Novel Palace
69
Micah
The overwhelming stench of rotting flesh greets me as I jog my way down the cellar steps. It’s dark except for a single bulb swaying from the ceiling. The door I need is on the other side of the empty room.
Boxes and pallets have been discarded. Old stains of blood mark the concrete flooring. Neither of these things account for the stink of piss mingling in the air as I get closer to the door.
It’s still early, the sun hasn’t even kissed the sky yet, but I’m wide awake. I haven’t slept. How could I with this monster still on the loose. Until I know it’s done, that Lena is completely safe, and my future is completely within my grasp, I won’t be able to relax.
I rap my knuckles on the door twice, and it opens immediately. Another dark room, but there’s more light in here.
“Micah. I’m surprised you came.” Milo Romanov, the head of the Romanov family, greets me with a handshake.
“It’s my responsibility,” I tell him as the door closes behind me. Two men stand guard, their arms folded over their chests.
“You’re not here to put up a fight then?” Milo asks in a low tenor. He’s fifteen years older than me, but the extra years have aged him twofold. Being in charge of his family has probably done him in.
Will I look so ragged and worn down in a few years?
“I’m here to take care of my business,” I say. “Nothing’s changed since we spoke last night.”
He runs his tongue over the top row of his teeth. “You don’t have to do this,” he leans in and whispers.
When he moves, I get my first glimpse of the man hunched over in a chair. His hair is wild around his hanging head. Blood drips from his mouth onto his equally bloody legs. They’ve beaten him.
“Is he still breathing?”
Milo glances over his shoulder. “Yes.”
I pull out my gun. “Good.”
“Before you do this.” Milo puts a heavy hand on my arm. “We should come to an understanding.”
I raise my eyes to his, tensing my jaw as I take in his authoritative glare. Gently I pull away from his touch.
“The only understanding we need, Milo, is you have your family and I have mine. Our businesses don’t depend on each other, and they never will.”
His eyes narrow. After a long pause he gives a small nod. “I have no problem with that. I have other suppliers. The Ivanov family is out of the trade as far as the Romanovs are concerned.”
“Good.”
He steps back from me.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
As I approach the huddled, pathetic mess of a man, he lifts his head.
“Micah.” He manages my name with a rough whisper. His good eye moves to the gun in my hand and his swollen lips spread into something like a smile. There’s so much bruising and blood, it’s not easy to look at him.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
“You tried to hurt my wife.” It’s the only statement I can think. Remembering her tied down to that medical table, seeing the tears streaking her face, and hearing her gasp for breath while trying to fight off her anxiety has my blood heated again.
He turns his attention to Milo and his guards behind me. “You aren’t here to save me.”
“I won’t let them kill you,” I say, because it’s my job. I won’t allow the Romanovs to take his life. Bound by my family’s code, I’d have to retaliate. The Ivanovs take care of their own.
I raise my gun, pointing it directly at my father’s head. My hand is steady, my finger finds the trigger.
Like a rabid animal, my father needs putting down. He’s a menace. A danger to my wife.
He looks away from me, bowing his head before me.
Lena will be safe.
I pull the trigger.
Epilogue
Lena
Six months later
“Micah, can’t you yell at Niko later?” I place my hand on his thigh as Luka, our driver for the day, parks the SUV in front of Dominik’s house.
Micah rattles off what I assume is a few more insults in Russian into his cellphone then hangs up.
“You’re being grumpy,” I chide him with a smile. He’s been stressed. Handling the Ivanov businesses while trying to expand the legitimate side wears on him. “Trust Niko.” I slide across the seat and climb out of the car. “He doesn’t need his hand held at every turn.”
Micah grabs my hand and squeezes. “And since when do you lecture me on behavior?”
My cheeks heat at the implication. There’s still tenderness in my ass from this morning.
“Since you’re taking your stress out on Niko.”
He sighs as we reach the front door. “Once this restaurant opens, it will be easier.”
“Things will never be easy, Micah. You’re running two empires at the same time.” I ring the bell.
“It will work out.” He squeezes my hand again, a signal to drop the conversation as the door opens.
Kasia greets us with a wide smile and big hugs before leading us to the back of the house where the rest of my family is already hanging around the kitchen.
“Micah. Lena.” My father smiles as he stuffs a cookie into his mouth. These family gatherings have become more difficult to schedule.
“Where’s Jakub?” I ask, noticing my brother is missing.
Dominik waves at the back door. “On the porch. Something at the club needed his attention.”
“Jakub is good with the management of the club.” I hint, nudging Micah with my elbow. He raises an eyebrow at me, then goes over to the fridge to get himself something to drink.
“Lena. Do you think you can spend some time at the Staszek house this week? One of my volunteers had to cancel,” Kasia asks while fixing a salad.
“Sure. I have a pretty easy week.”
“Great.”
Jakub slams the porch door when he returns.
“Hey. Watch the door,” Dominik barks at him.
“Sorry,” Jakub mutters.
“What’s wrong at the club?” I ask, settling into one of the island stools.
“The new night manager I hired-” He cuts himself off and takes a deep breath. “Nothing. Just personnel issues.”
Dominik rolls his eyes. “He hired the first woman he interviewed and then wonders why she can’t manage her way out of a room with one door.”
“Is she pretty?” I ask with a laugh.
Jakub flashes me a glare.
I laugh harder. “She is.”
“I’m going to have to hire someone else.”
“Just make sure you get someone you can trust.” My father wags his finger at him. “And no one with drama. You need someone who keeps their nose on their own papers.”
“I’ll get someone,” Jakub assures us then grabs a beer from the fridge. “When is dinner?”
Kasia looks at the oven. “An hour?”
Micah hands me a glass of wine.
“Micah. Your father’s house is still for sale?” My father brings up the one subject that will put Micah in a sour mood. After we buried Roman, Micah put the estate up for sale, not wanting to step foot on the property again.
“Did you want to buy it?” Micah asks, thankfully keeping his tone somewhat light.
Dad laughs. “No, of course not.”
Jakub’s phone goes off again. “For fuck’s sake. I’m getting a new manager tomorrow.” He takes the call and stomps off into the living room to deal with the new drama.
Dominik hugs Kasia and whispers something into her ear that makes her blush.
“Lena.” Micah nudges me. “You aren’t jealous of that, are you?” he whispers into my ear and points toward my brother. “Because if you want me to make you blush up to your ears, just let me know. I think I can manage pretty well.”
Just the prospect of what he might say has my face heated.
He chuckles. “Damn, I’m good.”
I roll my eyes and take a sip of my wine. He is good. Damn good, but there will be no living with him if I let him get too big of an ego.
“You’re impossible.” I try to push him away, but he’s being playful.
“I am, I agree.” He kisses my temple. “And you wouldn’t have me any other way.”
He’s right.
I hide my smile behind my wineglass.
“I need a drink,” my father mutters and stalks out of the room. He’s probably searching out Dominik’s private stash.
“I don’t think he likes seeing me touch you,” Micah jokes.
“He’s not the only one,” Dominik says from the other side of the kitchen island.
“Well, if it upsets you, big brother…” I turn in my stool and grab Micah’s shirt, pulling him down toward me as I reach up and kiss him.
“Such a damn brat,” Dominik remarks.
Micah smiles down at me. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he whispers.
The End of book 2 continue reading for book 3. Do read my other works as well. Search for Roxy and you’ll get all my works. I love you all. Thank you so much for supporting me.