To Father, Mila was the reason for Dima’s current state. If she hadn’t tried to stop Dima from shooting Kellan, he wouldn’t be paralyzed. Despite saving her last night, I still feared for her safety considering Father’s state of mind.
After pulling a cigar out of his coat pocket, Dedushka glanced left and right before he spoke. “Your father has spent the morning in meetings with his advisors.” With the flick of his lighter, he lit the expensive Russian tobacco. “Meetings I wasn’t invited to.”
I frowned. “Why would he d-do t-that?”
“Because he’s looking to replace Dima as heir.”
White-hot rage rocketed over me. “T-Thatmudak!He hasn’t even given D-Dima t-time to heal!”
“Even if Dima walks again, he will either always need an aid like a cane or he’ll have a limp.” He pinned me with a hard stare. “A defect.”
“What d-does that have t-to do with me?” I demanded.
“Nothing. It seems your father will be naming Aleksandr as his new heir.”
Aleks’s face paled as he jerked a hand through his dark hair. “Trakhni menya,”he muttered.
I shouldn’t have been too surprised that afuck mewas his response. Aleks hadn’t wanted the job twelve years ago, and he sure as hell didn’t want it now.
Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes at Dedushka. “Alexsandr is your b-blood. You should be happy he’s replacing a b-bastard as you’ve often called D-Dima.”
“I’m sure we can all agree that Aleksandr as heir is a fool’s choice.”
As Aleks chuckled at Dedushka's bluntness, I growled, “Mudak”
“It’s the truth, is it not?”
Before I could respond, Aleks quickly said, “Absolutely and completely.”
Dedushka grabbed my shoulder. “You are the rightful heir, Maksim. You always have been.”
“B-But–”
Dedushka shook his head. “I bit my tongue twelve years ago when your bastard of a father denied what was yours by birthright over a stutter.”
“He d-didn’t do it alone. He had the b-backing of his men.”
“Those were his yes men telling him what he wanted to hear.” Dedushka puffed on his cigar. “Things are different now. Your father has burned many bridges in the last twelve years. The men are wary of his decision making.” Waving his cigar at Aleks, he said, “If he puts Aleks up now, he’s looking at anarchy.”
“What would you have me t-to d-do?”
A cruel smile etched across his face. “Take your birthright.”
I stared at him in horror. “You want me to t-take it from D-Dima?”
“Da.”
“What kind of man would I b-be to lead a coup now against my p-paralyzed brother?”
“One who shows strength.”
Shaking my head violently back and forth, I snarled, “D-Dima’s world has t-turned upside down. I cannot fuck him over now. I won’t!”
Deduska's eyes narrowed into fury-filled slits. “If you don’t strike now, we won’t have another opportunity.”
“Fuck you and your opportunity.”
When I whirled around to leave, Aleks grabbed my arm. “Please, Maksim. I don’t want this.” Fear flashed in his pleading eyes. “I can’t bepahkan.”
