Page 2 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“You ready, Lil?”

“Can we go back if I say I’m not?”

“No can do, kiddo.”

“Well, fuck. Let’s do this then.” I point up the drive, the trees obscuring the house at the end.

“Language. Let’s not advertise our true selves quite yet.” He wiggles his blonde eyebrows, blue eyes identical to mine alight with mischief. “Ease them into it.”

Right as he finishes that thought the house comes into view. House isn’t the correct term. Manor? Mansion? Estate? I’m not sure which of those describes it. It is a monstrosity, stretching what would be several city blocks on either side of the entrance.

“Dad,” I put my hand on his arm. “Who are these people?”

“The Volkov family. They own an energy and engineering conglomerate.”

“Cool,” I squeak. I have never felt so out of my element. “Where are we supposed to park?”

“I have no idea but I bet that guy can tell us.” He points to a middle age man coming down the front steps. The man is wearing black trousers, a white button down shirt under a sweater with a crest on left side of his chest.

“Michael and Lilith Nelson?” he asks with a posh British accent.

“That’s us.” My dad extends his hand.

“I’m Edward, Mr. Volkov’s house manager.” He clasps dad’s hand before turning to me for a handshake. “I’ll have some of the other staff come unload your belongings and put them up in the rooms for you.”

“Oh, we can unload our own things. It’s not a problem,” Dad says.

“Nonsense.” A tall man comes walking down the stairs. He has dark brown hair and striking green eyes, bracketed by laugh lines. His face is angular and handsome in a way that screams wealth. He is wearing charcoal gray trousers and a light gray polo shirt. “Good to see you again, Nelson.” He slaps my dad’s shoulder like they’re old buddies. Then he turns his attention to me. “You must be Lilith?”

“Yes, sir.” I offer my hand and make sure to shake his hand like dad taught me, firm grip and hold eye contact. He holds eye contact with me, probably not used to a teenage girl being so quietly direct. “Pleasure to meet you.” I pull my hand away first.

“Likewise.” He looks closely at me and then smiles. “My son, Connor, is running around somewhere with a couple of his friends. You will all be seniors at Founders Prep together. I’m sure we’ll run across them while I show you around. This way.”

I trail along behind my dad and Mr. Volkov taking everything in. The foyer is two stories tall with marble floors. Directly in the center is what I assume must be the family crest. It looks like a shield with a wolf head over it and letters in a language I can’t read. It honestly has a bit of a Game of Thrones vibe.

Here’s hoping they’re more Stark than Lannister.

“Lil? Keep up.” Dad says from a large living room area.

“On it.” I scurry after them. Mr. Volkov explains that this living room is the most used of the three in the house, the kitchen and informal dining room are off to the left. We walk down a long hallway straight off the kitchen that leads to a game room, a television room, a library, a theater, and ends with a family room. Three sets of french doors lead out to a huge kidney shaped pool. There’s a pool house with an outdoor kitchen to the right of the pool. He walks us around the pool deck and points off in the distance to a basketball court where three guys are shooting hoops.

“There they are. Connor! Come up here and meet Michael and Lilith,” Mr. Volkov yells down the hill. One of them looks up and holds his hand up to his ear indicating he can’t hear. Then he promptly turns around and ignores us.

Right. This is going about how I thought it would.

“Pardon his manners. He can be difficult.”

The tour continues back in the house. The basement has an indoor lap pool, shooting range, and bowling alley. Mr. Volkov, or Victor as he insists I call him, points down what he calls the East Wing and says that’s where the family’s rooms are. Then he shows us down the West Wing and points out a state of the art gym that Dad and I both salivate over. I know where we’ll be spending our mornings. Then we get to the suite of rooms that dad and I will have, two bedrooms with private bathrooms, a laundry room, small kitchen and living room. It’s basically everything we’ll need to be self contained and to my amazement all our things have already been brought up.

“Nelson, I’ll take you to the security offices now, if you don’t mind. I have a conference call in an hour so now is the only time I’ll have to show you around.” He looks over at me before walking to the door. “Lilith, you should make use of the pool while it’s still warm enough. Or go hunt down Connor and his friends.”

“Sounds good. Thanks Mr. Volkov.” I nod my head in his direction.

“Victor.” He corrects.

“Right, Victor.” I watch them walk away together, heads held close while they start talking business.

I decide to divvy up our boxes into the correct rooms before I try out the pool. The bedrooms are identical, each have a large dresser, desk, king size beds and walk in closets. I take the room that has a free standing bathtub because I know dad won’t be taking any baths. I notice it has a random door with a lock so I open it and realize it is a private entrance straight to my room from the hall. Could be useful if I’m sneaking in or out.

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