Page 104 of Wicked Arrangement

Papa argued that the family fortune was divided equally between them. But Innokentiy denied it, he claimed Papa had other money hidden elsewhere. That’s when Papa revealed what he’d discovered. He knew that Innokentiy had been embezzling and taking money from the family for years. Papa said Innokentiy’s greed and gambling were what was stopping the family from achieving greatness. That if he had hidden money, it was for his own good.

Innokentiy was furious. He denied everything, ranting and raving about how his brother had betrayed him before storming out. I was able to sneak into the shadows just in time before he saw me.

One week later our parents died.

Every night I searched Papa’s office for the evidence he claimed to have. I felt horrible abandoning you when the nightmares got even worse, but I had to know. I had to prove who killed them, but someone got there first. I had no proof. I knew Innokentiy was a traitor and that he was responsible for the death of our parents. I was determined to prove it.

Innokentiy was equally determined to keep me away from you, to stop me from being able to find out the truth. But I never stopped searching for evidence of his deceit.

I sit for a moment, taking in Marta’s words. I remember that night, waking and feeling afraid after another nightmare and Marta wasn’t there. The next morning, my father had seemed upset, Marta too, and I wondered if she’d been caughtsneaking around. Then our parents died, and even though the nightmares got worse, Marta stopped coming to my room at night.

Now I know she must have been using the time to look for evidence. My heart breaks for poor young Marta, single-handedly trying to get justice for our parents and no one believing her, being sent away to another country and cut off from the family. How did I not see it before? Because I felt abandoned by her, the lack of those nighttime visits was the start and Innokentiy fueled that belief.

I read on, she talks of her hurt, her rage, and her efforts to find the truth. As I get closer to more recent times, I’m eager to find out more about what she learned, and what her life was like, before we saw each other again.

I thought that perhaps Innokentiy gave up his pursuit of power, that he was happy working under you as you didn’t know his true nature, giving him more control than Papa had ever done. But then, after I heard about the bombing of your car and the attempt on your life in Atlanta, I knew even oceans of distance between you hadn’t stopped Innokentiy from trying to reach his goal. He’d just been taking his time.

I looked into it and my suspicions were correct. The Petrov family were behind the attack. This means Innokentiy gave them a reason to want you dead and put him in charge, he had to be behind it. Presumably, the promise of more power or a faked insult from you against them would have been all it took.

I read through all of the evidence Marta compiled, it seems her suspicions were sound. I can’t argue that it appears as though the Petrovs orchestrated the attack, not Sharkozi asI suspected. But why? I doubt Innokentiy’s word alone would have been enough or the desire for him to have more power wouldn’t either, otherwise they’d have made a move years ago. I read on, hoping Marta might offer a theory.

It was when I discovered who Innokentiy’s mistress really was that I realized what a dangerous game Innokentiy’s been playing. She isn’t a nobody.

She’s Sharkozi’s daughter.

If the Petrovs find out. They’ll not only kill him, they’ll take down the entire family.

On the next page, there’s a photo of Innokentiy and his kids, but in this photo, there’s a woman I recognize too, Helena Sharkozi. Marta was right, Innokentiy has been the traitor all along. I have what I need to take Innokentiy down, but how do I do that without incurring the wrath of the Petrovs?

Although I couldn’t find proof against Innokentiy, I found something far more valuable. Information. Papa had something on each of the big families, leverage against them all. I think Papa wanted to hide it from Innokentiy, that’s why I took it. It was meant for you, of that I’m certain. Do you remember that antique pendant of the family crest, the one that’s been in the family for generations that Papa always wore? It turns out it was a key. It unlocked a hidden safe where the information was kept.

I remember the exact pendant, I have it kept in a safe in my room. I never did understand why my father was so adamant this would belong to me someday and always stressed its importance. Now I know. I assume Innokentiy knew itsimportance, he’s often dropped hints about how he’d like it as a keepsake and I don’t wear it.

I’m sorry, but I took it all. I couldn’t risk it falling into Innokentiy’s hands, I hope you understand. I’ve encrypted all of the information onto a flash drive, my own modernized version if you will.

This is the key to taking down everyone. And to keep our family safe.

If you’re reading this, brother, then I must be dead. Know this, I have never stopped loving you or David. I miss you every day.

Underneath this, there is a seemingly random jumble of words, numbers, and symbols. A code. I recognize it as one Marta and I used as kids. I quickly figure it out.

It’s the location of a safety deposit box.

The flash drive isn’t here. This must be where it is.

The key to solving all of this.

Chapter 53

Yaroslav

I’ve been biding my time, waiting for the right time to strike. Mine and Kim’s plan is going well so far, Sharkozi seems to be buying it. After reading Marta’s diary and learning about the flash drive, the first thing I wanted to do was rush to the safety deposit box, but I had to be careful not to get followed.

Whether by intention or design, I also happen to have a security box of my own here. Perhaps Marta knew and thought it would arouse less suspicion, or it was just divine luck. Either way, I decided to access it too while I’m here.

First, I access Marta’s box. Luckily, I must be an approved user as, using the code Marta left me, I’m easily given access. After the professional teller discreetly leaves me alone in the room, I open the box.

Inside are just two items. A simple yet beautifully engraved locket on a silver necklace, and a plain black USB drive. Marta is smart, I suspect the USB is either a decoy or contains additional information. It’s the necklace that intrigues me. It’s valuable, but not enough to warrant being held in a safety deposit box. My curiosity piqued, I open the locket.

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