Page 73 of Trapping His Assassin

I was in love with my wife. I looked at my father for his guidance, but his look wasn’t reassuring.

A shocked expression took over Alexie’s face. “Am I such an unfeeling monster, that you think I would send you off to your possible death without standing right there beside you?”

The men observed the tense standoff between Alexie and me, as we stood almost toe to toe outside. This was one of the reasons I traveled so much. We fought far too often for anything to get done.

Alexie approached and lowered his voice, so only Valentina could hear him. “Have I made you question my loyalty?” Pain flashed on his face.

I didn’t want to admit it out loud, as it would make me seem vulnerable, but my loyalty was never in question.

“You don’t think I love you?”

Sloane gasped as she approached, catching the tail end of Alexie’s sentence.

“You don’t act like it,” I coughed out.

Benedikt broke in between us. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

We all followed him below deck to a small office. There weren’t enough chairs. I let all the old men sit down first. Valentina and I stood. Sloane sat in the seat meant for Alexie, propping her feet up on the table, but my father walked over to her and picked her up, dropping her on his lap with a grunt.

Benedikt cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is in here. We need to come up with a plan of attack. But that won’t work if we are at each other’s throats. Hash your shit out.” He pointed back and forth between Alexie and me.

“How could you think I don’t love you?” Alexie mumbled. His eyes wouldn’t focus as he scrubbed a hand down the side of his face.

My hands shook as I spoke, my voice trembling with anger. “You may have rescued me from the streets, but you only saw me as a pawn to use in your game.” The silence that followed was palpable, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me except for Valentina’s. Her expression was one of bewilderment, as she tried to make sense of my sudden outburst. It took several moments for Alexie to regain his composure and respond.

“I know I handled it poorly, but Roman, you are like a son to me. You always have been.”

My words caught in my throat and I tried to choke them out, “Then give me your kingdom peacefully. Don’t fight, just go.” The shock on Alexie’s face mirrored my surprise at what had escaped my lips.

“What?” he stuttered, clearly confused by my request. “You thought I would betray you? Go back on my word?

Well, I’ve already started, so I may as well end it. “To put it bluntly, yes. I want you and Sloane to retire in Russia. Viktor needs you to help him at the helm.”

Alexie’s eyes narrowed as he realized what this was. “So, everyone agrees?”

I shook my head. “You want me to train your future son? I can’t do that until I am on my own. Free without you sheltering. I need to spread my wings and come into my power. Look at it this way, you are being welcomed home, and you got to keep your head on your shoulders.”

Alexie’s head bobbed up and down. “I can see you’ve thought about this a lot. Other than leaving, which will kill me to do, because I do love you, son. What else do you need from me to support you?”

This time the words dried in my throat in shock. I knew Alexie wasn’t going to be completely on board. At least I thought I knew. Something had to be wrong. He should be raging about how he needed to stay here in America.

No one expected him to concede.

Benedikt interjected. “You’ll have to help him forge new alliances and treaties. Things are heating up in Russia. I’m needed here, and you are needed there.” Forging on, I added. “Uncle Benedikt could always stay for a while, and make sure that the switch goes over without a hitch.”

Alexie’s intense gaze locked onto mine, and I saw the pain etched into his features. The faint, jagged scar that ran down his cheek seemed to pulsate with each passing second. Deep furrowslined his mouth, and his jaw was clenched tightly. He glanced over at Sloane, whose hand rested protectively on her belly. Her distant expression matched Alexie’s troubled one, and I could see him fighting to keep his emotions in check.

“What do you think?” Alexie whispered in Sloane’s ear, but I could still hear him.

I was floored. He even asked her opinion.

“I would like to see your home country again. You know this place has nothing but bad memories.” Sloane sighed, her shoulders slumping.

“I can have your father’s grave moved there permanently if you want,” Alexie offered.

Sloane lit up. “You would?” She laid kisses all over his face while thanking him.

Benedikt reminded us why we were all gathered in the next heartbeat. “Can we talk about the game plan to take down this fucking Headmaster Mikhail?”

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