“A little?” I challenged, stepping in front of him so he’d have to look at me. “He’s lost his fucking mind. Surely, you can see that, right?”
He stared at me for a few seconds but then nodded in agreement. “This last fiasco with him helping Martin Fairchild abduct Peyton Emerson was the last straw with me.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “But you were fine with him getting revenge in the beginning.”
He looked away and shook his head. “I know, but I didn’t think Nik would take it to the level he has.” My father clenched his jaw as he turned back to me. “I was angry all those years ago when the Dark Side got shut down, and it was all because of those goddamn fighters. I had to watch my back for years after that, wondering if the FBI would catch on that I was behind the operation. Luckily, they never did.”
“How did Nikolai even get started on this revenge shit anyway?”
My father slowly reached into his navy suit pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper that was discolored from age. He carefully opened it up and I could see list of names written in his handwriting, some of which had been crossed out. He handed the list to me, and I read down the line.
Scar
Tyler Rushing
Ryley Jameson
Camden Jameson
Paxton Emerson
Kyle Andrews
Danny Ramirez
Phil Parker
“As you can see, some have already been dealt with,” my father explained. “Nikolai killed Scar, and I’d put away the other two almost thirty years ago when I wrote the hit list.” He looked at the piece of paper again, then ripped it into tiny pieces. “Killing them doesn’t benefit me at all. I would’ve blown them away without a second thought, but things have changed now. Those fighters don’t mean anything to me now.”
“Have you told Nikolai that?” He nodded, but I could see the turmoil in his eyes. “But he’s still going to do what he wants, right?”
All my father could do was stare at me; I had my answer. Nikolai’s first mistake when he decided to seek revenge for our father was going after Ryley Jameson’s eldest daughter, Emma. Nikolai didn’t know that I knew Emma and cared deeply for her. We had dated several years ago, but in the end, it didn’t work out.
Nikolai planned to go after Emma first, knowing very well the other fighters in her group would come to her rescue. He’d managed to wrangle in Carter Reynolds, Kase Rushing, Emma Jameson, Ethan Jameson, Reagan Jameson, Braden Emerson, Peyton Emerson, and Hunter Andrews . . . all of whom were the children of the men on the hit list.
To help save Emma, the guys were forced to bear the Michelson signature dragon insignia on their backs. It was a contract saying they would fight for us. Nikolai had gotten them all to agree to fight for him in our underground fighting operation. It was then that I took it upon myself to protect her and her friends.
A rivalry between Nikolai and myself had been growing for many years, especially since I was the one who had our father’s favor. Unfortunately, the tension and animosity have led us right into a war.
My father moved closer, his serious gaze on mine. “I’m ready to step down, son. That’s the reason I’m here. I want you to take over as head of the Michelson family.”
I knew the day would come for him to ask me, but I didn’t realize it’d be so soon. Nikolai had been quiet for the past few months, but this news would surely have him on the rampage.
“What are you thinking, Seth?” my father asked. His eyes searched mine as he waited for a response.
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I hung my head. “I’m already at war with Nikolai. This is going to drive him over the edge.”
My father didn’t even try to argue. “It will,” he agreed. “But it’s something that has to be done.”
I turned to him. “When are you going to tell him?”
He patted my cheek and stepped back. “Soon. But right now, I’m taking a break. If you need me, I’ll be at the Bellagio. Your mother’s flying in tomorrow and meeting me there. She said she wants to see you.”
“Sounds good,” I said, not looking forward to when he told her his plans.
If anyone hated violence, it was her. She didn’t know half of what my father and I had done. My father squeezed my arm and started to walk away, but he stopped with my following words.
“You know what will happen when Nikolai finds out, right? He’s going to come after me.”
