Page 23 of Slipping into the Dark Side

“What are you asking me, Papa?”

“Don’t play coy. Have you given yourself to him?”

Outrage blared on her face, and she screeched. “Of course not!”

“What else could he want with you? I know his reputation. Why do you think I’ve done all I can to keep you away from the likes of him? Have you been to his house? Without Fedor?”

“No! Stop talking to me like I’m one of your whores!”

A hard slap across her face caused a sharp yelp, and she fell against the wall. She lowered her head, trying to hide herself from him. The humiliation boiled her. He hadn’t hit her since she was a little kid. Nevsky paced, running a hand through his hair. “Yakov Morozov is a killer, Tati. He’s more dangerous than you can understand. Do not go near him. You hear me?”

Tatianna dug her nails into her knees as she stared up at him. “Yes.”

Nevsky sighed. “I’ll talk to him. Make him understand.” He took a deep breath before looking down at her again. “I love you, sweetheart. But you better not have put our family at risk.”

Chapter eleven

Attempt

Yakov stood beside the window, scrutinizing his guests as they arrived at the club. It’s been months since their last meeting, and the death of Demir Utkins caused a substantial strain between him and his captains. They feared him, but they also saw him as an impulsive child. Now, months later, all the improvements have not changed their perspective.

Didn’t they realize Yarsoslav left Yakov in charge for a reason? He was the son who always watched, always learned, always questioned, and never stayed silent. Even when his older brother was right beside him, telling him to shut up and to go away. Yefim despised him because Yakov was always around.

Now, it was time to implement all that he had learned. He was given the world in his hands, and he was going to twist it whichever way the sun shined best.

They would understand soon. Perhaps with this very meeting.

If only he could concentrate on the speeches he was about to make and not about one insignificant girl.

Yakov was aggravated with himself for being so hung up on a woman. It had gotten to a point where sex wasn’t worth the effort it took to mentally get involved. Too many times, he found himself pushing women out of his room. If it kept going, there would be rumors that he was incompetent or gay.

Yakov felt pathetic admitting that after he kissed Tatianna the other day, he had waited in the car. He thought, just maybe, she’d come racing out after him. And even in the days that followed, he imagined she’d come charging in every time the front door opened. It was a new all-time low for him.

Luerna entered his office with a baby in her arms. Despite how Yakov warned how dangerous it was, she liked to get away from the house often. No amount of death threats could keep her locked in a home with six kids all day. “Everyone is almost here.”

Yakov tore his eyes from the window to watch her. She wore a long dress down to her ankles, and her long blond hair was free down her back. She smiled at him knowingly, and he narrowed his gaze. “What?”

“You waiting for her?”

With a roll of his eyes, he shoved away from the window and sat at his desk. “No,” he stubbornly replied.

“Why do you think you can lie to me, little brother?” With a bit of coaxing, Luerna forced her baby into his arms. Yakov hated holding babies, but her look of contentment as she sat back and stared was enough to allow it. “You are gonna be a crappy father with that pout on your face.”

He tried to fix his expression as he looked down at the kid, but babies were a waste of time. When they were grown, he’d put more effort into it, but as of now, it was utterly pointless to be around them.

“Please be careful today,” Luerna whispered as she touched her baby’s forehead. “You aren’t liked very much right now.”

“Security is removing everyone’s weapons.”

“We had a treaty with the Rostovas. If they find out you had anything to do with it, there will be problems. And what if they kill Yefim?”

“I gave Yefim enough warning, but I advised him to stay. If he left, they would know it was me.”

“They’ll hurt him.”

“But without proof, they can’t kill him.”

“So you think. What if they don’t care about proof? I know you want to prove yourself to Father, but I don’t think this was the best way to go about it.”

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