Chapter 20
NATALIA.
I stood in front of my father, the man who had always been a constant presence in my life. But as I looked at him now, I saw a stranger. A man who had killed my uncle and trafficked women for money and power.
“How could you do this?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and betrayal. “You always told me that family was everything. And yet, you’ve shown me that all you care about is your own selfish desires.”
My father’s face remained impassive, his cold brown eyes giving away nothing. “You think love runs the world? Nyet,” he said calmly. “Power and money are the only things that matter. And I will do whatever it takes to get them.”
I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. This was the man who had raised me, the man who had treated me like a princess when I did whatever he wanted. The wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“You’re wrong,” I said. “Love does matter. Without it, power and money won’t make you happy. You’ll always want more and things will never satisfy you.”
He snorted, not understanding or unwilling to accept my words. “Love is a luxury. It won’t feed your children or protect them from danger. Power and money will.”
I stepped back, feeling a chill run through me. “There’s always someone else with more money and power than you. Or someone waiting in the shadows to take you down. Love, on the other hand, can never be taken away.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“So, you’re willing to sacrifice me to get what you want?” I spat, shaking my head. “You’re a coward. I can’t believe I respected you for so many years.”
He said with a soft chuckle that sent shivers of fear down my spine, “You will learn, daughter, that the only person you can truly trust in this world is yourself.”
When I didn’t respond, he waved his finger, something he did whenever he was ready to dismiss anything that was said to him. He was the one that knew it all, and anything that came out of anyone’s mouth was nonsense.
“You take after your mother. Weak and once pretty like her. It doesn’t matter if you’re alive or dead. Do what you want! I can’t believe we share the same blood, you’re pathetic!”
I was fighting back any more tears streaming down my face, I didn’t want him to see me weak. “You’re a monster!”
My father turned cold like all the blood drained from his face, and then he was speechless. His gaze darted behind me to Tomas and something changed in his expression. Then he took one last glance at me, his eyes pinched, and turned to walk away. The man I had known as my father was gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered life.
I watched as he walked to the boat, my heart heavy with grief and confusion. I had always idolized him before I saw what he did to his brother. He was a ruthless criminal who had no regard for the lives of others.
I couldn’t be a part of his world—this evil and corruption. Even the Bratva had a code of honor that he didn’t abide by. Rules that I knew Tomas did and would.
I turned away, drawing strength from the bond I shared with Tomas. I had to find my own path, and I knew it was with Tomas—if he could accept everything I still had to tell him.
I took a deep breath as I approached him, worrying this conversation could be the beginning of the end.
“Tomas. I lied when I said my dad had never physically abused me. He slapped me when I confronted him about my uncle and then he held a gun to my head.”
“What?”
I could see his face change. I’d seen it before when he went into a rage, and now I knew the blood drew up to his face when he was ready to transform into his wolf.
“No! Don’t do it. Stay the way you are. It’s in the past. I needed to tell you. I needed you to know the truth because our lives are going to be different from what they were in the past. We will not be this way with our children as our parents were with us.”
It was then it dawned on him. As if my words had a different meaning, he softened as he tilted his head and his eyes widened.
“Children.”
I shrugged. “Who knows? We’ve not been using any protection. We’ve been here for weeks. We want to spend the rest of our lives together. So, yeah, children.”
It was like I was trying to convince him more than myself, or maybe it was the other way around.
“Children?”
He nodded as though he was trying to wrap his head around the idea as he enveloped me in his arms gently. The rhythm of his heartbeat was comforting as it slowed down. No more was it racing like it must have been when I told him about Dad. It was calming down like the idea of us having kids gave him pleasure.
The truth be known, it scared the living daylights out of me, but the idea of spending my time with my mate gave me a sense of purpose and meaning in the world.
We both knew that the future would be a long and difficult road, but together we’d find our way. I wanted to believe my dad would leave the island and no longer bother us, but I couldn’t see it happening forever. Maybe Mom for once could protect me somehow. I built a new life for myself, surrounded by people who loved and cared for me. And as I looked back on the past, I realized that it was only through facing my fears and confronting the truth that I was able to find true happiness.
And most importantly, we had each other. That was all that mattered.
The End.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Sarwah is a steamy contemporary author with sass! She has a secret fantasy, to have her own harem and her books are an insight into her kinky imagination. Learn more about Sarwah by connecting with her on social media.
Arya Karin lives in the South with her family. Though she suffered mental and emotional abuse from previous relationships, Arya has found happiness and her soul-mate with her current husband and father of her two children.