My friend’s shoulders go rigid. “I’m going with her.”
The guard steps forward, glaring at him, probably ready to throw him out by force.
I touch Yan’s hand and muster a courageous smile. “I’ll be fine, Yan. Wait for me here.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he also doesn’t act stupid and cause a ruckus when we’re obviously greatly outnumbered by the countless guards we spied in every corner of the property.
“Last door to the left, Signorina,” the guard tells me, motioning inside.
I follow the path he showed me, walking down a long hall with several Renaissance paintings hanging on the walls. By the time I reach the door, my heartbeat is erratic and irregular.
You can do this, Lia.
After inhaling deeply, I knock on the door.
A gruff, “Come in,” propels me to open it and step inside.
Soft piano music fills the place. Chopin.
I expected to find an office, but it’s a dining room. The large table is fit for over fifty people, like one from a castle, and the chairs surrounding it are tall and gold-rimmed.
At the head of the table sits a man who appears to be in his late fifties, but his hair is completely white, even though it’s thick. His physique looks fit for someone his age, with his muscles filling his suit. A scar runs diagonally down his face, across his cheeks. His eyes, though? They’re the same exact color as mine—blue, mysterious. Haunted.
This is my father.
I’ve seen him a few times before at the Bratva’s banquets, but I’ve never stopped to look at him, to even see the resemblance between us. I’ve always kept a barrier between me and that part of Adrian’s life, which Lazlo belonged to.
He’s all alone in the dining room. No guard or family member present. Isn’t he worried that I might do something to him? Though he could easily overpower me if that were the case. And he probably has some guards hidden in invisible places.
He’s cutting a piece of steak in front of him as he watches me with his piercing eyes.
I stand a few seats away, meeting his stare.
“Mrs. Volkov,” he says slowly, with a distinctive Italian accent. “My guard tells me you claim to be my daughter.”
“It’s not a claim.” I swallow down my nerves. “I am your daughter with Rachel Gueller.”
“How do you know of that name?”
“She was my mother.”
“Your mother’s name was Morelli.”
I frown.
“You thought I wouldn’t do a background check on Adrian’s wife when he’s my closest ally in the Bratva?”
“Then you know my father was Paolo Morelli and that I was born in Italy.”
“Correct. Which is why I would like to know why you claim to be my daughter.”
“My mother was forced to leave the States after she got pregnant with me and married my father—stepfather.”
“What are you getting at?” He continues cutting his steak but doesn’t bring anything to his mouth. “Is Adrian aware of what you’re doing? If he does know—”
“He won’t know, because he’s in danger.” I approach him in fast steps, but if my sudden movements alarm Lazlo, he doesn’t act on it. Instead, he observes me closely when I’m a step in front of him. “I’m not sure what else to tell you to make you believe me, and I’m probably wasting my time, but know this, my mother was happy in Italy and with my stepfather, but sometimes, I saw her crying alone. Sometimes, she would hug me and tell me she wished it was different. The day those men came and killed her and Papa, I wished it was different, too. I know someone hid me and smuggled me to the States, but I have no idea who it was or why they did it. All I’m certain of is that it had something to do with you and the Rozettis and that Luca could’ve been working with them…”
I trail off when he releases the utensils and reaches a hand toward me. I’m about to flinch back when Lazlo wraps his fingers around the pendant that’s peeking out from my coat.
His eyes widen as he runs the pads of his fingers across the surface with infinite caution. “How did you get this?”
“Mom gave it to me.”
“I gave it to Rachel. She said it was a precious gift and she’d hand it down to our child if we had one.” He stares at me with what seems like awe. “You…are my daughter.”
“I believe so, yes.”
“And I never knew you existed.”
“I think someone tried hard to make it so you wouldn’t.”
“Or some people.” His expression tightens. “Did you mention a Luca?”
“You know him?”
“Luca Rozetti.”
“His last name is Brown.”
“It’s fucking Rozetti. He and his family have tried every trick under the sun to destroy me, but I never thought they would go so low as to hide you from me.” He stands and strokes my face. “My daughter. My blood.”
I swallow at the tone of his voice, at the way his eyes soften as if he’s finding a long-lost treasure.
“I should’ve found you sooner. If I had known Rachel had you, I would’ve followed her.” He taps the scar on his cheek. “I should’ve sensed something was wrong when she gave me this.”
“Mom did?”
“Yes, though it was a bit of an accident. She didn’t take my engagement to my current wife well and held a knife so I’d leave her alone. I was trying to disarm her when she cut me. That was the last time I saw her.”
“How come you…didn’t hurt her for it?”
“I hurt her enough by choosing another woman over her. You, however, I didn’t know about. If I had, it would’ve been different.”
“Would you have married my mother?”
“No. But I would’ve raised you.”
“That must be why she chose to stay away.”
I can tell he doesn’t like my response, but he doesn’t press the issue.
“How did you know?” He pauses, narrowing his eyes. “Did Adrian figure it out and kept you from me?”
“No, no he didn’t.”
“Then who told you?”
“Luca.”
“Filthy Rozetti.” He curses under his breath in Italian.
“What’s your problem with them, anyway?”
“We always have territory wars. However, they made the mistake of killing my father, so, in turn, we’re killing all of them.”
Typical.
His expression softens as he tightens his hold on my hand. “I’m happy you came, Lia. You are a gift that I’ve finally received.”
“If I’m a gift, then please help me.”
“Anything.”
“My husband, Adrian. He was taken by Sergei because they believe he killed Richard Green in order to help you and betray the Bratva. You’re the only one who can rectify the misunderstanding.”
“I do not get involved in the Bratva’s internal affairs and they do not allow outsiders in.”
“You said you’d help me with anything.”
“Not when it comes to Bratva business. Besides, I don’t believe it was by mere chance that Adrian ended up marrying you. He knew about your relation to me for years yet chose to keep it a secret, and for that alone, I will not help him.”