Page 2 of Wounded Angel

I look out at the beautiful city of Grozny. This could have been my home. It blows my mind. On the right, there’s The Heart of Chechnya. I’ve seen it online, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to see it in person, even if I’m simply driving by. It’s the oldest mosque in the city, which has Ottoman-style architecture, and it’s also one of the largest.

Rolando keeps driving, and at the next intersection, he makes a right, and then he pulls into a parking garage attached to a massive condominium complex. He goes up a few floors and then parks. Rolando gets out first and opens the door for me, extending a hand in the process. I gladly take it and exit the SUV.

“We will come get your bags later, depending on what you decide.”

“What I decide?” I repeat, uncertain what he means.

“I believe Ruslan and Amelia are going to let you stay with them if you want. If not, there are plenty of local hotels where we can make some accommodations for you.”

“Oh, okay, I see,” I say and force a light smile.

Rolando leads us toward the elevators and presses the button to go up. He pulls some sort of key from his pocket, and when he selects the floor we need to go on, he inserts the key and turns it to the right. The button he pressed lights up green, and the elevator takes us to that floor.

Now I’m getting really nervous. Up until this moment, it didn’t feel as real as it does right now. I’m about to meet more of my blood, more people who can help me connect with myself on a deeper level.

Suddenly, the elevator doors open, and we walk into Ruslan’s place. “Mr. Umarova, I’ve arrived,” Rolando declares as he steps inside the home.

“Hey there. Ruslan’s in the office with Lom.” A woman with brown hair and hazel eyes comes toward us from the kitchen area. A small boy stands next to her, tugging on the leg of her jeans. “I’m Amelia, by the way. It’s really nice to meet you, Xava. Everyone here is really excited to get to know you.”

Amelia’s words help to settle my nerves a little bit. “It’s great to be here. Thank you for inviting me.”

“You’re very welcome,” Amelia replies, then looks at Rolando. “Go ahead and take her into the office. I know Ruslan and Lom are anxiously awaiting her arrival.”

“Of course, Mrs. Umarova,” Rolando responds as he begins walking further into the house. In less than a minute, Rolando is rapping his knuckles against the back of the door.

“Come in,” a man’s deep voice greets us.

I lick my lips nervously as Rolando opens the door for me. I walk inside the office, and Rolando stands at the door for just a moment. “I’ll wait for Xava in the living room, sir.”

“Don’t you mean Ms. Beno?” the man who sits behind the desk asks Rolando. I think that must be Ruslan, but I can’t be too certain since we haven’t made introductions yet.

“No, sir. She specifically requested I call her Xava,” Rolando answers.

The man looks at me, and I speak up, supporting what Rolando has said. “I felt like it’s entirely too formal. Xava is easier.”

The man motions with his head for Rolando to leave, and Rolando shuts the door. I take a seat in the other armchair sitting across from the desk.

“Xava, I’m Ruslan, and this is one of my other brothers, Lom.” The man behind the desk is the patriarch of the family, now I see.

“It’s great to meet you both. Thank you so much for flying me out here. I’m really excited to be in Grozny.” I plaster on a smile, trying to break the ice. I don’t know if they can tell I’m nervous, but I am.

“We’re very glad to have you out here. It’s been a long time coming.” As Ruslan speaks, my stomach drops. It’s almost like he knows something I don’t. I mean, he hasn’t given me any real indications that this is the case, but over the years, I’ve learned to trust my gut, and my gut is telling me something else is going on here.

Could Ruslan and Lom be more to me than just a relative?

“I’m sure you’re wondering why we flew you out here. If I was in your position, that’s the million-dollar question I’d be asking myself,” Lom speaks up. His hair is chocolate brown, with a slight curl to it.

“My curiosity is getting the best of me,” I admit. “I know coming out here has something to do with my adoption, obviously, but from the way the two of you are looking at me right now, I’m getting anxious. What is it? What aren’t you telling me?”

I’m barely an adult at just nineteen years old, but one thing my father always taught me was that I needed to be able to read the room. I’m doing just that right now, and the room is telling me that there’s something they’re not revealing to me.

Lom looks directly at Ruslan, and if that isn’t a confirmation, I don’t know what the hell is. “Xava, we’re not just your relatives. We’ve discovered that you’re our sister, our full-blooded sister.”

I lean back in my seat as pure shock takes over every aspect of my body. I’m their sister… which means I’m Nazyr and Eset’s sister as well, according to what Rolando told me about the family tree a little bit ago. I don’t know what on Earth I’m supposed to say right now.

“I… I don’t understand. Or maybe I just don’t have all the information. You and your siblings, were you all adopted as well?” I’m trying my best to make sense of it.

“No, we weren’t. We were… raised by your biological mother. Our biological mother,” Ruslan tells me. He’s trying to do it with care, but there isn’t a way he can delicately deliver this news. He and my siblings were raised by our biological mother, but I was cast aside like the red-headed stepchild. I do not understand why. I don’t understand any of this.

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