Chapter 106
I stared at the papers in my hand. Ria, somehow, had finagled an early release from the hospital. With the condition that she would come by every week to make sure she was healing properly. Now though, we were facing the black SUV that would take us to my brother. Her hand slipped into mine and she squeezed it. Really, it should have been her that was afraid. Instead, I was the one hesitating.
Kam came up behind us. “Come on. I have to go too.”
I helped Ria into the back seat with Kam before I walked around and got in the front with Wren. He was one of Juri’s men who did a lot of his driving. Keenan had been the only one to come to the hospital. Lec or Boris hadn’t shown up, which disappointed me a bit. Still, their oath was to the bratva, not to me directly.
The ride was quiet and I kept glancing back at Ria. Her elbow was on the windowsill and her chin resting in her hand, looking at the city. I never really thought I would get here. Where I would put someone above the bratva, above my family. Even Maria, growing up together and me thinking I was utterly in love with her, I’d never have chosen her over the bratva. Not back then and not now.
Ria was a different story. I loved her completely. Trusted her completely. She continued to put me and my family first. Continued to save us from our own folly. Would that be enough to make a case to Juri? There was a reason why I chose not to tell him and it was because I knew the answer was no.
“We are here.”
The usually long ride felt the shortest it ever had. Getting out, I walked around and helped Ria out of the car. She wasn’t supposed to jump or put too much strain on her leg muscles. Even stairs needed to be taken at a slower pace. Kam slammed the door on the other side and stalked into the house ahead of us.
With my hand on the small of Ria’s back, we walked into the house. There were a lot of people mulling about. My eyes caught Zann in the corner but quickly he looked down and away from me. I sighed and focused on helping Ria up the stairs. Apparently we were meeting in Juri’s office, not the meeting room. Ria didn’t even flinch or slow down as she stepped up the stairs.
Just before we got to the office door, I stopped her and kissed her. “No matter what happens in there, I am yours. I will always choose you. I will always protect you. Do you understand?”
I needed her to understand. I needed her to know I would never abandon her.
“Marek, it’s okay…”
Shaking my head, I went down on one knee before her. “Ria, you are my family. You are my future and my everything. I need you to know that no matter what, everything I do will be to protect you. I will never abandon you.”
Tears filled her eyes but I watched as she swallowed them back. “You are my sword, my shield, and my pen. Whenever I need you.”
I nodded and tucked some of her hair behind her head. “Exactly. Nichto iz togo, chto oni mogut skazat', ne izmenit etogo. YA obeshchayu tebe.” [Nothing they can say will change that. I promise you.]
She tried to smile but it was strained. “You’re scaring me.”
Kissing her lips, I took her hands and kissed them as well. “Because I’m scared.”
Her eyes widened. “I’ll be your sword and shield as well. I’ll be your rock. Your anchor. You’re the only one for me, muzh. I’ll give everything for you.”
“I know. That’s what I’m afraid of. In there, let me handle it. I need you to let me take control.”
“Alright.” Ria whispered quietly and I kissed her.
Getting up, I pulled her closer to me before opening the office door. Stepping in, I readied myself. Kaz was standing to the right of Juri, Lev sitting in the window on the left side. Kam was leaning against the bookshelf with her arms crossed over her chest. Boris was also there, looming in the corner. Everyone was behind Juri who was sitting at his desk like usual. His eyes lifted up to mine and I pulled Ria closer, making sure to have my hand almost around her waist.
“Marek, Rosaria, I’m sure you know why I’ve called you here.”
Standing up straighter, I nodded to him. “Why don’t you tell us so everyone can be on the same page?”
“Boris has told me that Rosaria was hiding a bit of a secret. One that is far bigger than anything I could have even imagined. Isn’t that right, Rosaria?” I felt her shiver but before she could answer, Juri turned to me. “How long have you known, Marek? That Rosaria was Kharon.”
“Months.”
Juri scowled and he looked livid. “And you didn’t think to tell your Vor this very crucial information?”
“I thought about it and decided it was better that I didn’t tell you.”
His fist slammed on the desk. “Why the hell would you think that? This is Kharon! The boogie man! Literally the one name that will make even the hardest bosses piss themselves.”
“Because she was forced to be Kharon. Used by her father to be a contract killer. She doesn’t want that. I don’t want that for her. I wanted to save you the feeling that you had Kharon in your hands but didn’t want to force something on her.”
He threw his head back and laughed, making me tighten my grip on Ria. “Save me the feeling? Of course we would use her! Are you kidding me? This is Kharon. This isn’t some third-rate assassin! The other families will bend the knee the moment they find out we have her under our control.”
“I don’t want to do it.” Ria’s voice was small but it didn’t shake. “I…I wanted to retire the name of Kharon. I don’t…I don’t want to continue being that person.”
Juri was quiet for a moment as he looked at the two of us. “Why would you let such a skill go to waste? You’re nineteen. You’re young. Retirement should be much later when your skills are well past your peak.”
She shook her head. “Please, Vor. It was something that my father forced me to do. Something that he used my family against me. I just…want to help my family as Rosaria.”
“Absolutely not. You are Kharon and I will use you as such.”
“You will not.” My voice rose and everyone in the room shifted.
Juri cocked his head to the side. “That wasn’t a request. That was an order.”
“And I’m telling you no. Kharon is as good as dead. Kharon died when Rosaria sent a rocket into that house. That is the end of it.”
“You don’t get a say in this, Marek. I’m Vor and this is what is best for our family! This will protect lives! This will make sure we stay on top and we continue to be on top.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care about being on top. You never did either. We know our place. We know what we are willing to do to make sure we keep it. We aren’t crossing that line, Juri.”
He lobbed one of the paperweights on his desk at me but I didn’t even move as it shattered behind me. “I am Vor! You swore an oath to me! What do I need to do to get you to listen?”
Ria was shaking next to me and I rubbed my thumb against her back. “Vor…please...”
“What do I need to do to get you bend to my will?”
“Juri, that’s enough. You’re going too far.” I looked at my brothers and sisters, who all looked genuinely shocked.
Juri leaned back in his seat and laced his fingers together. “Alright. How about this? I take your first born, I’ll raise them, and then you can earn visitation by doing jobs for me.”
Ria’s back snapped straight and suddenly her hand grabbed my pant leg tightly. My eyes narrowed and I felt anger start to boil in me. Kam looked horrified, as did Lec. Kaz stared at Juri with his mouth open.
“Wait…Juri…that’s…that’s too much.” Kaz stepped forward. “You can’t be stealing your own brother’s future children.”
“It’s not that far, not according to Kamilia.”
I looked up at my sister and then down at Ria. Her head looked up to me and the fear in her eyes made me livid. Tears streamed down as she silently cried. Pulling her to my side, I let her bury her face in my shirt.
“Oh shit…Marek, you didn’t know? Congratulations, you’re going to be father. Kamilia confirmed it when Rosaria escaped the clutches of her brother.”
My heart beat hard in my chest. I was going to be a father. Looking down at Ria, I realized this had gone on for too long. Shaking my head, I pushed the thoughts of a child to the back of mind. I would deal with that later.
“I am calling The Contract into effect. Ria and I are leaving the bratva.”