by Red Phoenix
The doctor sighed when no one made use of the chairs. Walking over to his desk, he sat down and looked up at the three of them. Adjusting his glasses, he placed five files on the desk.
“My team has been very thorough, as I understand the importance of the results here.”
“Good,” Rytsar stated.
“I had the blood samples sent to several different facilities around the world to compare the results.”
“And…?” Rytsar prodded.
Without answering, he opened each file and turned it around so Rytsar could read the results himself. “In every case, despite the similarities of the genetics between you as brothers, each facility came up with the same result.”
Rytsar folded his arms, preparing himself for the answer. “Tell me, then. Who is the boy’s father?”
Doctor Orlov swallowed hard before answering. “Vlad Durov is clearly the father of this child.”
Rytsar said nothing but he reached out to the chair closest to him and slowly sat down.
“Vlad…” His voice was full of shock and disappointment.
Brie sat down in the chair next to him and lightly placed her hand on his thigh, offering her support.
Sir stood beside Rytsar, the picture of masculine protection, but neither of them could do anything to prevent the pain he was experiencing as he absorbed the news.
“The boy is not mine,” he stated in a tortured voice.
Brie closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Rytsar had accepted he had a son and was ready to change his life, move back to Russia, and create a family for the little boy by partnering with Sasha.
Now… Everything had changed.
Not only was he not a father, but Sasha had clearly lied to him. What made the deception even more unbearable was that he now knew his oldest brother had fathered the child and had kept it a secret for two years—until now.
Rytsar sat in stunned silence, a look of devastation on his face.
“There is no chance of an error?” Sir asked the doctor.
“It was conclusive for all five facilities.”
Pulling a flask from his breast pocket, Sir told Rytsar, “You look like you could use this.”
Rytsar took it from him and swallowed a long draught of the vodka. Afterward, he wiped his mouth and held the flask up to Sir.
“No need to share.” Sir reached into his other breast pocket and pulled out a second flask. “I’ve brought my own.”
Rytsar snorted, then tipped the flask back, taking another long draught.
Brie sat there with him, wishing desperately she could do or say something to help him with the shock. After Rytsar finished the flask, he patted her hand, then stood up.
Nodding to the doctor, he gathered the five files from the desk and turned to face his friends.
“We are done here.”
“If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to call,” the doctor said, holding out his business card.
Rytsar didn’t take it. Instead, he tucked the files under his arm. “You’ve given me everything I need to know.”
Sir and Brie followed Rytsar out of the office, and the three walked back to the car in silence.
Once in the car, Rytsar told one of his men, “Call Vlad and tell him to meet me at the mansion. Stress that time is of the utmost importance and that lives depend on it.”
After the driver started heading to the family mansion, Sir asked, “Are you sure you want us to be present?”
“Are you not my brother?”
“I am.”
“Then, it is only right that you be there when I confront the maggot.”
Brie looked at Sir with concern. The fact that Rytsar had just called Vlad a maggot did not bode well.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked, hoping to ease his mind.
“Da, be a woman I can trust,” Rytsar said with a catch in his voice.
Brie glanced at Sir, hurt that Rytsar would ever doubt her. “You can always trust me.”
Rytsar looked at Brie and sighed. “My level of trust has been eroded. I apologize for disparaging your honor, radost moya. I know you are like my mother in your loyalty.”
Brie wrapped her arms around him, touched by the comparison. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been hit in the gut by this news.”
He nodded, tears coming to his eyes. “Why lie? That little boy doesn’t deserve this.”
Brie kissed his cheek gently. “Neither do you.”
Rytsar sucked in his breath. “That child has been neglected by his father for two years. I will not let Vlad continue to disown him.”
Brie was moved that Rytsar’s overriding thought was for the child despite the toll this revelation had taken on him personally.
Sir cautioned him. “At this point, we don’t know Vlad’s level of involvement.”
Rytsar glared at him. “Well, we know that his sperm was involved!”
“Hear me out. If Sasha waited this long to tell you, there’s a strong possibility Vlad was kept in the dark as well.”
Rytsar snarled. “I suppose that might explain why I wasn’t approached sooner if both of them are gunning for my inheritance.”
“It might,” Sir agreed. “I’m certain there is more to this deception than we know.”
“Still…Vlad is a married man with children of his own. He should be taking care of his own household, not making bastard children with one of my subs.”
“While I agree his morals are lacking, we should not automatically assume he was involved in the deception.”
Brie knew it would be less of a blow for Rytsar if Vlad were unaware of the child. However, it would thrust Vlad into the same position that Rytsar had been in. As upsetting as it was for the men, Brie knew the child would suffer the most and she felt sorry for him.
Rytsar nodded in response to Sir, but he looked less than convinced. “As for Sasha…she will regret this in ways she can’t imagine.”
Once they arrived at the mansion, Rytsar directed them to the gallery room, saying, “The historical society created replicas of as many paintings as they could after the fire.”
Brie walked around the large room lined with paintings of the Durov family dating back four hundred years. There was no mistaking Rytsar was part of their family because so many of the men shared his features.
She noticed a picture of a woman set apart from the others on the farthest wall and walked up to it. Rytsar stood next to her as she studied it. Brie was drawn to the woman’s kind smile and soulful eyes. “Is that your mother?”
Rytsar nodded. “I had the painter create it based on my memory of her. It is a good likeness.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“Yes, she was.”
Brie noted that there was no painting of his father on the wall, and she found that oddly comforting. The man did not deserve to be remembered.
Rytsar turned to Sir. “I think it’s the perfect place to confront Vlad, don’t you?” He added with an angry laugh, “This way he can make his confession in front of the entire family.”
Maxim walked into the room and announced, “Vlad has arrived.”
“Send him to me.”
Rytsar directed them to stand beside him. He clenched his jaw as he stared at the door, waiting.
While the doctor had spoken in English at Rytsar’s request during the office appointment, Brie knew that would not be the case with his brother. Based on what Rytsar had shared, Vlad had no use for foreigners or the English language.”
“Do not worry, radost moya. My brother does not use big words. You should have no problem understanding what he says.”
As soon as Vlad entered the room, Brie was struck by how much he looked like Rytsar.
When Vlad saw Sir, he scowled. “What is the meaning of this, Anton? You claimed it was a matter of life or death.”
“I said lives depended on it,” Rytsar corrected him coldly.
Vlad eyed Sir suspiciously while co
mpletely ignoring Brie.
Brie stared openly at him, unable to get over how much Vlad looked like Rytsar. It was like looking at an older version of Rytsar, except that Vlad had a head of hair and he did not have kind eyes.
Rytsar jumped right in. “I know you cheated on your wife with Sasha.”
His brother’s eyes widened, but he quickly hid his surprise with a dark scowl. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“There is no point in denying it. I have evidence,” Rytsar snarled.
Vlad’s heated gaze returned to Sir and he growled at Rytsar, “I don’t appreciate having an audience.”
Rytsar sneered. “You should have thought of that before you fucked her.”
Pointing at Sir, Vlad demanded, “Is he the one feeding you these lies?”
“My brother does not lie.”
Vlad’s nostrils flared. “I hate that you call him that.”
Rytsar smiled. “Would you like to know who told me?”
“Yes!”
“Sasha.”
Vlad’s jaw dropped. “Why the hell would she tell you?”
Rytsar snorted, glaring angrily. “Why do you think?”
Vlad frowned. “It’s irrelevant. That was years ago.”
“Two, to be exact,” he answered, studying his brother’s face.
Vlad’s frown deepened. “Why would she go to you now? It makes no sense.”
Brie glanced at Sir and noticed he was quietly observing Vlad during their exchange. She suspected he was assessing Vlad’s tone of voice, body language, and facial expression.
But Brie’s full attention was on Rytsar. She didn’t want to see him hurt and would do anything to protect him.
The silence in the room stretched on as Rytsar and Vlad stared each other down.
“It was a short affair. Doesn’t even count,” Vlad finally grumbled dismissively.
Rytsar took in a slow, deep breath, and glanced at Sir. “I’m struggling not to hit him, comrade.”
Sir nodded in understanding.
Rytsar refocused his attention on Vlad. “When was the last time you spoke with Sasha?”
“We haven’t spoken since…” He closed his eyes, muttering under his breath, “It ended badly.”
Rytsar narrowed his eyes. “Why? What did you do to her?”
Vlad opened his eyes and took a threatening step toward Sir. “This is not for a foreigner’s ears, much less a woman’s.” His tone was dismissive as he stared directly at Brie.
“This woman is worth a thousand of you!” Rytsar shouted.
Vlad huffed, spitting on the floor next to Brie.
In the blink of an eye, Rytsar had his hand wrapped around his brother’s throat. “You will apologize to her this instant or I will make your wife a widow.”
Vlad’s face grew bright red as he struggled unsuccessfully to escape his brother’s deadly grasp. When his eyes began to bulge, he finally nodded.
The instant Rytsar let go, Vlad grabbed at his throat, coughing violently. Once he could breathe again, he glanced at Brie and croaked out an apology.
Brie inclined her head in acknowledgment, refusing to talk to the man.
“You will treat Mrs. Davis with the same respect you showed our mother.”
Vlad’s gaze darted to Brie and then back to Rytsar. He opened his mouth but then quickly shut it again, choosing to say nothing.
“Why do you think Sasha contacted me, Vlad?” Rytsar asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Blackmail.”
Rytsar’s eyes narrowed.
Vlad chuckled with spite. “But, why would she try to blackmail me now?” His left eye twitched. “Why would she be that cruel?”
“Cruel?” Rytsar prodded, wanting to hear more.
Vlad shifted on his feet, giving Sir and Brie a distrustful glance. “Sasha knew how I felt and what I was willing to give up for her. What a heartless bitch.”
Rytsar folded his arms and demanded, “Why did it end between you?”
“I told you. She’s a heartless cunt.”
“Are you saying she broke it off, not you?”
Vlad frowned. “Why? What did she tell you?”
When Rytsar didn’t immediately respond, he took a step closer, getting in Rytsar’s face. “What did she tell you?”
Rytsar was not straightforward in his answer. “She wanted to reconnect with me.”
Vlad swallowed hard, stepping back. “With you? But, why?”
Rytsar said nothing.
Vlad gave Rytsar a thumbs up. Brie knew the gesture meant “asshole”.
“You want to gloat, Anton? Is that what this is about?” Turning away from him, Vlad stormed out.
“Do not leave!” Rytsar commanded.
Vlad turned around. Brie could see the veins in his neck pulsing with rage. “There is nothing you can say to keep me here, Anton.”
“Sasha has a child.”
Vlad’s jaw fell and he stood frozen in place. “How old?”
“Two.”
Vlad’s lips formed a thin line as he digested the news.
“Yours?” he finally asked.
Rytsar shook his head.
Vlad stared at him, licking his lips nervously.
“You didn’t know?” Rytsar asked in a sarcastic tone.
Brie cried out when Vlad suddenly rushed Rytsar, cocking his fist back to punch him in the face. Quick as lightning, Sir had Vlad’s arm behind his back, immobilizing the man before he even knew what had happened.
“Liar!” Vlad tried unsuccessfully to break Sir’s hold. “You fucking liar!” he screamed again, becoming so upset that spittle escaped his mouth.
Brie was surprised by how violently he was struggling against Sir. He was acting like a madman, but Sir’s grip was tight and he could not escape.
“I would never lie about a child,” Rytsar growled.
Eventually, Vlad stopped struggling against Sir and became still. In time, the room filled with the sound of his labored breathing as he took in the news.
Vlad looked at Rytsar. “If the child isn’t yours, then…”
“Yes, the boy is yours.”
Vlad turned his head away.
Brie watched as Rytsar’s angry glare transformed into a look of compassion for his brother.
Sir released Vlad, but he didn’t move.
Instead, he turned back to Rytsar and asked, “Anton, why did she keep it a secret from me?”
“I don’t know. Sasha told me that the boy was mine.”
“What?” Vlad yelled. Pounding his chest several times, he demanded, “Why would she do that when the child is mine?”
Rytsar didn’t answer.
Brie watched as understanding slowly crept into Vlad’s eyes. Soon, he snarled in disgust, “She’s after the money…”
“That fucking inheritance,” Rytsar answered with equal venom.
Vlad looked at Rytsar, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. “I have a son.”
“Yes, another son, on top of the three you’ve already fathered with your wife,” Rytsar said with disgust.
Vlad’s eyes flashed with anger. “Sasha was mine before I ever met Zoya, and long before you started fucking her.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Father didn’t consider Sasha a good match for our family, but I defied him by continuing to see her behind his back. So, he did the one thing he knew that would rip my heart out.” Vlad spat on the floor. “He took her away from me and served her up to you so you could play with her in your dungeon.”
Rytsar looked at him in shock. “I never knew this.”
“You didn’t even care about her, treating her like a slut, when I loved her. She was mine, Anton!”
“Father used Sasha to punish you. I had nothing to do with it.”
“But you were the one who fucked her!”
“I swear to you I would never have touched her, had I known.”
“It doesn’t matter. You see, I learned my lesson an
d played the dutiful son, marrying a woman I didn’t love to further our family’s influence.” He laughed sarcastically. “And, I did it for nothing because you received the inheritance.”
The rumbling growl from deep in Rytsar’s chest was low and ominous. “I thought I could not despise our father any more than I do, but this proves how truly evil he was.”
Vlad shook his head. “And now, I find out I fathered a child with the woman I loved, and she didn’t even tell me.”
Rytsar slapped him on the back. “We will confront her tomorrow so we can get answers, but you must do one thing first.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“You must admit your betrayal to your wife. If we eliminate her ability to blackmail us, she will be at our mercy.”
“I won’t do it,” he declared stubbornly.
“You must, or Sasha will make certain Zoya hears it from someone else.”
Brie could see Vlad’s defenses going up.
He looked suspiciously at Rytsar. “How do I even know the child is mine? Am I just supposed to take your word for it?”
“He had all four of you tested under my recommendation,” Sir informed him.
Vlad glared at Sir, then turned on Rytsar. “You had us tested without our consent?”
“Of course,” Rytsar answered smoothly. “How else was I to discover which of my brothers was sleeping with Sasha behind his wife’s back?”
“Well, now you know why,” he answered harshly.
“So, you’ll tell Zoya?” Rytsar asked.
Vlad looked as if he was about to punch Rytsar again.
Sir defused the situation by stating, “At this point, we do not know Sasha’s intentions. Taking away her ability to blackmail you may help ensure the boy’s safety.”
As soon as Sir mentioned the boy, Brie saw Vlad’s entire countenance change. “I will think on it.”
“Make atonement to your wife,” Rytsar advised him.
Vlad’s hackles went back up. “Don’t tell me how to handle my life, Anton. No one gets to control me anymore—least of all you!”
He turned abruptly and walked out.
Rytsar called after him, “Make Mamulya proud.”
Vlad clenched his fists but continued walking without saying another word.
“You do like to provoke him,” Sir observed after he was gone.
“It’s payback. He was the worst of my brothers growing up, purposely getting himself in trouble just to see me beaten at the whipping pole.”