Page 76 of Scandalous Kingpin
“At least we think so,” Caelan chimed in.
“It turns out Lilith, the woman we just met…” Bren started, and my mind traveled back to that fateful day when I learned of the betrayal and the strange group that consisted of Kingston, Alexei, and a woman who were rescuing trafficked women. “She’s one of Athair’s twin daughters, her name is Louisa.”
I waited for the pain to come. And waited some more. Maybe I was too numb for it.
“I thought she said her name was Lilith.”
Caelan let out an exasperated breath at the same time Bren grumbled, “Well, obviously she lied. No daughter of Sofia Volkov can be trusted.”
I raised a skeptical brow. “You all lied too. Are you telling me none of you can be trusted?”
Aemon smacked Bren on the head and hissed, “Stop talking, you fool.”
“I’d rather wear a pink onesie and a sleeping mask than sit here with you two talking buffoons,” Caelan muttered, his warm eyes settling on me. “Listen, Ivy. It’s as good a time as any for you to learn that men are idiots. Athair loved us, but if you’re looking for answers as to why he strayed, you’ll never know peace. That shit happens in this world.”
He was right. Even mistresses were cheated on. I was naive to think Athair would be different, regardless of how attentive and caring he was toward Mama and us kids. Of course, had I understood who Sofia Volkov was when I met her, I would’ve put it all together a lot sooner.
“I know.” I twisted my wrist nervously. “A memory came back to me when I overheard you three whispering about Sofia Volkov.”
Bren shot Caelan a glare. “See? You’re a talking buffoon too.”
“You three really need to grow up,” I said tiredly. “Stay focused so I can tell you what I know. I expect you to tell me the same.” Aemon opened his mouth to protest and I raised my palm, silencing him. “I’m not asking for your business contacts and offshore bank account details. I just want to know about our family’s fuckups.”
Caelan snickered. “Well, men. You heard her.”
Aemon shook his head. “Okay, little princess. Tell us what you remembered so we can air out Athair’s dirty little secrets.”
My life seemed to revolve around dirty little secrets, but now was not the time to ponder on that.
“I was maybe five,” I started. “Athair took me with him to some docks. I got scared because there were kids there. Some were crying, others were hurt. He met with Sofia, and they mentioned the twins.” I recounted the entire conversation, at least the way I remembered it, while my brothers listened. “He made me promise it was our secret, and honestly, by the next day, I’d forgotten.”
Aemon muttered a curse, and Bren and Caelan didn’t look any more pleased.
“Athair went too far,” Aemon finally said. “Taking you there. He put you at risk.”
I shrugged. “It’s in the past now. The fact is we have two siblings out there?—”
“They’re not our family,” Bren spat bitterly.
“They didn’t ask to be put in this situation any more than we did,” I protested. “We owe it to them to at least meet. If they don’t support Sofia and her twisted business, I want to have them in my life. If they’ll have me as their sister.”
They reacted as predicted. Bren’s scowl was deep, Caelan looked lost in thought, and Aemon kept his face a blank mask, giving nothing away.
When the silence stretched like a rubber band, I was the one to snap first. “Well, is anyone going to say anything?”
“I can reach out and coordinate a meeting with Kingston and the twin, whichever one’s alive,” Aemon finally said.
“How did the other twin die?” I asked, grief striking at the loss of a sister I never got the chance to meet.
“Not sure,” Bren answered. “Not much is known about them, and the only information we could gather was on the one twin. Lilith, as she calls herself. Her real name is Louisa. Her twin’s name is… was Liana.”
“We should reach out to her,” I suggested. “Try and make amends. Athair should have been there for them. Who knows what it would’ve been like to grow up under the care of Sofia Volkov.” I shuddered just thinking of the horrors.
“And what if it’s too late for her?” Aemon challenged, and I heard the unspoken words.What if she’s a monster like her mother?
I bit the inside of my cheek, then quickly shook my head. “I don’t think so. If she was, Alexei Nikolaev would have ended her.”
“Or Kingston Ashford,” Caelan added.
