Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ollie

"Renata defended me," Polina snaps, her fingers absently stroking the mutt, but her eyes are fire. "How could you forget that?"

"Really, son," my mother says sadly, the weight of disappointment in her words as she shakes her head. "Polina's right. Renata saved the day."

Why do the women in my life think they can see right through me, like I'm guilty of some unspoken crime for daring to be loyal to my family? My brothers didn't face this shit.

I scrub a hand across my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

"I got her a puppy ," I mutter in my own defense, like it's an offering that might fix everything.

"To watch her, and half a minute ago, you looked like you were going to throttle the poor wittle thing," Polina croons.

Jesus.

"She defended you?" Viktor asks, lumbering up beside us. My brothers are in and out today while everyone gets ready for the wedding. "How did I miss that?"

"You were too preoccupied with Lydia and whatever newlywed mischief you were up to," Polina says with a smile and eye roll. "Renata was eating dinner with us and overheard two of our guests plotting to blackmail me. They were college friends of mine, apparently somehow associated with one of Mikhail's informants."

"She was amazing," Mom says, her eyes wide and excited. With her sophisticated silver hair pulled into a tight bun, she is the picture of grace and elegance, but she gets a wistful, almost childlike look in her eyes sometimes. "She sees right through lies," Mom says, almost in awe. "It's a rare gift. Like she holds truth itself in her hands. What I wouldn't have given to have that talent when you kids were younger."

She'll always know when I'm telling her the truth. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Not that I plan on lying to her, but ignorance isn't always a bad thing.

"Really?" Viktor asks, giving me a smile. "Our girls are so much alike, aren't they?"

I grunt in reply. His wife's ‘talent' is that she likes to set things on fire, so I'm not sure I agree they're anything like each other.

"Ollie," my mother says gently. "Don't let the present situation sway you from what you know to be true, what you remember. Don't you remember? You investigated what she'd overheard, and it aligned with what she said. You were moved by her loyalty and her ability to uncover the truth, weren't you?"

I was. I softened toward her and actually felt something like trust beginning to form.

"And don't forget when that guy Mikhail knew was framed," Polina says. The little pup is fast asleep in her arms. "Do we have a name?" she whispers.

"No," I snap, turning away.

"Mmm," Polina continues. "Our family's reputation was at stake, as we were guilty by association when what's-his-name was framed for theft, but Renata overheard the accusations and told Ollie it was a lie."

"Oooh," my mother says. "It's almost supernatural."

I turn away and exhale. "Yeah. She knew there were discrepancies in the accusations. I hired a private investigator who confirmed what she said."

Mom shakes her head. "And now you all are disbelieving that she was taken against her will. You maintain that despite the fact that she put her life on the line for you, simply by virtue of betraying the cartel and her brother, she turned tail and ran back to him?"

"We have video evidence," I say, but even to me, it sounds hollow.

"Of what?" Polina scoffs. "Her running away? You have no idea who threatened her. You have no idea what they made her do. So what if she ran away? That's hardly condemning evidence."

Oh, but it is.

"I didn't come here for relationship advice," I say through clenched teeth. "I need shit for the dog, and I need to make sure the wedding's all set."

Polina sighs and rocks the dog like he's a baby.

Jesus.

"Yeah," she says softly. "Wedding's all set, brother. No worries there. And Auntie Polina will take care of the doggie."

"Thanks," I mutter.

"But as far as relationship advice?" she says with determination. " That is free of charge."

With her nose in the air, she turns away.

God.

We need to get her married off sooner rather than later.

"I have to head back to Renata. We'll catch up later."

I don't miss the way both of them laugh behind my back.

They can take this all lightly if they want to.

I don't have that privilege.

There was a reason we were attacked. There was a reason she was in Colombia.

My family will stay safe no matter what.

"So she can tell when people are lying?" Viktor asks, scratching his chin. "Can you get her to question herself?"

I give him a withering look. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Viktor leans in closer, his expression serious. "If she starts doubting her own abilities, it could throw her off balance. Make her more manageable."

"What the fuck are you even talking about, Viktor?" I shake my head, my frustration at everyone and everything boiling over. "This isn't some game. She's not some pawn we can manipulate or fuck around with. She's going to be my wife. "

My wife.

He shrugs, unaffected. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. We might need to use every advantage we can."

I glare at him. "No."

I don't even know how that would work, but I want no part of it.

"Aw, Ollie's grumpy again," Polina says. "Here, Ollie, hold a sleeping puppy. I promise it's the cure for what ails you."

Christ.

I have the cure for what ails me, and she's upstairs laying clothes out, waiting for my next command.

I turn on my heel and walk away before I lose my cool and say something I regret. As I head back to Renata, the weight of responsibility presses down on me. I have to protect my family, no matter the cost, even if that means making impossible choices that might tear me in two.