“What do you mean ‘they get me too’? Mama and Vladimir died in an accident!”
“You said yourself, the brakes failed; didn’t they?”
“Nobody believed me.”
“Oh your father believed you – but he didn’t want to scare you with the truth.”
“Tell me the truth Uncle Mikhail,” Tony said coldly.
Mikhail sighed, closed his eyes and then opened them again. “Fifteen years ago your father and I were running an import export business out of Chechnya. We mostly imported wine and exported vodka – our father used to make the stuff. Anyway, we were fairly successful, not too much to attract anyone’s attention really, but enough to sustain our families. I handled the American end and your dad; he managed the Russian side of things. I moved to America for college many years ago, met Cara and didn’t return home. But fifteen years ago there was an up and comer named Konstantin who was trying to make a name for himself with the Bratva. He tried to strong arm my brother into cutting him a slice of our business but Roman wasn’t having any. So then the brakes failed and Anastasia and Vladimir died. The fact that you survived was a miracle. Roman knew he had to get you out and fast- your life was in danger. So he sent you to me. We were fine for a few years; Konstantin harassed your father but there was only so much he could do with no leverage. And then you achieved success with your job with Sorrenti and you started to attract notice. Konstantin found out where you were and he had leverage again. He threatened to have you killed if your father didn’t cut him in on your businesses. They came to an agreement where Konstantin’s man would join the staff on the April Shower and make ‘payments’ to Konstantin every month. I wanted to tell you but your father didn’t want you to know. He’s been trying to protect you all this time. Protect you from knowledge.”
“He let me think I killed them. He let me think that he hated me for killing our family. How is that protecting me?”
“And if you knew who killed them? What would you have done?”
Tony stared at his uncle, at a loss for words. He opened his mouth and then closed it again.
“Exactly,” Mikhail said.
“So why steal Solomon?”
“To make you hand the April Shower over. So that Konstantin would continue to leave you alone. Now it’s your father’s business only, nothing needs to change. Konstantin gets his cut, life goes on.”
“And Papa? What happens to him?”
Mikhail smiled. “You haven’t called him that in a while.”
“Skip the sentiment, get to the meat,” Tony said impatiently.
“Alright. Your papa will continue as he always has.”
“Is he safe?”
“As long as he keeps making payments, he’s going to be fine.”
“Isn’t there anything we can-“
“Anton, this is why he didn’t want you to know,” Mikhail said sternly.
Tony stared at him in frustration and Mikhail stared back at him, stone-faced.
“If your father wanted help he would have asked, wouldn’t he?” Solomon broke the silence.
Tony laughed bitterly. “My father? Ask for help? Are you mad?”
“So if he won’t ask, and you’re not supposed to know then I don’t see what else we can do now,” Solomon said.
“I have to talk to him Uncle Mikhail. Could you at least ask him?” Tony said ignoring Solomon.
Aunt Cara came into the room carrying a tray piled with vodka, glasses and finger sandwiches. She placed it on the table and sat down next to Tony, hand on his shoulder.
“Anton your father has kept this secret all these years, what makes you think he’ll tell you anything now?” she asked him.
“Well I didn’t know anything before, now I do. All he has to do is confirm or deny. Maybe tell me what he was thinking.” Tony said.
“Have you met the guy?” Cara asked with a wry smile.
Tony shrugged. “I have to try.”
“Well, we’re expecting him in town during the weekend. If you want to ‘accidentally’ drop by at dinner we can have him here waiting for you.”
“Thank you Uncle Mikhail, Aunt Cara. By the way, why did you guys keep it from me all these years?”
“Because he asked me to; and he is my brother,” Mikhail said. “But that was not all. You were broken when you came to us, in no position to deal with anything let alone hear about how your mother and brother were murdered. You were in no position to hear about anything.”
Tony looked thoughtful. He was quiet for a long time. His aunt and uncle, as well as Solomon, let him stew in whatever thoughts he was having. Eventually he sighed and looked first at Mikhail then at Cara.
“Water under the bridge I guess,” he said.
“Yes,” Cara replied, nodding her head.
“Okay then, let’s do this,” Tony said standing up and indicating that Solomon should do the same. He stood up and followed Tony out of the shop, turning around to smile at Cara and Mikhail.
“It was nice meeting you,” Solomon said.
“You as well young man,” Mikhail replied with a small smile.
Solomon walked to the car and got in as Tony stood waiting on the sidewalk. He smiled at his aunt and uncle and then followed Solomon into the car.
“Well?” Solomon asked.
“Well what?” Tony asked him.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I’m kind of in shock. This morning when I woke up, I had killed my family. Now, it turns out they were murdered by some Bratva bastards and my father sent me to America to save me. What am I to do with that?”
Solomon smiled and then looked thoughtfully at Tony. “It’s the twilight zone; I know. I’ve been living in it.”
“You? How?” Tony asked.
Solomon shrugged and looked self-deprecating. “Hey I know I’ve looked like I’m great and taking everything in stride but the truth is I’ve been freaked out since your father came to get me at the hospital. I might have not known who I was there, but it was familiar…safe. Then he got me out and it’s been one thing after another ever since.”
“I’m sorry,” Tony said.
Solomon shook his head. “No, I mean you guys are great – I love that you’re my family. It’s just…it’s a lot.”
“One day at a time huh?” Tony said laying a hand on Solomon’s shoulder.
“One day at a time. It’s the only way to go,” Solomon agreed. “For you too.”
“Yeah,” Tony concurred then he laughed. “Is this the first real conversation we’ve had?”
Solomon thought about it. “I think so.”
“Pretty deep for ‘hey how you doing, I’m your new brother in law’ huh?” Tony smiled.
“Deep is the only kind that matters,” Solomon said smiling back.
Chapter 6
Elijah knocked on Solomon’s door. He could see him bent over his work, concentrating on the page like nothing else existed. The boy he’d taken under his wing was watching him intently. Elijah smiled to see it. Solomon had always been that way; taking in strays, standing up for the weak; his graffiti often got him in trouble with the police because it depicted scenes of oppression and protest.
“Hey Solomon are you busy?” he asked.
“G-money. Come in,” Solomon said looking up with a smile. Elijah smiled back.
“I see you’re already picking up some of Sophie’s bad habits…” Elijah said.
“Oh, I thought you liked that name.”
“I do, don’t mind me,” Elijah said coming into the room to sit opposite Solomon and Sam. He was smiling indulgently at them both as they worked. Solomon smiled at him and then bent to his work. Sam did not even glance at him just continued to stare at Solomon as he worked.
“So Katarina mentioned that you had a memory of us fishing,” Elijah said.
“Yes it sort of came out of the blue the other day. You showed me how to tickle fish.”
“Yes I did,” Elijah said with a huge smile on his fa
ce. “Do you remember anything else?”
“Not really, it’s more like some things just feel familiar. Like the way Sophie talks or you cooking breakfast for us. You used to do that on Sundays am I right?”
Tears filled Elijah’s eyes and his gaze was distant. “Yes I did; your grandmother used to go to church all morning. She used to take you guys with her, and I stayed home and made brunch for you guys. It was our tradition.”
Solomon was staring at him. “You said she didn’t make it out of Katrina?”
Elijah looked down at the floor. “She had COPD from working in the factories. Those last years she was in a wheelchair, carting around an oxygen tank just to be able to draw breath. When the levees broke…”
Solomon stood up and came to sit next to Elijah, covering his hand and squeezing it. Elijah’s face worked, his grief leaking out in a single tear.
“I’m sorry. I wish I had been there to help you.”
“I think it turned out the way that it should have and I’m just glad to have you back.”
“Aww Grandpa, that’s sweet.”
“Draw!” Sam yelled making them both jump.
“Yeah Sam, okay, relax. I’ll be right there,” Solomon said standing up and going back to his perch. He picked up the drawing he had been doing, it was some kind of superhero as far as Elijah could see, and picked up a pencil as well, shading the drawing.
“So I was thinking about school. I need to get my GED and maybe go to art school. I’m thinking about art education.”
“Oh? Do you remember enough of your schoolwork to get a GED?”
Solomon laughed and then looked thoughtful. “I don’t really know. I guess we’ll have to find out.”
“Sol, do you need to see a doctor?” Elijah asked, a frown suddenly marring his features. He was upset that this notion had not occurred to him before now.
“A doctor? Why?” Sol asked in surprise.
“Oh you know, for your amnesia and all.”
“Doctors hurt,” Sam suddenly chimed in, startling them both. They waited in silence for him to say something else but he just continued to draw like nothing had happened.
“You heard the man grandpa; doctors hurt,” Solomon said finally.
A knock on the door made them both turn to see Katarina peering tentatively into the room.
“Kat my dear, come in. Stop hovering,” Elijah said. She smiled and stepped into the room, sitting down beside Elijah on the bed.
“I just came to get Sam, I’m sure he’s bothered you enough for one day.”
“No!-“
“Of course he isn’t-“
“Don’t be silly-“
Sam, Solomon and Elijah said simultaneously making Katarina look from one to the other in confusion. Solomon and Elijah laughed while Sam looked impassive and stubborn and not like he was ready to go anywhere anytime soon.
“It’s no trouble seriously,” Solomon said.
“I know it’s not. But it’s time to eat Sam. Put down the drawing things.”
“No,” Sam squealed making his mother start and then look shocked. Solomon glanced at her and then back at Sam.
“Sam your mother said that was enough. So it’s enough. And don’t talk to her like that otherwise I won’t let you draw with me again,” he said in a stern voice. Elijah looked at him in surprise; he’d never heard Solomon talk in that tone before. Katarina simply looked grateful and then tearful. Sam put down the drawing he was doing and stood up. Not looking at anyone, he exited the room. Katarina looked at Solomon, smiled and then followed her son out the door.
“Are you sure about that son?” Elijah asked.
“Sure about what?”
“What you’re doing there. You know you can’t just walk in and out of that boy’s life. If you’re in you better prepared to be all in.”
Solomon watched the empty doorway where Katarina and Sam had disappeared not a moment before. He said nothing.
***
Katarina followed her son to the kitchen and out of the house. He was headed toward their cottage she could see; which was awkward since the sandwich she’d made for him was in the big house kitchen. She hesitated a moment, wondering if she should get the sandwich and follow him or call him back. She wondered what magic it was that Solomon had, that he had been able to reach her son. He hadn’t spoken much before he had come and certainly not to her. Now he was being assertive and making his wishes known and everything. She hardly knew what to do with this. She wanted to talk to Solomon, ask him what his secret was – if he would teach it to her…she knew why she didn’t though. It was the melting feeling she had in her stomach every time his brown eyes met her blue ones. It was the way he looked at her as if he could see into her soul. He was a sick boy with no memory, and her boss’s brother in law to boot. She could not pull him into the mess that was her life just because…
Katarina cut those thoughts off and decided to just follow Sam with his sandwich. Her chores were done after all, and there were leftovers in the refrigerator for lunch. She would not be needed for a while. Mr. Tony had said he would be out all day with his wife. They hadn’t had much time to themselves, poor things, and they had decided to take Mr. Tony’s boat out for the day. Tonight he was having dinner with his Uncle Mikhail and Grandpa Elijah had a poker game so it was just be her and…she cut that thought off too.
“Sam!” she called as she came in sight of the cottage wondering where he’d got to. He walked out of the foliage that covered the side of the house and stood on the path; not looking at her – like he always did.
“Come in and eat,” she said opening the front door and waiting for him to precede her. He did so, walking to the diminutive dining table and sitting, waiting. He did not look at her or speak a word to her. She put down his sandwich and sat next to him, watching him eat. She wanted to run a hand through his soft blonde hair and she knew he would let her, but he didn’t like it. After she did it he would pull away and avoid her eyes for the rest of the day. So she sat quietly with her hands in her lap and watched her son eat his sandwich.
“Do you want some milk?” she asked him eventually. He nodded once and she went, at once, to get it for him.
***
“Are you nauseous?” Tony asked putting a solicitous hand on her forehead as she leaned on the side of the boat, face in the wind. Sophie laughed turning to look at him in amusement.
“And if I was, would putting your hand on my forehead tell you so?” she asked him.
“Yeah, you’d be clammy wouldn’t you?” Tony said with a quirky smile.
“Okay there Dr Quinn Medicine Man; whatever you say,” Sophie replied leaning into him.
“I am so happy right now,” Tony said in wonder. “I shouldn’t be; I mean so many things are just wrong, but right now I feel like bursting out in song I’m so happy.”
“Don’t question it – just enjoy it,” Sophie said wrapping her arms around him.
“Thank you,” Tony said.
“For what?” Sophie asked removing her head from his shoulder in surprise.
“For making this possible,” Tony said in a tone indicating that this was patently obvious to anyone not touched by idiocy.
“Hmmphm,” was Sophie’s surprised reply. She put her head back on his shoulder and made no further comment. They watched the horizon for a while in silence as the boat swayed up and down with the waves. They had no fixed destination in mind; Tony had it in mind to do some fishing and Sophie had told him she knew how to fish too, thanks to her grandfather. It wasn’t really the primary purpose of this trip though. They had just wanted to be alone for a while, enjoy being married to each other.
Sophie’s hand travelled down and settled on Tony’s behind. She squeezed gently, making him laugh out loud.
“Whoa there Sophie, the captain’s watching.”
“Pshaw, that’s his problem.”
“Wow, what would your grandfather say at this blatant display of lustfulness?” Tony asked as she began to knead
first one buttock and then the other.
“He’d say,’ way to go Soph, that’s what married people do’.”
Tony laughed long and hard and Sophie watched him; happy to see the perpetual frown he’d been carrying around since he’d learned what really happened to his family had faded away. She smiled to see him laugh with such abandonment and he caught her eye. The nature of his laugh changed then, becoming more pensive. She stared into his eyes and he into hers, the laughter faded and was replaced with something else. Something that caused Sophie’s nerve endings to tingle to life and made the colors around them vivid with life. She caught the echo of this feeling in the look that he gave her and was just leaning forward to kiss him when he beat her to it.
“Sophie,” he whispered before his lips touched hers. She put her arms around his shoulders pulling him to her, trying to pull him into her. His arms were tight around her, holding her as close as could be managed without melting into each other.
“Downstairs?” she whispered against his lips. He nodded his head and picked her up, carrying her down the stairs into the hold. There was a small bunk bed and a seating area. He dropped her on the bed and then followed immediately, lips still engaged with hers.
“I want to lick you everywhere my mysterious chocolate miracle,” he murmured against her skin making her giggle but laying back to give him as much access as he wanted. She ran her hands through his hair encouraging him to have his way with her and he needed no further prompting than that.
“Oh baby,” she whispered as he licked her in sensitive places.
“You like that?” he wanted to know.
“Yes,” she replied widening her legs to give him better access.
“I was afraid that the pregnancy might make you not want to,” he said into her skin and she sat up in surprise.
“What?” she said in very different tones from what she’d been using. He sat up and looked at her sheepishly.
“I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to anymore now that you’re pregnant.”
You Complete Me: A BWWM Single Parent Older Couple Romance (Brothers From Money Book 1) Page 17
