Page 67 of Cruel Russian King
“Artyom…” Yegor called after me from the car park.
I turned, my expression unreadable.
“Don’t you think you should just give them what they want? We already have two sisters married to them, and now Ninel is married to you. This way both factions gain more security, more intel, which means more protection for Katya and Vera.”
“I don’t give a shit about Katya and Vera. They chose to sleep with the enemy, they betrayed this faction, and needI remind you, so did you and Zahkar? The only reason you’re still breathing is because Rykov blood runs through your veins. They’ll take my deal, or nothing. This conversation is over. We have business to handle.”
I climbed into my Jaguar and headed back to our faction. But, now that the meeting was over, thoughts of Ninel intruded my mind.
I sighed. I hated feeling like this…empty, and miserable. I haven't felt this way since I was a child. Ninel had tried to talk to me a few days ago and I shut her down. I knew she had spoken to Vera and the others, and they probably gave her advice, but I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want her to come to me because someone told her she should. I wanted her to talk to me because she wanted to.
Why the fuck did I care about this so damn much?!
Because you're a wimp, Artie. I trained you better than this. Don't let your downfall be because of a damn woman!
Since then, I hadn’t even gone home. I couldn’t stay under the same roof with her and not hold her in my arms. I hadn’t even checked the cameras to see if she was okay.
At a red light, I leaned back against the seat, and ran a hand through my hair.
Despite threatening Lev and the others, just to get a rise out of them, I knew it would hit her hard. She’s close to her brothers, the same way Vera and Kira cling to Yegor and Zakhar. She was suffering because she couldn't see them.
A horn blared behind me. I jolted upward and rolled through the green light.
Then a thought slammed me. Her being stressed didn't just affect her…it affected the baby too.
Our baby.
I’d always known I’d be a father one day. But now that it’s real, now that my wife is pregnant, I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t want to raise a child the way my father raised me.
Shit.
The things I’ve done to Yegor and Zakhar over the years were bad enough. What if I can’t change? What if I end up creating something worse than the monster my father made of me?
And your faction is one of the most powerful factions in the U.S. Artie! And it's because of everything I taught you, you ungrateful, piece of ….
“Shut up! Shut up!” I screamed, my voice bouncing off the small space. “You are done controlling me! You did things your way! This is my life! And I'll do with it what the fuck I want!”
With my chest heaving, I pulled out my phone and called Yegor. He picked up on the third ring.
“I’m going home to check on Ninel,” I said.
“Okay. If anything comes up, you want me to handle it or call you first?”
“Handle it.” I hung up before he could say more.
If I didn’t want to become the father that raised me, I needed to start by fixing things with my wife.
Forty minutes later, I pulled into the garage.
“Stay calm,” I muttered to myself.
The fact that I refused Ninel a listening ear when she needed one, I knew I'd be up against her defiant behavior.
Maybe we could talk about the baby. That would be the best place to start.
I stepped out of the car and went inside. First, I made my way to the bedroom, but it was empty. Then I checked the kitchen, the library, even my damn office. Nothing. I checked the gazebo. There was no sign of her, Kira or Ruslan.
First, I called Ruslan and when it went straight to voicemail I called Kira. Same thing.
