Page 59 of Day Shift

Nik rolled his eyes. “And we both know how that ended,” he said, his voice rising. “You took a car and wrapped it around a tree. You nearly killed yourself, Anastasia. Do you realize how lucky you are to be alive? How could you be so rash?”

“Rash?” I yelled. “The wreck wasn’t my idea of fun, Nik! Nor were the weeks since then. I had amnesia, and not one single person came to look for me, to help me. I was a destitute Jane Doe. Thank God for good people like Samantha Sheridan and the Thorin brothers, who helped me not only because it was their obligation as medical professionals, but also because they are genuinely kind people. Without them, who knows where I’d be?! And you had better believe I’ll do everything I can to protect them from Father.”

He scoffed, his gaze hardening. “You realize that those same people nearly toppled our entire family. You’re talking about loyalty to strangers who’ve been working with authorities to bring down the Volkovi Notchi. Don’t forget where your loyalty lies, Ana. Keep in mind who puts food on your table and keeps you breathing. You can’t make friends with enemies like the Thorin brothers.”

His words ignited a fire within me, and I couldn’t hold back. “So, I should just be a good little mafia princess, huh? Keep quiet and know my place?” I shoved past him, stomping toward the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator. Its cool interior was a brief respite. I grabbed a bottle of water, the plastic crinkling loudly in my grip.

“Exactly, Ana. Keep your head down so someone doesn’t take it off!” Nik called out from behind me.

I turned, water bottle in hand, my anger coiling in my gut. “And what? I should just forget that they cared for me when you didn’t?” I unscrewed the cap, my movements jerky with pent-up frustration.

Nik leaned against the doorway, his eyes shadowed, jaw clenched. “It’s not that simple, and you know it. We were born into this life, Anastasia. It’s not about what we want; it’s about survival.”

“But at what cost, Nik? At what cost?” I asked quietly, my voice breaking. I took a long gulp of water, but the cool liquid did little to quench the dryness of my throat. Fury boiled up inside me, and I hurled the bottle of water into the sink, making it explode all over the place. I grabbed a pan resting on the counter, spun around, and threw it at Nik’s head with all the rage I could muster. He deflected it effortlessly, a reminder of the lethal skills that made him so formidable.

As it clattered to the ground, he lunged forward, pinning my hands against the cool edge of the granite countertop. With his face inches from mine, he yelled, “You better start behaving, Ana!”

“Behave?” I screamed back, struggling against his iron grip. “If this wreck and losing my memory taught me anything, it’s that life’s too damn short to be miserable, to be traded among crime families like some kind of broodmare! I’m done with this mafia lifestyle, Nik. I want out. I’d rather be dead than live like this.”

“Shut the fuck up, Anastasia!” he growled. “You think you’ve had it rough? You’ve been given everything in life for free. I was left behind in Russia at the mercy of our father’s vicious hand and his every sick whim. How dare you complain?”

He leaned close again, his eyes blazing with anger. “How many men and women have you killed, Ana? How many bodies have you had to dispose of? How many times have you been beaten to within an inch of your life by not only our enemies but also by our own father?”

His questions stung. I took a deep breath, realizing how terrible Nik’s life had been since we were separated as children. Guilt flooded through me, and my rage dissipated. I stopped struggling as the reality of Nik’s life, the suffering he endured, sank in.

Nik’s body relaxed, his muscles easing as he sensed my resignation. He stepped back, releasing my hands. “Let’s go sit down in the living room and discuss everything like civilized people.”

Still frustrated but willing to listen, I wrapped my arms around myself and followed him out of the kitchen. My steps were stiff, each one heavy with the burden of our shared legacy.

As Nik and I entered the living room, I noticed the drastic changes. The decor was sharper, more masculine than I remembered from past visits. It had been stripped of the old, lavish embellishments.

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” I said.

Nik nodded, then moved further into the room. “Yeah, since Viktor was run out of Tacoma because of the incident last December, it was decided that I would take over his operations here. On our birthday, the FBI and police had just wrapped up their investigations, releasing it back to Viktor. What a coincidence, huh? He had his attorneys reorganize all his US assets, and I was here to oversee the deal. Since arriving a month ago, I’ve been doing lots of renovations so that it better fits my needs.”

Raising an eyebrow, I shot back, “Did you get the approval of the New York socialite who bought this place? Are you her lackey too?”

Nik chuckled, sinking into one of the new leather sofas, gesturing for me to join him. “You’ve got a sharp tongue, Ana. The woman who bought the estate is beautiful and smart. I’d do anything for her. She has my complete loyalty.”

Jealousy flared up inside me. “Who is she, Nik? And why would you or Viktor ever agree to sell the estate to her?”

Nik burst into laughter, which spiked my anger. Fidgeting, I reached under the collar of my shirt and pulled out my necklace, twisting it around my finger, waiting for him to stop.

He caught his breath and schooled his features. “The socialite is none other than you, Anastasia.”

I paused, processing his words. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” he said, his grin widening as he thoroughly enjoyed my confusion. “Viktor instructed his attorneys to transfer the estate and all his legal business assets into a trust with you as the sole beneficiary. Since you were raised by Aunt Elena and Luca Genovese—and you’re an American citizen with no ties to the Volkov family—you provided the perfect cover to divert the FBI’s attention. That’s why I had to make a stop in Tacoma before coming to see you in New York.”

I sank into the chair opposite him, my mind racing. “No wonder the owner refused to press charges against me for breaking in, stealing, and wrecking a car.” I chuckled. But the realization didn’t solve my bigger problem. “Nik, this is…well, I don’t know exactly how I feel about this, but I meant what I said before. I want no part of the mafia lifestyle.”

Nik’s smile faded a bit, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “But, Anastasia, we can’t just choose to say no to all of this. You don’t have the option of walking away from this family, let alone the Genoveses. And soon the Morettis, after you marry that goon.”

“I have to leave, Nik. I’ll never have a life if I’m forced to marry Frankie. We have to figure out how to get out from under it all.”

He ran a thumb across his lower lip and grimaced. “Ana, you don’t have a fucken clue what you’re asking for.”

“Then how about you enlighten me? Trust me, I’m sick and tired of being in the dark… You have no idea.”

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