“Oh yes,” Liza's eyes glanced around for a bit. “It's beautiful. By the way, where's Mikhail?”
“I don't know. I woke up this morning, and he was gone.”
“Gone? Doesn't he know that you're meant to be taken care of at all times?”
“Liza, be nice.” Emilia shot at her, and I felt like she was trying to get at me for something. Sometimes, I felt like she picked up my worst traits and used them on me. Except for the way her lips are heavily glossed.
“I'm just asking a harmless question. Besides, it's hard to stand by men these days when trouble comes. I mean, aside from your parents, he's your family, and it's his duty to protect you at all times.”
“I'm sick and tired of my family.”
“We are your family, Isabella,” Emilia rubbed her hand on my back. “We're always here for you, no matter what.”
“Well…the way I see it, the only family you have is the one you choose. So choose wisely.”
As tempting as it felt to confront Liza, she said the right thing. I'm the one to decide who my family is, and at this point, I would rather be known as a bastard than to label Marco as my dad.
“Anyway, apart from the furniture and beautiful walls, what's new? Are things going well with your relationship with Mikhail?”
I looked at Emilia and adjusted my posture on the sofa in order to respond.
“Yes. Things have been going well. Turns out he's quite a charmer.”
“You don't say,” Liza uttered after a gasp with her legs crossed. “I used to be afraid of Mikhail. He looked like someone who'd chase a lion just for the hunt.”
“Yes, I thought so too. But after our marriage, he shared a part of himself I think he’d never shared with anyone. And as crazy as it might sound, I find him to be very attractive. Apart from his physique and all.”
“No, don't leave the physique out of the picture, young lady. You know you're all about the physique.”
“Not everyone is like you, Liza.” Her lips curled up in a light smile.
“I think I'm in love with him. But a part of me is running away from that feeling. Somehow, I just don't want to accept that I love him, you know? How do you truly know you love someone? Is that even possible?”
“Yes, it's possible.” Emilia shot back at me.
“You've been in love with Viktor for a while. How did you know you were in love with him?” I asked, and Emilia gazed at me with a smile of certainty.
“I knew when I stopped running from reality. His sacrifices were evident, and he handled me with care, like an egg on a spoon. He goes to any length to make sure I'm safe, even at the expense of his safety.”
“Oh my gosh, you two sound hilarious right now.”
“You don't have to be a part of the conversation, Liza,” I said.
“The bottom line is, once you see all the qualities of a man who truly loves you, you don't have to run away from his offer. Give yourself over to it. Trust me, it's peaceful that way.”
The previous night proved how much Mikhail would give his life to save mine, and that gesture was far more than Dad ever did for me in his lifetime. Emilia was right. I don't need to run. I just need to give in and admit to myself that I’m in love with Mikhail.
“That's the best advice I've had in all my life.” I smiled. “Thanks, girls.” I hugged them, basking in the peace they brought. But the biggest problem still remains in my dad's hands. The problem was that Marco was intent on giving me up to Caruso.
Somewhere inside me, I believed that the fight wouldn't be fair if I let the man I love do all the hard work. I was the center of focus to both the Italians and now the Lobanovs. The first war was uncalled for, and it felt jarring. But what if I could make things better instead of worse? What if, beneath all the chaos, the secret to peace was just an understanding betweenthe Bratva and the Italians? And what if, just maybe, I could talk to Marco and persuade him not to give me over in marriage to Caruso?
As stupid as this sounds, I never felt driven to do something like this. It won't be a bad thing to find my way out of the mansion and go in search of my dad so I can reason with him. There's no harm in a harmless conversation. If I could strike a good deal with him, he gets what he wants, I get what I want, and we'll both be happy.
So I set my mind to going in search of my dad in the middle of the night, and no one would have to know that I'm gone.
**********
The moon stood at the center of the sky, and the shadows of the guards that patrolled the mansion seemed few. I wore my black trousers and took out the pistol Mikhail gave me, which I strapped behind my back. The metal felt cold when it touched my bare skin. It surprised me how I relied on the pistol for protection more than anything. The leverage I had was that Mikhail wasn't aware of my mission. So I walked out of the bedroom and made my way down the hallway. The mansion was silent, and I feared that the sound from my shoes would alert the guards.
