“I’ve seen it,” Alexi snapped. “I’ve seen warehouses, Anya. I’ve seen the manifests. I’ve seen girls younger than you were when you started ballet, drugged and chained like animals.”
I turned on him, tears burning my eyes. “Then why didn’t you stop it?”
He laughed once, harsh and empty. “You think I don’t want to? How? The Bratva isn’t a switch you turn off. It’s a machine built on fear and blood. And Father is very good at making people disappear.”
Silence fell heavy between us.
Vladimir stood then, his presence looming. “Your father intends for Alexi to take his place one day. It’s expected. Bloodline succession. Tradition.”
My head snapped up. “Alexi?” I looked at my brother in horror. “You can’t.”
“I won’t,” he said immediately.
“But you’re his son,” I whispered. “Doesn’t that make it inevitable?”
Alexi walked toward me and stopped just short of touching me, like he was afraid he might break. “That’s why I’ve kept you away from all of this,” he said. “Why I pushed you toward the arts, toward a life that had nothing to do with our family’s shadow.”
“Then why tell me now?” I asked.
“Because you deserve the truth,” Vladimir said. “And because your father is losing patience. He wants an heir to the throne. He believes Alexi is dead, so he’s searching for a replacement.”
“Artem, Oleg, or Pavel,” I supply. Alexi nods.
“If I don’t come forward and reclaim my inheritance, Father will select one of them. If I come forward…”
“Then you’ll take over, and the Bratva will destroy you,” I supply.
“I’m not a saint,” Alexi says. “I could live with the smuggling and other crimes, but not the human trafficking. That’s the line I won’t cross. Drugs are poison, yes. Weapons kill. But human trafficking?” His voice cracked. “That destroys souls. It turns people into property. I won’t be responsible for that. I won’t inherit a throne built on cages.”
Tears slid down my face as I realized the truth—not just about my father, but about my brother. Alexi wasn’t reluctant because he was afraid. I drop back into the chair.
He was reluctant because he was human.
But what does that mean for me? I love my brother. I don’t want to see him living a life that destroys him, but by remaining silent, he’s condemning me to a similar fate. I let my head fall back against the chair and stare at the ceiling. This is all just too much.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Alexi says, shifting to the floor at my feet and taking my hands. “I know what my choice could cost you. I don’t want that, either. We’ll figure something out. I promise that I won’t leave you to suffer.”
“I may have an idea,” Vladimir says.
Keeping hold of my hands, Alexi shifts so he’s sitting on the arm of my chair. “We’re all ears.”
Vladimir shakes his head. “I have some details to work out first. Anya is exhausted. Today has done a number on her. I had room service send up some candles and bath bombs. How about I run you a bath? Then you can sleep in my bed.”
Alexi stiffens next to me, causing Vladimir to smile. “I’ll sleep out here on the couch.”
Vladimir offers me his hand. I stare at it for several seconds before glancing up into his handsome face. His clear blue eyes twinkle with mischief as he waits for me to take his hand. I take it and allow him to pull me up into a standing position. He doesn’t release my hand as he leads me through his room and into the adjoining bathroom. I’m surprised to find the bath already drawn with the fragrance of lavender, chamomile, and bergamot wafting in the steam. On the counter is a folded black t-shirt that looks similar to the one he’s wearing.
“I’ll leave you to soak. Would you like some wine or something else to drink?” he asks as he lights the candles spread around the room.
“No, this is perfect. Thank you. It is exactly what I need. I’d planned on taking a bath when I got home, but then I found Alexi…”
Vladimir cups my face with his hands, so I can’t look at anything but his gorgeous face. “I know you’re worried about your future and about your brother. Believe me when I say that we’ll figure it out. We won’t sacrifice you to a marriage with any of those men. I’ll happily kidnap you and smuggle you into the US if I have to.”
I smile at him as my heart stutters. “I like that plan.”
He grins before leaning forward and kissing me softly on the lips. He sighs as he leans his forehead against mine. “I like that plan, too. It would mean I could keep you for myself. But I won’t be like your father and make that decision for you. We haven’t asked you what you want, have we? We have much to talk about. But first, let your body relax before going to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll figure out our next steps, together. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.”
