“Get him out,” I command, my voice cold, devoid of emotion. “And make sure he understands the consequences of disrespecting hispakhan.”
The guards nod, their faces grim, and they haul Boris out of the room, the heavy oak door slamming shut behind them, cutting off his desperate cries. The silence that follows is deafening and heavy with fear.
No one moves. No one dares to speak. Their eyes are on me now, not with doubt, but with a renewed primal fear. The message has been delivered, loud and clear. My authority is not to be challenged. My power is unquestionable. The grumblings of malcontents will all be dealt with ruthlessly and decisively.
I lean back in my chair, my gaze sweeping across the faces of the remaining lieutenants. Their masks are back in place, but nowthey’re tinged with a new understanding, a chilling realization of the consequences of their dissent.
“Now, on to new ventures. Pavel, update me on the shipping routes.”
Pavel, pale and shaken, nods quickly, fumbling with his papers. “Yes,Pakhan. The new routes through the Black Sea are proving profitable, at least for a start, considering we had all the storms.”
The meeting continues, but the atmosphere has irrevocably shifted. The tension is still there, but it’s one born of fear, of total obedience. The grumblings have been silenced, at least for now. The message has been sent. I am still in control, and a new heir is on the way.
The future, for now, is mine.
12
LEAH
Itake a cup down from the cabinet and hand it to Suzie before getting one for myself.
I was entirely off coffee my first trimester. Now that I’ve started the second, it smells heavenly. If I’m only allowed one cup of coffee a day, I’m going to make it a good one.
“So how’s Eliza taking all this?” Suzie asks.
“Really well, actually. She’s excited to have a little brother or sister.”
“Listen, I know my reaction wasn’t exactly joyful when you first told me, but I swear to you I’m gonna love this one as much as I love Eliza. And I’ll always be there for you. All of you.” “I don’t know what I would do without you,” I say quietly to Suzie, and even I can hear the hitch in my voice.
“We’re family. Whether chosen or by blood, that’s what family does for each other.”
“Good family, anyway,” I add.
“Seriously, though, I’m right there with you, just like with Eliza. Or you, Eliza, and the baby can move in with me for a little while. We’ll share the night duties. Maybe we can even train Benji to throw away dirty diapers.”
We both laugh at the thought of that and how absurd it would be.
“Anyway, it actually seems like Viktor wants to be a part of the baby’s life.”
Suzie stares at me, then hustles me to the corner, away from any prying eyes or ears. When she speaks, it’s a heated whisper. “Are you sure?”
I’d called Suzie after the ultrasound to fill her in on everything that had happened with Viktor.She needs to know.
“It really seems like it, yes. What’s the worst that could happen? He has the baby every other weekend, and they have an armed escort?” I try to make a joke, but it falls flat.
Suzie’s mouth flattens until I can barely see her pink-painted lips. “If a kid needs an armed escort, they are not safe. Do you really want that?”
“I’m not sure I have a choice. Even if I stay away from Viktor, there are probably people who will be looking at me as a way to get to him. At least he can provide a kind of safety I can’t, if that’s the reality.”
Suzie doesn’t look happy about it, but she can’t deny the truth of my response.
“Besides, Viktorwantsto be in his baby’s life. That’s way more than my dad or Eliza’s dad ever did. He has money, Suzie. You know how much.”
“Money isn’t everything.”
“Of course not. But who am I to deny him access to a baby if he wants to be a father? And who am I to keep the baby from its father, especially when its father could open up opportunities I can’t?”
“Their mother, that’s who,” Suzie reminds me, squeezing my hand again. “If you think that’s the safest option, then that’s what you do. But if not, we can figure something else out, okay?”
