Page 6 of Born into Darkness

I don’t say a word, too afraid to say something and risk her going quiet again. My mom never talks about her past. It’s like her life started with our family, and she refuses to look back. My brothers and I always suspected there was something tragic that had happened, but we’ve never been able to get any real answers about it.

Giving my hand a squeeze, she gives a soft shake of her head as if to clear it and says, “He just wants to make sure that you never have to go through anything like that.”

When it’s obvious she’s not going to say more, I hesitantly ask, “Like what, Mom?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” she quickly says, and then changes the subject by asking, “Have you seen your brothers this morning?”

“No, not yet. I figured they were still sleeping.”

“I heard Bran take his bike out earlier, but Dima might still be sleeping. Your dad went for a run on the beach and should be back soon.”

I think about pushing for more answers, but it’s obvious she really doesn’t want to talk about it, so I don’t fight her change of subject. I know she’ll tell me more when she’s ready. Before I take another bite, I say, “Bran and I are going to convince Dima to take us out on the boat later.”

The sadness fades from her face as she gives a soft laugh. “That’ll be fun. I won’t let your Aunt Maddie get you too tipsy at lunch then.”

I smile at her before taking another bite, and when my plate is cleared, I load up the dishwasher while she starts to make another omelet for my dad. On the way back to my room for a shower, I see him out the window. He’s coming in from his run, and Wallace must’ve joined him at some point because he’s keeping pace beside my dad, tongue lolling out and black-and-white fur blowing in the wind.

Knowing my dog’s in good hands, I start getting ready. I take my time and then throw the ball for Wallace while I wait for everyone to get here. When there’s just a few minutes to go, I head back inside to say goodbye to my dad. Halfway down the hall to his office, I hear his voice, stopping at the angry tone.

“If you see that fucking prick again, kill him,” my dad growls in Russian. “He wanted a meeting, and we gave him one, but that deal was an insult, and he’s lucky we didn’t shoot him on the spot for daring to offer it.”

I don’t hear a response, so I know he’s on his phone. I wait a few minutes until I’m sure the conversation is over before closing the distance and giving a soft knock at his door.

“Dad?”

As soon as he hears my voice, he says, “Honey, come in,” and his tone is completely different. The harsh edges are replaced with a softness that he only uses with his family. A softness that I’m guessing he didn’t possess until he met my mom.

“I just wanted to say goodbye before we left.” I step into the room he’s always used as an office. The sun-filled room sits nearest to the sunroom—the one he'd converted into a library for my mom before we were born.They like to be close to one another, and having his office on the other side of the large house was never going to be a possibility.

He quickly walks around his desk and gives me a hug while kissing the top of my head. “I’m sorry it’s not the crazy night of clubbing you and Allie wanted, but this option is the one least likely to give me a heart attack from worry.”

I smile and give him a squeeze before pulling back. “Don’t worry, Dad. Allie and I knew the plan was a long shot.”

My dad runs a hand over the stubble he didn’t bother shaving this morning. He’s wearing a T-shirt despite the cooler temperature today, and the tattoos I was always so intrigued by when I was little are on full display.

He gives a small shrug and says, “I worry about you. I’m your dad, and it’s my job to protect you. Plus, I know what kind of guys hang out at Inferno. None of them are worthy of you.”

I laugh. “I wasn’t planning on finding a husband.”

My dad lets out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank god, sweetheart, because I’m nowhere near ready for you to get married.”

I don’t bother mentioning that it’s probably never going to happen since I’m not allowed to actually go out and date like a normal person. Instead, I walk with him to the kitchen so he can say goodbye to my mom. We find her pulling her shoes on by the door, and while he walks over to her, I look over at my brothers, who are rummaging around for lunch.

Bran has his back to me, so I walk over and tap on the counter. He feels the vibration and turns to look at me, mouth already lifting up in a grin.

Leaving?he signs.

Yeah, will you watch Wallace for me?

He quickly signsof course, and then ruffles the hair on my head when I give him a side hug. Wallace is already sitting by his feet, so I kiss the top of his furry head before turning to Dima. Bran’s back to fixing his sandwich, so I don’t bother signing and instead say, “You’re taking Bran and me out on the boat later, okay?”

He raises a dark brow at me. “I am.”

I grin and give him the same side hug I’d given Bran. “You are.”

He laughs and grabs one of his chips. “I guess I could be persuaded to hang out with my siblings tonight.”

“You know we’re more fun than a night of club hopping.”

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