by K. J. Dahlen
Raven closed her eyes and seemed to try to put some distance between them. Yuri growled and pulled her back to him. “You aren’t going anywhere. Not after that.”
“But that was something I hadn’t planned on. I don’t know quite what happened,” she whispered.
“I did,” he told her. “Just maybe not quite that way but I knew we would end up in bed together. What I want to know is why you were still a virgin.”
Raven stiffened. “Was I not supposed to be?”
“I’m surprised by the fact but not disappointed. I was the first and the last lover you’ll have.”
“No, you were merely the first man I’ve taken to my bed. I doubt you’ll be the last.”
“I’ll kill any man that thinks he can take what I now have,” Yuri vowed. “You belong to me now and I take care of what’s mine. No other man shall have you.” He hesitated then asked, “I am however curious as to why you were still untouched.”
Raven closed her eyes and tried to pull away from him again, but again he wouldn’t let her go. Finally, after a few minutes she whispered, “Since the day he came to live with us it was my job to protect my brother. It was a job I took very seriously. When the only world we knew went to hell, I had to protect us both. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for romance. I didn’t miss what I didn’t know. Now that Nicky is safe and back with his real father, maybe I can find the time to discover the rest of the world. I can’t stay here anyway.”
Yuri stiffened. “And why can’t you stay here?”
“Carlos and his host of friends are here and I’m tired of looking over my shoulder every minute of every day. They see me as a threat to their way of life and they will be waiting for me to make a mistake that will cost me my life.”
“Is that why you brought Nicky here to Nikoli?” he asked. “You got tired of living life on the run?”
Raven turned to glare at him. “No that’s not why I brought Nicky here. I brought him here because it was the right thing to do. Not for money or because I’m running some kind of scam. I love that kid and I’ve taken care of him every day of his life. I’ve protected him against any and every threat we’ve ever faced. He’s the only good thing I’ve ever had in my life, but the moment I saw Nikoli I knew what I had to do.”
“And what was that?” Yuri wanted to know.
“I had to bring my brother home.”
Even as she said the words out loud, Yuri knew there was more to her story. He didn’t know what it was but he knew there was another reason for her being here. Reaching for the remote on the nightstand, he flipped off the lights and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s time for sleep. Tomorrow is another day.”
After a few minutes later after she felt him breathing heavy in sleep, Raven whispered, “I’m not going to be here tomorrow. Tonight is all I’ll have with you.”
Hours later, just before dawn Raven opened her eyes. She was still wrapped in Yuri’s arms, cocooned in the heat of his body and for a moment, she knew what it was like to really be safe. Nothing could touch her here, nothing could hurt her, and she was free for a moment to just enjoy what he could offer her.
She wanted to stay right here but she knew she couldn’t. There was still something she had to do to protect her brother one last time. She hadn’t had the time to tell him yet, but she learned a long time ago that there was a reason for everything her mother did. She’d gone after Nikoli the first time for a reason. While yes, it might have been for the money, the more Raven thought about it the more she felt there was something else behind the scenes she needed to know.
There had been a darker reason for Raven to return to New Orleans. It just wasn’t to blackmail Nikoli. She hadn’t known about the connection Nicky had to the head of the Russian Bratva until she looked at Nikoli’s face. That was the moment she knew who Nicky belonged too. She loved her brother enough to return him to his father but there was more to their story than a lost son.
Somehow, her mother was connected to Carlos and Raven knew she had to find out how. It was something Carlos said once that she hadn’t thought about in years. Then last night when Carlos had come into Yuri’s office, every little detail of the years she’d spent under his roof came rushing back to her. She hadn’t been surprised when he pulled a gun on her. The hatred in his eyes wasn’t new either. From the day they’d gotten there, he looked at her with animosity in his eyes. She often wondered why he had ever asked for them to live with him when he hated her so much.
But she knew things about Carlos too. She knew where he kept his important papers and such. He thought he’d kept that secret to himself but when he taught her how to break into places, he taught her how to keep herself hidden from view of anyone looking for her. Over the years, she’d gotten very good at hiding in plain sight.
She tried to move away from Yuri but he wouldn’t let her go. She knew he was awake when she felt his hot breath on the back of her neck.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured in her ear as he pressed gentle kisses along the back of her neck.
“Daylight is almost here. A new day is starting.”
Yuri went still for a moment then asked, “Are you going to stay or will you just disappear?”
“I can’t stay, I told you that,” she spoke quietly. “I also told you why I couldn’t.”
Yuri growled in her ear. “You can’t let the likes of Carlos Lopez run you out of town. He’s nothing more than a mangy dog. Don’t give him that kind of power.”
She turned to look at him. “It isn’t only Carlos that I’m worried about. He had a great many friends that would do just about anything to protect him and his interests here in the city. He’s made them all rich and will continue to pay them fistfuls of money as long as they protect his interests. For me to stay would be the same as waiting patiently for a bullet. I won’t see it coming but I’ll be just as dead.”
“What if we shut him down? He’s not going to survive the tribunal anyway. The Council doesn’t take kindly to being manipulated by his power play.”
Raven shook her head. “You would never find them all. Carlos has spent years building up his own little empire. He’s got fingers in more pies than anyone realizes, including you.”
Yuri was surprised. “I never gave the little weasel that much credit. I didn’t realize he was that big.”
“His ultimate goal is to take over New Orleans. He would run everything and subjugate all the other factions. He wanted to become the overlord.”
“And you know this how?” Yuri propped himself up on his elbow and stared down at her.
Raven felt at a disadvantage but she had to tell him everything she knew. “You know Nicky and I lived there for two years. Carlos liked to drink and brag about his plans to his friends. He made them all promises of great power and money to be had. He didn’t think about us being there at all. To him, we were just dumb kids but I was old enough to listen and learn from him.”
“What else did you learn from him?” Yuri wondered.
Raven smiled a devious smile and wrapped her arm around the back of his neck. Pulling him down on top of her, she reveled in his heat one last time. She wanted him now, and what she knew wouldn’t help anyone but her. As his mouth came down on hers, she opened herself to him, accepting that this would be the last time, she felt him invade her body and soul.
An hour later, someone pounded on the door. When Yuri answered, he found Nikoli and Nicky standing there. Both men looked tired but happy.
When Nicky came in, he found Raven right away and smiled. “Did you know?” he asked as he joined her on the sofa.
Nikoli joined Yuri over by the bar where Yuri poured them both a drink.
Raven shook her head. “Not until I saw his face.”
“How could she do something like that?” he asked in a brother sister conversation shortcut. They had used this shortcut their whole lives. “She took me away from my family then ignored me. She acted like she didn’t care if I lived or die
d. Then she threw us both away like we were little more than garbage.”
Raven hung her head and nodded. “I know.” When she raised her eyes there were tears in them. They rolled down her cheeks as she whispered, “Can you ever forgive me?”
Nicky took her hand in his. “What do I have to forgive you for? You are the one who took care of me, not her. You were the one who kept me safe all these years when she wasn’t even around. You were able to bring me safely back to my father. I owe you everything.”
Raven shook her head. “You don’t owe me anything. For many years, you were all I had too, but I guess I can’t call you my brother anymore though, huh?”
“No matter what, you will always be my sister,” Nicky vowed. “That will never change, not for me. I love you and that will never change either.”
Raven wrapped her arms around him and hugged his close. “I will always love you too. I’m so happy you found your family. Now you can have the kind of life you were meant to have.”
“Don’t you mean we?” Nicky frowned. “We can have the life we’ve always wanted?”
Raven smiled sadly. “But I’m not part of this life.”
“You’re my family too,” Nicky protested.
Raven shook her head. Looking over to where Nikoli and Yuri stood she said, “Not like you and Nikoli. My mother tore your family apart. She didn’t care about what would happen to either of you.”
“That isn’t on you, that’s on her and one day, she will pay for what she did.” Nicky growled.
“That day is today.” Yuri and Nikoli joined them. “Gregor just called me. They brought your mother in. I’m having her escorted up here, so we can talk to her. We all need answers.”
Raven got to her feet. “Can I ask one thing?”
“Of course, what is it?”
“Don’t mention the fact the Carlos is in your custody. I think those two are connected in some way and if she believes he’s still out there, she might be willing to say something to get your protection from him.”
Nicky gasped. “Do you really think that?”
“It makes sense when you think about it. Mom always had money but she never held a job. She would come into New Orleans all the time. She was meeting someone here. You may not remember the fight she had with Grandma the day she dropped us off there, but I do. You were only three but I was eight. Grandma told her not to continue playing dangerous games but Mom just laughed at her. She said the game was still being played but that the outcome would be worth the wait. She said that one day, she would get more money than she could count and that when that day came, everyone would know she played a part. Grandma tried to tell her she was playing with fire but of course, Mom didn’t listen. When Grandma asked about you, Nicky… Mom said she didn’t give a rat’s ass about some dumb kid. She said the game would last for years and it would be best if she were living apart from the brat. She told Grandma that one day, it would all become clear and that the real puppet master would reveal himself when the time was right but that for now, she was just one part of a much bigger whole.”
“So it might be that your mother and Carlos are just doing a job and that someone else entirely, is the real person in charge of all of this,” Nikoli surmised.
Someone knocked on the front door of the penthouse.
Yuri motioned for Raven and Nicky to wait in another room, so Andria wouldn’t see them.
When the door opened, Andria and Gregor walked in and Kosta followed. Andria walked in with a smug attitude until she saw Nikoli standing beside Yuri. Then her footsteps slowed and she stumbled a bit. Her face paled and she began to sweat.
“Andria,” Nikoli called out to her. “It is good to finally see you again.”
“Nikoli, I can’t say the same. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. In fact, I prayed I would never see you again,” she said as she came closer to the pair.
“Indeed, twenty years is a long time between visits,” Nikoli agreed.
“Has it really been that long?” Andria asked. “Seems like a lifetime.”
Nikoli nodded. “Indeed, my son’s lifetime. Someone I haven’t seen since the day he was born.” Nikoli took a drink of his vodka.
“Oh,” she feigned curiosity. “Did something happen to the boy?”
“You should know,” he growled. “You took him from the hospital after you murdered his mother.”
Andria laughed. “What the hell would I do with a baby? I loathe children. I certainly wouldn’t take one that wasn’t mine and I would never have one of my own. No one is worth ruining my body for, certainly not a rug rat.”
“That’s a bit harsh don’t you think mother?” Raven said as she joined Nikoli and Yuri.
“Rebel!” Andria gasped as her eyes widened in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing here? Why did you come here of all places?” She then turned to Nikoli. “Well, if Rebel is here you must have your son back with you again. You should be very happy, you finally got what you wanted all these years.”
“Yes, I got my son back, no thanks to you. You ruined my life twenty years ago and changed the lives of so many and for what? Money? Power? What was it that you wanted back then, that you would risk your life for?”
Andria started laughing. “You think I did this for money or power? You really are a foolish man, aren’t you?”
“If not for money or power why did you risk everything?” Nikoli asked as he finally showed his rage.
“She did it for love,” Raven told him. “It’s the only reason that makes any sense. If not for power or money the only thing left a woman would risk everything for would be love.”
“Bah, she didn’t love me, she didn’t even know me.” Nikoli swore.
“Who said it was you that I loved you?” Andria scoffed.
“She never loved me either, so it must have been another man,” Raven reasoned.
“I may have loved him but he never loved me.” Andria shook her head. “I took all the chances and for what? I didn’t get him in the end. He always belonged to another woman. A woman he wasn’t prepared to leave for me.” She paused then shook her head. “He used me and when I gave him what he wanted, he threw me away like yesterday’s garbage. He made it impossible for me to undo what I’d done. Oh, he paid me well for a long time but even that dried up about ten years ago. I lost everything and in the end, I had to hide myself just to survive.”
“Cry me a river woman.” Nikoli growled. “You took everything from me. You murdered my wife and stole my son. I didn’t even know if he was dead or alive until yesterday. You hid from me for twenty years!”
Andria raised her chin in defiance. “How did you find me anyway? I changed my name so many times over the years. I had to change my appearance and my whole life.”
“I told him where you were and what your name was,” Raven admitted. “I found you over a year ago. You really should learn to be more careful when you’re living on the run. You had one habit you didn’t break when you should have. By the way, does Felix know who you really are?”
Andria narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“It was your sweet tooth that gave you away,” Raven told her. “Every time you got a craving, you would go to Michael’s and get a couple pounds of their divine milk chocolate drops. Then you would go to the park and sit in a certain spot to eat them all. I was in the park one day right after you got the chocolate drops. It reminded me of a time when I was a child and my mother would do that same thing. It took me a while to realize it was you. I watched you eat every single one, did you know that you still make that same noise when you eat chocolate drops? It’s sort of a humming groan. Then I followed you home, so I would know where you lived. I saw your new name on the mailbox. Since then I’ve watched the life you’ve had with Felix. I watched you from afar since the day I found you.”
“And did you have a good time sneaking around peeking at my life?” Andria snarled.
“I almost felt sorry for you, you bitch.” Raven
laughed at her mother. “I guess I did feel sorry for you for the longest time. Until the day, I read the file Yuri has on you. That file told me what a spiteful and terrible person you really are. While I was reading that file, I knew everything in it was the truth. You stole a man’s son after you murdered that boy’s mother. Then you threw us both away when we no longer mattered to you.”
“Pfff, you never did matter. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” Andria sneered at her daughter. “Only the mission matters. The rest of us are expendable.”
“What is the mission exactly?” Nikoli asked. “And who controls this mission?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She sneered. “Well now that everyone is happy again, I’ll just be on my way. It was nice to see you all again, but I really have things to do and people to see.”
Yuri laughed, but it was a cold sound. “You aren’t going anywhere. You have just become a guest of the Russian Bratva for an undetermined amount of time.”
“You cannot keep me here against my will!” Andria stated.
Yuri chuckled. “Your daughter made the same claim over a day ago but she’s still here.”
“And just where did she sleep last night? In your bed? If that’s the case, no wonder she’s still here.” Andria laughed.
“You would disrespect your own child like that?” Nikoli shook his head.
“It’s no disrespect. She’s a grown woman and he’s a man.” Andria shrugged. “Although she looks more like a kid, she’s old enough to know how to use her body for her own survival.”
Yuri tightened his hands into fists. “Your daughter was a virgin until last night, you witch.”
Andria scoffed. “The fact you had to say that proves she isn’t a virgin anymore.” Turning to Raven, she saluted her. “Good for you honey, he looks to be a good fuck anyway.”
Raven couldn’t say anything. She just stared at her mother with no feelings toward the other woman at all. “You truly deserve everything these men are about to do to you. I hope they make it hurt.” She turned and walked out of the room. She went to Yuri’s bedroom where she closed the door and curling up on the bed, she let the tears fall.
