Chapter 48
Dorian's POV
“There was a driver waiting for me at the airport. Nice touch, by the way. I felt very welcomed.”
“I didn’t hire a driver. I would have sent Adri to pick you up.” If I had known she was coming. Nor did I intend to let her stay.
She shrugged. “Mom must have arranged it then. She’s the one who booked my ticket.”
The string of missed calls earlier that night suddenly made sense. My mother had been calling to warn me. She had conveniently waited until it was too late to change anything. Leonora’s plane was likely touching down when she decided to let me know.
Leonora wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Your snack options are pathetic. Is there any sparkling water in the drink fridge?”
“What did Mother tell you before you left?” I asked.
“‘Bye.’” Leonora dabbed at her eyes and waved, imitating our mother. Then she laughed. “She didn’t say anything else. Just packed up my bags and handed me a ticket.”
“You have friends back home. Did you really want to leave all of them?”
“That place isn’t home,” she said. “This is home. Being with you and Adri is home.”
I struggled to find a gentle way to tell her that she had no idea what she was getting into. We hadn't all been together in years for a reason. Several reasons, actually.
“What about Mother? She’ll miss you.”
“She was crying at the airport, but she’s been wanting this for months. She isn’t going to miss me.”
“Don’t be foolish.”
She flicked her dark hair over her shoulder, and I noticed for the first time the purple and red highlights underneath. “I’m not being foolish. She doesn’t want me around. I can tell. Mom’s never been much fun, and it only got worse after everything with Dad.”
“She was trying to keep you safe.”
“Well, she made a great choice sending me here,” she said. “There’s no place on Earth safer than this house. Daddy made sure of it.”
I clenched my teeth and stood up. “There’s a lot you don’t know. A lot has changed.”
“Like what?”
“It’s safer for you if you don’t know.” How many times had I said that in the past two weeks? “It’s also safer if you’re not here. It’s good to see you, but I’m putting you on the first plane back to Moscow tomorrow morning.”
Leonora slammed the fridge door and spun to face me. “No.”
“It’s not up for discussion.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m not going back. I just arrived.”
“You shouldn’t have come in the first place,” I snapped.
“Believe me, I know how much you don’t want me here, Dorian. But not everything revolves around you!”
“Nothing revolves around me,” I snarled impatiently as my hands tightened into fists. “It’s all about the Cartel. It’s always been about the Cartel.”
“Is that why I haven’t seen you in three years? Because you’ve been too busy with revenge at the Cartel?” She crossed her arms and turned away, trying to hide the fact that her chin was trembling. “You never talked to me on the phone. You’d talk to Mom and hang up before I could say anything. I should have taken it as a sign that you don’t want me around.”
“This isn’t about you, Leonora. It’s about keeping everyone safe.”
“Maybe I’d rather be in danger with my family? Have you ever thought about that? Probably not. I’m sure you don’t relate.”
An unfamiliar emotion pierced through me.
Guilt.
When our mother had left with Leonora, I had let them go. It had been easier that way. I had been stepping into my father’s role, figuring out how to lead the men, and dealing with his death. I had enough to handle. Having the women of my family on another continent had made things easier…
For me.
It clearly hadn’t made things easier for my sister.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Let’s get some rest and talk about this in the morning.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Dorian. I’m staying.”
“We’ll talk in the morning,” I gritted out.
Leonora crossed her arms. “I’ll run away before I go back to Ireland.”
“Leonora! Bed! Now!”
She flinched but quickly recovered. Her eyes narrowed. “Yes, Father.”
Her mouthing off stung. I didn’t need another reminder that he wasn’t here. My life was filled with those reminders right now.
As soon as Leonora stomped down the hall to her room, I pulled out my phone and called my mother.
“I tried to warn you,” she said before I could speak.
“Calling me fifteen minutes before she’s on my doorstep isn’t a warning.”
“I know, but I—” Her voice wavered. “I couldn’t handle it anymore, Dorian. The stress of trying to care for her was overwhelming. She needs structure. She needs a male figure in her life.”
Yes, Father.
I shook off the memory. “I’m not her father. I’m her brother.”
“You’re the closest thing she has, Dorian,” she said softly. “You’re all she has. She needs you.”
My father had raised me to take over after he was gone. My purpose had always been to lead the organization and care for the family.
This was just another part of that.
I was all they had.
“I’ll handle it,” I told her.
I had no other choice.