Page 60 of Day Shift

Nik sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’d do anything for you, but what you’re asking for is nearly impossible. I’m not in a position to fight our father yet.”

The word yet hung between us, loaded with potential.

“Yet?” I prodded. “Have you been thinking of a way out?”

He had just opened his mouth to reply when his phone rang. Snatching it from the coffee table, he glanced at the screen, his expression turning solemn. “I have to take this, Ana.”

I stared at him, raising a questioning brow, but he held up a finger to his lips as he answered the call. My stomach twisted when I recognized the booming Russian voice on the other end. But before I could react, Nik shot me a brutal look, signaling me to stay quiet. It was Viktor. He was demanding an update on—me.

“She’s out of the hospital and made it through the arraignment,” Nik said, “but she’s not herself. She’s in a rehab center now and still has amnesia. She didn’t even recognize me at the arraignment.” His tone was laced with feigned frustration.

I listened, heart pounding, as Nik continued weaving his story. “The girl doesn’t know who the hell she is. There’s no way she can marry Frankie Moretti a week from now.”

Viktor’s voice roared back, loud enough for me to hear every venomous word. “I don’t care if the bitch can’t put two sentences together! She’s going to marry Frankie, and on time. I don’t care if that girl is a babbling idiot. You make that wedding happen.”

Nik’s jaw clenched. “I get it, but she’s a mess. How do you expect—”

“I said make it happen, Nikolai!” Viktor bellowed. “And those Thorin bastards, deal with them! I want them dead. No more delays!”

“Yes, sir.”

Viktor said slowly and ominously, “Figure it out and make the wedding happen. And if she’s of no value to the family, kill her.” With that, he hung up, leaving a heavy silence in the room.

I shuddered, the chill of his words slicing through my chest. It was one thing to have secondhand knowledge about the ruthlessness of my father, but hearing him speak of me so dismissively, so coldly—it cut deeper than I could have imagined.

I swallowed hard, the reality of my situation setting in. “Nik, I…I have to warn Conan, Atticus, Samantha, and Braxton. They’ve been nothing but kind to me, and now they’re in danger—because of me.”

Nik’s face tightened as his brow furrowed. “I’m sorry you heard all that, Ana. But that’s who Viktor is. He’s a merciless killer. But at least now you know he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

I nodded, my thoughts racing. The idea of bringing danger to those who had helped me was unbearable. “Sam and the Thorins need to know who I am—everything. Even if it means they’ll hate me afterward. I can’t let them get hurt. I’ve got to warn them.”

Nik leaned back into the sofa, his face shadowed with concern. “You’ve always been too kind for our world, Anastasia. It’s why I’ve done everything to keep you out of it.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “I can’t believe how naÏve I’ve been. All these years, I thought Mother and Father cared, at least in their own way.”

Nik’s eyes were full of sorrow. He seemed exhausted from the burden of a life spent living under the thumb of our father. Despite everything he had been through, Nik was still my brother, and we were in this together. “And you’ve been stuck dealing with him, all because he wants to keep me as a bargaining chip. It’s not fair to you either, Nik.”

Nik shook his head. “It’s been my life’s mission to keep you as far away from the family business as possible. Viktor has used the threat of involving you to keep me in line.”

My heart broke. My brother had borne so much to protect me. “Nik, I had no idea…”

He sighed, a rare vulnerability softening his features. “Walking in Viktor’s footsteps, constantly having to prove my loyalty…it’s exhausting. But what choice do I have? He’s not just our father; he’s a vicious killer to those who cross him.”

We were both trapped in this life, victims of a merciless family legacy.

Nik suggested we go fix some lunch, and I agreed, needing something to distract me from the heaviness of our conversation. He mentioned he could use a glass of vodka, which didn’t surprise me.

As we moved around the kitchen, prepping for a salad, Nik reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of Beluga Gold, then poured himself a generous glass. His movements were mechanical, the tension in his shoulders speaking volumes. He took a deep swig before putting a couple of pieces of chicken onto the pan to grill; the sizzle filling the silence between us.

“You ever hear the story about how you ended up in America, Ana?” Nik asked finally, his eyes not meeting mine as he pointed to a cucumber for me to slice.

I picked it up and shook my head, focusing on chopping. “Not really. Just bits and pieces.”

Nik washed and dried his hands before leaning against the counter, then took another slug of the vodka. “Viktor wanted to infiltrate the American Genovese family, because of their ties to the world’s most powerful politicians, and form an alliance they couldn’t deny. Valentina’s sister Elena secured a marriage to Luca Genovese and built his trust over the years. When Elena found out she couldn’t have kids, she and our mother came up with the idea of bringing you to America. You were put in an American boarding school, adopted by the Genoveses, and given a new name and an American passport. From the beginning, the plan was for you to marry into one of the other powerful American mafia families and establish a formidable alliance.”

“The marriage contract. That’s what it all comes down to,” I guessed, already dreading the answer.

“Exactly.” Nik nodded grimly. “Last year, Frankie Moretti surfaced as their ideal candidate. He isn’t exactly Mr. Popular, given his…let’s just say, less-than-attractive attributes. As you know, he’s not exactly sought after by the ladies, given his looks and personality. But he’s valuable as the Moretti’s bean counter. Plus, the Morettis are muscle, not masterminds.”

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