to me now and I won’t ever let you go.” Then he kissed her long and hard. “You belong to me.” He repeated.
“Ok, I belong to you,” she whispered. “Please don’t let me go.”
The doorbell rang and the sound echoed through the apartment. Raven began trembling and Yuri’s hold tightened. “Let’s go meet your father and grandfather.”
“Stay with me?” she begged.
Yuri nodded and led her back to the living room where two men waited for them. Both men were tall and one had dark hair while the other had silver hair. When Misha saw her for the first time he gasped and whispered, “Joy”
Sergi stared at her with a blank expression.
Misha moved closer.
Yuri stepped to her back but kept his arm around her waist. He held out his hand to shake hands with Misha. “It is good to see you again Misha,” he greeted the other man.
Misha couldn’t take his eyes off Raven. “You look like your mother,” he spoke softly.
“I do?” Raven questioned.
“Da, you do. She was a small woman as well. She had long dark hair and green eyes.”
“I’m sorry but I never knew her,” Raven said.
“Forgive me child. My name is Misha Constantine and this is my father Sergi.” He half turned to his father and Sergi stepped forward.
Sergi placed his hands around Raven’s face and he studied her for a moment. Then he did something unexpected. He turned her head to check behind her left ear. Brushing the dark hair away, he found the birthmark he must have been looking for. He looked at his son and nodded. Then he smiled. “You are my granddaughter.”
“How do you know that?” Raven asked.
“For centuries, all the Constantine’s have been blessed with a heart shaped birthmark behind their left ears. It’s been the one constant in our family for many generations.”
Raven searched their faces. “You don’t need a blood test, just to be sure?”
Misha and Sergi both shook their heads. “My son recognized you right away and you carry the family trait, I need no other proof than that.”
“Do you have any idea what happened to your mother?” Misha asked.
Raven shook her head. “I was raised until the age of eight by Andria Waterson. Although she wasn’t a good mother, she was the only mother I knew.”
“Andria?” Misha frowned.
“Did you know her?” Yuri asked.
“I met her once just before Joy disappeared,” Misha admitted. “I can’t say I thought very highly of her.”
“You were right in your thinking,” Nikoli told them.
“What happened?” Sergi asked. “You said you would explain when we got here.”
“Let’s sit down this might take a while.” Yuri motioned for everyone to sit. He poured them all a drink and sat down beside Raven to hear the story again.
An hour later, they could all see the rage in Misha and Sergi. They could almost feel it—it was so strong.
Sergi got to his feet and held out his hand to Raven. When she put her hand in his he drew her to her feet. Then he embraced her.
Yuri rushed to his feet as well. Sergi simply raised an eyebrow at his action.
“I am claiming her.” Yuri growled. “She is my woman in every way. She belongs to me.”
Sergi’s lips tightened. “She is my granddaughter. You will respect her position.”
Misha got to his feet as well.
But before he could say anything, Raven stepped back and went to stand by Yuri.
Nikoli gasped at her action.
“I am his woman,” she told both Sergi and Misha. “I desire the chance to know both of you but please don’t make me choose between you and Yuri.”
“Yuri is Bratva. He will do as he is told,” Sergi warned her.
“If you hurt him or his position in any way, I will never see you again.”
“Do you threaten me?” Sergi demanded angrily.
“Oh, of course not.” Raven shook her head. “I don’t even know you, not yet anyway. I would really like the chance to know you but I haven’t grown up with the rules you live by. I have been living by my own rules. I know what’s right for me and this man is right for me. You have to give me time to know you before you can tell me what to do and even then, I will listen to your suggestions and I may even follow them but in the end, I will do what is best for me. That’s what I know, that is what I have done since I’ve been old enough to know right from wrong. I cannot be a servant, not to you or anyone else. I am a woman full grown. My life hasn’t been easy but I’ve found my own way once and I can do it again. I’ve only just found you,
so please don’t tell me what I can and cannot do. You don’t have that right.”
Misha began to laugh. His anger dissipated as quickly as it came about. “You are more like your mother than you realize child. She had a streak of independence a mile wide too. I never could quite tame her.” He smiled sadly. “That was one of the things I loved about her so much. She never allowed me to push her around. So petite, so unruly.”
“I think it is time to meet this Carlos character. And also this Andria,” Sergi suggested. He looked to Raven and asked, “What can you tell me about the man himself?”
“He might be around 50-60 years old.” She shrugged. “He’s a cold, cruel man. He likes to strike fear in a person, in fact I think he thrives on the fear and chaos he creates. He craves power but rather than work for things he wants, he just takes it. He really hates the fact that your people are here and have the power he thinks should be his. He really wants to be the one in charge of this city.”
“He looks like a monster,” Nicky added. “I remember waking up from nightmares when I was a kid and he would be the bad man in my dreams.”
Sergi nodded. “I have met such men in my lifetime. Even when they get everything they desire, it is never enough and they just don’t care what they had to do to get it. And when they don’t get what they feel they deserve, they reign hell down on everyone they feel that denied them.”
“I’ll take you to where they are being held,” Yuri offered.
“I would also like to meet this man.” Nikoli sneered. “I have heard of him for years but never had the pleasure. This man played the middle man when my son was kidnapped hours after he was born and the murder of my wife.”
“Did you discover who was behind the murder and kidnapping?” Misha asked.
“I did.” Nikoli nodded. “It was Grigori Demenkoff.”
“Are you certain it was him?” Sergi asked.
“Da, we have the evidence but we are going for a confession,” Nikoli explained. “Yuri has a place in the swamps. We are going to hold him there for a day or two. I want to break this man for everything he’s done to me. Not only that but he’s trying to put me out and take my place in New York.”