31. Andrey

31

ANDREY

"You're going to be gentle with him, right?"

It's hard to believe this is the same woman who punched a man wearing brass knuckles fifteen minutes ago. The shift from maternal violence to maternal concern is dizzying, but Natalia doesn't seem to mind the altitude change.

Personally, I'm glad we left those brass knuckles behind.

"He deserves respect, Natalia. He's not a child."

"Is that what you were doing back there with Nikolai's man? Respecting him?" she spits. "Misha isn't working for Nikolai!"

"But he was once."

"And you chose not to hold that against him when you agreed to take him in!"

Remi whines, looking between the two of us with a sour face. Natalia is so worked up that she doesn't even notice.

"It may not seem like it," she adds, "but Misha's a sensitive kid."

"That's the problem, Natalia. You insist on seeing him as a kid. But he's not. Not really. He's smart as a fucking whip and he lived on Rostov property his entire life. There's no telling what he's seen and heard."

Her fingers wring together like she's trying to strangle some invisible person beneath her hands. "He was probably kept separate from all of that."

"So why send him to us then?"

"Maybe he was expendable! That's what you said."

"Or maybe Nikolai thought he was the best person for the job."

Her eyes flash. "If you so much as hurt one hair on that boy's?—"

I grab the finger she's jabbing at me and twist her hand back. She gasps with shock a second before I ease the pressure and touch my lips to her palm.

" Lastochka , I'm not accusing Misha of anything. I don't consider him the enemy, and I don't plan on interrogating him. But he hasn't been totally honest with either one of us."

Her bottom lip trembles. "It's because he's scared, Andrey."

"I'm aware of that." I pull her towards me, cradling her into the nook under my arm. "But I do need us to be on the same page. We need to go in as a united front."

"I don't want him to feel like we're ganging up on him."

"We're not ganging up on him. We're trying to protect him. Especially if Nikolai wants him back."

That seems to get through to her. Her shoulders straighten and she nods. "You're right."

As we approach Misha's room, Remi knows where we're going and runs ahead. By the time we get there, the door is open. Remi is inside, lying on his back while Misha rubs his belly. He looks up to Natalia with a smile, but it falters when he catches sight of me.

Natalia gingerly lowers herself to the floor next to Misha, squeezing the boy's arm.

"Is something going on?" he asks.

I'm about to jump right into it, but Natalia beats me to the punch. "There was a… situation today at my work. There were cops waiting to question me about Byron's disappearance."

"The creepy dude who was hitting on you all the time?" He looks to me, no small amount of accusation in his eyes. "But I thought you took care of him?"

Natalia nods sadly. "They weren't actually cops, Misha. They worked for Nikolai."

Misha goes pale, but doesn't say a word.

"They forced me into their car and took me to a… a bad place. Andrey got to me in time and it all turned out okay," she rushes to assure him. "But, under… questioning, one of the men mentioned something that upset me."

"What did he say?" Misha asks.

Her lip wobbles. Natalia has been so strong for so long, but the day is catching up with her. "Well… h-he?—"

"He mentioned you, Misha," I cut in.

Misha's eyes tighten and his lip curls. "What did he say about me?"

"He mentioned that Nikolai might want you back."

"But you don't have to worry, Misha," Natalia insists, grabbing his hand and tucking it in her lap. "We're not going to let him come near you. You're safe with us."

But Misha's not looking at her. His gaze is fixed on me.

"You haven't been honest with us, have you, Misha?"

"Andrey!" Natalia blurts, narrowing her eyes at me. She whirls back to Misha. "It's not that we don't trust you. It's just that?—"

"Misha," I interrupt, "I told you that, as far as I was concerned, you're a Kuznetsov man now."

He nods, his eyes fixed on the wall past my shoulder.

"I meant that. I still do."

Natalia sidles a little closer to Misha, as though she might be able to shield him from this entire conversation.

"You are not only a part of my Bratva now; you are a part of my family," I continue. "I wouldn't change that for the world."

Misha's eyes water. He sags under the weight of too much life for someone so young. His chin drops to his chest.

"But I need you to be honest with me."

I flash back to the interrogations right after Misha was captured. He refused to breathe a word no matter how Shura threatened him. He seemed so strong.

But the way he lifts his eyes to mine now and nods is the bravest thing I've ever seen. "I… I'll try to be."

"Then tell me the truth: are you Nikolai Rostov's son?"