“They pulled up in a black car. Said they had a massage for the boss,” one of the men revealed.
That was when my dad joined us at the doorway.
“A letter, boss,” the other guy informed him.
I yanked the letter out of his hand before he could hand it over to my dad.
“Bella, hand that over to me. Right now,” my dad commanded.
Ignoring him, I rushed back into the living room.
The first thing my eyes caught was the Lobanov crest.
I read the concise letter once. And then I skimmed it with my eyes again. I turned to my dad.
“You’ve been summoned to appear before the Pakhan? A sit-down to discuss the payment of your debts? To answer for your dealings with the Italian factions?”
“I already told you. This isn’t something for you to get involved in.”
“And if you refuse to show up, they’ll take your daughter instead,” I went on. “And you call this none of my business?! Do you have another daughter?”
“Stop yelling. Be calm. I’m arranging the papers as we speak. We’ll be out of the country in a few hours. They won’t find us.”
“Are you joking?” I inquired, a sardonic chuckle leaving my lips. “I’m to forget about my reputation or the life I have here and just…uproot everything and run away with you because ofyourdebts?”
“You have no other choice, Bella. So, quit overreacting and start packing your bags.”
I nodded.
“I have a choice. You can be weak and run away. It’s all your fault, anyway. But I’m not going anywhere with you.”
I left the living room, walking towards the hallway to my bedroom.
“And you’d better start packing before it’s too late for you,” I called out to him.
**********
Before I zipped the last bag, I took a long look at myself in the mirror.
"I'm going to get inside," I said. "I'm going to learn his rules, and I'm going to be the thing he never saw coming."
I repeated the promise in my head until it truly felt like armor. I paused, hand on the zipper as sounds cut through thequiet outside. I could make out the sound of tires, slow engines, and the hum of something big coming awake.
I didn’t need to go to the window to see the reflection of the headlights.
They’re here.
This is it.
I stepped out of my room with my bags.
As I descended the stairs, the main door was thrown open. One of the guards stood wordlessly by the door. Of course, my dad’s men wouldn’t dare resist their boss’, boss’ men.
I looked towards my dad’s study on instinct. I hadn’t seen him since the previous night. And I didn’t ask any of his men if he had traveled as I stepped out of the house.
Three men stood outside, their black suits telling me I was right—they were from the Lobanov Bratva. The man in front, tall and bald, looked down at me with surprise.
"Miss Moretti?" he asked, his Russian accent thick.
