Page 119 of Hunter's Revenge

Either way, I won’t get the answer, because Malik Volkova is a closed book of information no one will ever receive, unless he allows you to unlock him.

I look at the swirling patterns on the sandwich tray then back at her. “Meeting my father’s family is going to change things for me. I never thought I would meet them, and I’ve never been sure if my father wanted me to. Until I heard about his will, I thought I was supposed to remain in the dark. Locked away from everyone.”

“Do you think the darkness was better?”

I consider the peculiar question. Is it better to stay hidden?

To be hidden so deeply I could never share anything about where I came from with my best friend?

I’m lying to Dru now, but at some point, I know I’m going to have to tell her some hard truths. She’ll be hurt that I got married and didn’t tell her, and she’ll want to know about the money. She questioned it years before when my life was better and the money Grams had put aside for me hadn’t been spent yet.

Dru’s family were so clean cut. They were people who went to church and even taught Sunday school. How will she react when she finds out my father was a cartel king?

But he was the architect of my legacy and who I came from.

He loved me. I don’t want to live the rest of my life trying to keep that secret from the world.

“No, the darkness wasn’t better. But neither is the light.” I pull in a breath to clear my head.

“Sometimes it’s like that, and you just have to live with it.”

“I just wish there were another way. I’m not ready for any of this.”

“Many of us aren’t.” The reflection in her tone suggests she’s speaking from experience.

“How did you get into this life?” I hope I’m not overstepping the line. “It didn’t sound like you were born into it.”

“I wasn’t, but I fell in love with… let’s say the wrong kind of man.” Her eyes holds mine as if she’s looking into the deeper layers of my mind. “But he was right in every way for me. I wouldn’t have traded meeting him and my life with him for the world.”

“That sounds beautiful.”

“It was. My Andrieu was my life and love. He was one of the senior guards to the Volkova family. Back in Russia, a woman like me would never be lucky enough to get close to the likes of a man like him. Rich and powerful. Reserved for the best. But dangerous.”

“Dangerous.” My voice is low, with the same hushed tenor you’d speak in at a funeral.

She nods, glances away for a few seconds, then looks back at me. “Only the best men work with the Volkova family. That means the most dangerous. It has to be that way. But he had the kindest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Sounds like he was a good person then.”

“He was.” She sighs with reflection. “He saved me. I came to this country looking for a better life after having nothing. My parents were dead and the only brother I had was a no good drunk who ended up in prison. I was never going to make a living doing makeup, so I thought if I could just get here I’d be able to figure it out. But my plans failed. Andrieu found me on the road practically begging on the street in the cold of winter. I’d just lost a job that never was, and I’d used up all my resources. I don’t know how I didn’t die.”

“Oh Jeanne, I’m sorry.” That sounds terrible.

“It’s okay. It worked out for me. Andrieu found me somewhere to live and took care of me. But it was a year before he officially asked me out.” She smiles wider. “Months later, we got married. That was fifty years ago. We were married for just over thirty-five years. He’s not here anymore physically, but I carry him in my heart everywhere I go.”

“Wow.” I wish I could have love like that. “Your story is inspiring.”

“So is yours.” She reaches across the table and taps my knuckles. “Stay strong in your heart and mind, Gwen.”

I nod. “I’ll try to.”

I know I need to do more than try. God knows I need strength.

* * *

Volkova Inc. is one of the massive skyscrapers dotted across Boston’s city.

You can see the company’s name and logo from afar.

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