Page 221 of The Umarova Crime Family

She told me my biological mother gave her two million dollars as a one-time payment for “adopting” me and that she sent one hundred thousand every year as a bonus to keep her happy. So, if you add all that up, my adoptive mother was making roughly two hundred and eleven thousand per year, and she had a job on top of all that. She was making bank, truly.

Ambros was around when I took the phone call. I spoke in Czech since that is my first language, with English as my second, and I’ve been teaching myself Russian over the last couple of years via an app on my phone. He didn’t understand one word I was saying, so I explained after I got off the phone with her. I was naturally upset, and he wanted to help, to be there for me in case I needed to vent.

The truth is, I didn’t even know what I should have vented about, so I explained it to him. I told him every single detail I knew. By the time we got down to the nitty gritty about the whole thing, I was questioning whether or not my adoptive mother even cared. Was I just a job to her?

So now, I’m sitting in Ambros’ living room texting my best friend, Yara, when out of nowhere, she calls me. “Yara, hey!” I haven’t actually spoken on the phone with her in a couple of weeks. She’s been so busy, and my life has been crazy too.

“Hello there. Tell me, how are you? I’m so sorry I haven’t called. Things have been nuts, and I’m in desperate need of a break… so do you know what that means?” There’s a playful tone in Yara’s voice, and I can only think of one thing.

“You’re coming to Grozny?” Please let it be true. God, please let it be true!

“I sure am! I’ll be there in a few days around dinner time.”

“Okay, awesome. You know my family normally does our weekly dinners together on Sundays, but since I’m in Mykonos with Ambros, they moved it to later in the week. We’re actually heading back to Grozny today.”

“How was your trip? Did you guys do anything fun?”

“Did we? The entire trip was a blast. I did meet Ambros’ father and had some words with him.” I don’t know how much information I want to give Yara, but I don’t want to lie to her either.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I need details.”

I suck in a sharp breath and huff. “Let’s just say his father didn’t think I was good enough for his son.”

Yara’s silent on the other end of the line, and then I hear her unmistakable laughter. “You? Not good enough. That’s absolutely ludicrous.”

“Exactly, and I put him right in his place, too. There’s no way in hell I was going to let someone make me feel like I’m not good enough.”

“Good for you. I have to be honest with you. I think finding out about your real family is the best thing that ever happened to you. When you were only Xava Beno, you didn’t really give a damn. You let people walk all over you, left and right. It’s like when you discovered you were an Umarova, it gave you this backbone. You needed it. It’s the one thing I always worried about with you.”

“That I’d be a pushover, really?”

Ambros is sitting across the room texting on his phone, and at my words, he looks up at me, almost as if he’s concerned. I wave my hand in dismissal so he knows everything is fine.

“In a way, yes. You’ve been the kindest person I’ve ever known throughout all our years. I’ve always been worried about you in a way, but I’m not worried about you anymore. Not in the least bit.”

Ambros rises from his seat and comes over to me. “Xava, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to head to the airport.”

“Shoot, Yara. I have to go. I’ll chat with you later, though, okay?” I say to her, and we quickly say our goodbyes before we leave the house. Rolando already packed the vehicle, so my bags are right where they need to be, and we’re heading to a private airstrip on the other side of Mykonos.

Ruslan had a plane the family owns come in late last night so I could be taken back home today. Ambros offered to have one of his take me home, but Ruslan said since Ambros’ plane is what we used to go to Mykonos, we should use one my family owns to bring me back home. I don’t really care whose plane we use as long as I get back home.

The private airport is only a ten-minute ride, and I soak up all the scenery while I can. I doubt it will be my last time here, yet I want to enjoy it all the same.

We arrive at the airport and get out of the vehicle, then we all head inside as Rolando checks in with the people who work here, letting them know we’re ready to leave. Rolando’s stuck speaking with someone, and Ambros slides a hand around my waist, then takes me over to a seating area where we can look out at the airstrip.

I spot our plane and point it out to Ambros, and almost on cue, it explodes. Ambros grabs onto my body, and we hit the ground. The windows break around us, and sirens go off, screeching and echoing through the space. The plane wasn’t too close to the building, yet the force of the explosion was enough to cause the windows to burst and these sirens to go off.

Ambros stands up and grabs my hand, pulling me off the ground, and I stick close to him. The plane is nothing more than pieces of metal.

Everything happens in the blink of an eye. Ambros keeps me with him, and Rolando is already in the car. I don’t even know where Ambros’ usual driver is. Maybe he’s having Rolando drive us because he finally realizes Rolando will be going everywhere with me. Nevertheless, at least we’re getting out of here.

“W-what the fuck just h-happened?” I stammer out, completely overwhelmed by what just transpired.

“I’m not sure. I’m calling your brother right now,” Ambros tells me as he fishes his phone out of his pocket, taps on the screen, and then presses it against his ear.

Ambros ends up putting it on speakerphone, and as soon as Ruslan answers, I speak. “Ruslan, our fucking plane just blew to bits at the airport!” There’s no hiding the shock and fear in my voice. I’m terrified, and rightfully so. This is the second huge thing that has happened around me in the last couple of weeks. First was the shooting attempt, and now this. What else is going to happen?

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

---