Page 28 of My Wild Horse King

Though I suppose Mom’s trust fund was probably substantial, and she did manage to use all of that in a short span of years.

One thing Grandfatherneverbrooks is any kind of personal criticism. Pointing out that Kristiana is his blood won’t help. Defending her is pointless. She came here and caused all this mess—she can deal with me hanging it around her neck. “I will get her to leave as soon as possible,” I say. “She brought quite a few friends, and they appear to have some kind of dispute with the current leader of Russia.”

“He did steal the country from one of her friends, according to my sources. The would-be Romanov heir is marrying her best friend’s sister.”

“Yes,” I say, lowering my voice a bit. As always, Grandfather is shockingly well-informed. “He’s here too.”

“Get rid of all of them. Associating with them will make investors very nervous. And if they get nervous, and they look into Daniel Belmont and his background. . .”

It’s bad for all of us, but most especially for business.

Russia hasn’t been in good standing for a while, but it’s only gotten worse lately.

And of course, politics aside, I’m well aware that Grandfather thinks any connection to my Latvian family would be the worst thing in the world. He’s essentially eliminated all ties between Dad and him. “Don’t worry,” I say. “I won’t let them drag me down, not when I’m so close to finally taking this company public. Not when I can finally show you that I’m competent and capable.”

“Someone who can’t manage their own family isn’t competent,” Grandfather says.

I’m aware he cut off his own daughter because he felt she couldn’t be reliably managed. How could I ever forget that? “Believe me. I know how serious it is to you,” I say.

He hangs up.

I’m standing in front of my apartment building, staring at Norm’s concerned face. He’s even come outside to make sure I’m alright. “Your friends are all back?” He looks nervous, and maybe he should. He must have been the one to let that Katerina lunatic up to my apartment earlier.

If she hadn’t shown upjust then, that stupid Agent Price would have left, and I never would have been hauled down to be interrogated. Grandfather would not have lost it, and the only thing I would’ve botched was the Black Rock meeting. Even so, I shoo him back inside. “Give us a minute to talk out here.”

He bobs his head and heads back into the lobby.

It hits me then, how catastrophically bad this whole day really has been. Grandfather always overreacts to everything, so I’m used to him yelling at me, but I’m going to be on the news and in trending social media posts and articles, and not for anything good. No, the day that should have been a coup for me, the day my IPO was approved and the dissemination of information about Trifecta began, the day I had an early meeting with one of the biggest purchasers of publicly traded companies, I bailed on the meeting, and then got arrested.

“Gustav.” Kristiana’s hand on my shoulder is the last straw. She’s acting likeI’mthe problem, like it’smy faultthings are falling apart, or like I have some kind of bizarre obligation to help her. I spin around, my jaw muscle twitching.

“Watch yourself.” Aleksandr’s suddenly there, looming over me, acting like he might. . .what? Pummel me for being threatening around my own sister?

“I don’t attack women.” I curl my lip with disgust. “And I would never harm Kris.”

“Yes.” Aleksandr nods. “You’d simply ignore all her calls, texts, and messages while she pleads for your help.” He’s scowling like I’m a villain.

“I have my own life,” I say. “Kris is a big girl. I knew she didn’t need me.”

“You know nothing about her,” Aleks says softly. “And if it were up to me, you’d continue to know nothing about her. You’re a waste of space.” He turns around and starts to walk away.

Kris barely whispers his name. “Aleksandr.”

He freezes, his shoulders drooping.

“Please.” Her voice is so soft, I wonder whether I’m imagining it.

But Aleksandr acts like he’s on a leash that’s been tugged. He turns around slowly, his head bowed. “We will stay with you, and we will keep your ungrateful, unworthy life safe.”

“Oh, how wonderful for me,” I say. “Won’t that just be a total delight?”

Aleks steps closer. “I love your sister.” He exhales slowly. “I love her more than an arthropod like you could possibly comprehend.” He smiles, now, but it spreads across his face slowly and painfully, like a spreading bruise, not a sign of his joy. “You will listen to her, and we will keep you safe, no matter how little you deserve our protection. But you willnotdisrespect her again, or I will bury you.”

The way he says it, he willburyme, it sounds like he means it. “I’ve had more than ten years of martial arts training.” I roll my shoulders. “I’m sure you’re a very scary Russian man, but I assure you. I’m not easy to bury.” I lean toward him, expecting him to give at least a little.

It’s like I’m threatening a brick wall. He just glowers.

“He literally means that he’ll bury you,” Kris says, her voice still small. “He’s a shifter, which you saw, but he also has earth powers. He can bury anything.” She tosses her head. “Your building. All those cars. You name it, and he can shove it underground.”

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