Page 29 of Love to Defy You
Inside, the oval atrium has a display of marble busts depicting notable figures around the perimeter. Above my head is a domed glass ceiling that allows the sun to stream in and provide natural light to the interior. Balconies with archways mark every floor, and students and professors alike are making their way to and from classes.
I’m about to set off down the hallway on my left when I spot Mikhail on the far end of the atrium leaning against the wall while scrolling on his phone.
That fucker.
I make a beeline toward him, and as I approach, he glances up and meets my eye. His pale complexion grows two shades paler, but he doesn’t try to run.
I grab the collar of his shirt and get in his face. “So, your phone works after all?” I say in Russian.
His throat bobs when he swallows. “I know what you want to ask me, and no, I didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone.” He nods at the bathroom door on our right. “Let’s talk in there. We’re attracting attention.”
A quick sideways glance reveals no fewer than five students staring at me with wary expressions. I release Mikhail with a shove and storm into the bathroom, where I drop my bag on the floor.
Mikhail follows me inside and locks the door behind him. “Anyone in here?” he asks in English.
No answer.
I lean against the white subway tile on the wall and fold my arms. “Explain,” I say, switching back to Russian.
He drops his book bag on the floor next to mine and rubs the back of his neck. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything,” I say. “Were you there that night? Was my father involved in this? Wasyourfather involved—?”
Mikhail holds up a hand. “Slow down. I’ll answer all your questions as best as I can, but there’s only so much I can tell you.”
I push off the wall and begin to pace the floor. “Oh, fuck off with that secret society nonsense.”
Mikhail heads down the row of stalls and throws each door open to check for occupants. Once he’s satisfied, he turns toface me. “This isn’t nonsense, Alek. This is real, and neither of us can escape it.” He sighs. “Both of our fathers were in the brotherhood at their university in Moscow. The moment you and I were born, our fates were sealed.”
I pause my pacing and round on him. “What the fuck does that even mean? Speak plainly.”
“You will go through the trials just like your father and grandfather did at university,” he says. “And one day, your sons will go through it, and their sons after that.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want any part of this.”
“You don’t have a choice. Neither did I. This brotherhood... it’s made up of the world’s most influential people. They run everything—banks, governments, business conglomerates—and their sons are expected to continue their legacy. If you refuse the call...” He takes a deep breath. “If you refuse the call, they’ll kill you.”
“Be serious, Mick. Do you really expect me to believe that?”
A crease forms between his eyebrows. “It’s true.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “Oh, really? Are you saying that this brotherhood kills the sons of the world’s elite if they don’t cooperate and no one notices their absence?”
Mikhail nods. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Did you already forget the skulls you saw down there?”
“Come on, those were fake.”
“No, they weren’t!” He lets out a frustrated grunt. “The brotherhood has ways to cover it up. You have no idea how powerful they are. Every father knows the risk when they send their son off to university. It’s the price they pay for becoming a god.”
“A god? Do you hear yourself? You’re brainwashed.”
“Not a literal god.” He grabs my arms and shakes me. “A symbolic god. These people run the world. They decide who to instill as world leaders. They decide which countries tooverthrow and which corporations will become the next Fortune Global 500. They puppet everyone else the way the gods puppet man.”
I push his chest hard, and when he stumbles back, he releases me from his grip. The two of us stand here, staring each other down as our heavy breathing echoes off the tile.
“Why didn’t you warn me?” I ask. “Why didn’t my father warn me?”
His shoulders droop. “Because we couldn’t. We’re sworn to secrecy. But I’ll protect you if you let me. Like I’ve always done.”
