Chapter 29

Kimberly

M arta and I have been sitting in a quiet alcove of a cozy little coffee shop getting to know each other for the past hour. She’s peppered me with questions about her brothers, eager to know all she can about them. It’s clear from the way she talks, that the estrangement isn’t her choice. It’s also given me a limited insight into Yaroslav’s family, albeit from his younger years.

Although I’m here for more than just a casual drink, I find myself enjoying Marta’s company. She’s different from her brothers. Unlike Yaroslav’s seriousness or David’s manic energy, there’s a lightness and softness to her. I trust her. I also believe that she genuinely loves her brothers and wants to be a part of their lives.

Eventually, I build up the courage to ask her, “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened between you and Yaroslav? Why don’t you speak?”

“What has Yaroslav told you?” she asks, clearly wondering how much to reveal.

“Not a lot, he said you moved away after your parents died and that you haven’t spoken much since. I think he felt abandoned,” I confide, hoping I don’t upset her but sensing she needs to know Yaroslav’s thoughts on it.

She shakes her head sadly, “I would never have abandoned him, I didn’t want to leave at all. But my Uncle Innokentiy made it impossible. He insisted that my marriage had to go ahead, for the good of the family, and he convinced me that it was what my parents wanted. I should never have listened to him,” she says bitterly.

“You regret marrying your husband?” I ask surprised, they seemed so happy together when we first met.

“No, not at all, but I should have postponed the wedding or convinced my husband to bring my brothers with us, or for us to stay in Russia a while, anything to keep them out of Innokentiy’s grasp,” she hisses her expression darkening as she thinks about him.

“I take it you don’t like your uncle?” I ask wryly, surprised by the anger from such a tranquil woman.

She laughs mirthlessly, “You can say that again. He was always jealous of my father. As the second son, he was never going to inherit the family empire as he wanted. When I was the firstborn, he thought he still stood a chance. But when my mother had Yaroslav and then, much later on, another son, my uncle’s hopes to one day take the business over went up in smoke,” she says gesturing to punctuate her point.

“When Papa died, he wasted no time getting his hooks into the boys and me out of the picture. Yaroslav should have been able to run the business at sixteen, especially with help, but Innokentiy convinced him that he should run it on his behalf. I can’t imagine he wasn’t best pleased when Yaroslav took over the reins at only eighteen. I had a hand in that, not that Yaroslav knows,” she says proudly before continuing.

“Uncle Innokentiy knew I would have my brother’s interests at heart, and that I would be a rival for control, so he tried to keep me away. I have no doubt that he will have whispered falsities about me to them. It’s no surprise that neither of them want anything to do with me,” she finishes sadly.

“But why would your uncle want to do that?” I ask, confused.

“Money and power make men do terrible things,” she replies sagely. “Innokentiy is now one of the company’s most important men with a position far greater than our father ever trusted him with.”

I can’t help but think of what I saw in the hidden room, and I wince. I wonder how much Marta knows about the true ‘family business’. If she knows everything. No doubt she’s wondering the same about me. I decide to take a gamble.

“What exactly is the family business,” I emphasize the words to show I’m not buying its legitimacy.

She studies me for a moment, “If Yaroslav hasn’t shared that with you, I’m not sure I should. But something tells me you already know, or at least have your suspicions and just don’t want to admit it,” she replies wisely.

I nod, “I think so, David’s more or less told me, but then Yaroslav always uses his mental illness to brush it off. But then, this morning, I saw… something… that made me think otherwise.”

She looks a little surprised, “And yet, you’re not writing off my brother completely and running for the hills. Why? Is it the money?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at me as she takes a sip of her drink.

“No. I couldn’t care less about the money. I don’t know why I’m not, perhaps I should. But…” I struggle to find the words when I don’t even know the answer myself.

“You love him,” Marta says softly.

“Yes, I think I do,” I admit.

“Then you should talk to him. Love is a precious thing and not something to be given up lightly. For all my family’s faults and darkness, my brother is a good man. I could tell he loves you too, I have to believe that he would never hurt you, no matter what you saw or decide to do. Life is messy and our family business is… well… complicated and questionable. But my father was an honorable man who had a strict code, I have to believe my brother upheld that, even with Innokentiy’s influence,” she states, searching my eyes with hers.

“Thank you,” I reply, feeling resolved to take her advice and speak to Yaroslav.

“You can’t let yourself live with regrets, I should know. Family is the most important thing, I would give anything to have my brothers back. It breaks my heart to think of everything they went through. Yaroslav was so young with the weight of the world on his shoulders, caring for our brother alone, who so desperately needed a mother’s love. Please, will you promise me one thing?”

“Of course,” I promise, feeling moved by her emotional candor.

“Please tell them how much I love them, how sorry I am.” She reaches down into her purse, “Here, please give David this phone, I know he wants to talk and that Yaroslav has been preventing it. He can call me anytime, my number is in there,” she urges, handing me a cell phone.

“I will, I promise. I will do my best to put you in touch with both of your brothers and help you to mend the broken connection between you. I’m confident that with David it will be easier, he’s already keen to get to know his sister,” I say with a smile.

I don’t add that it’s Yaroslav I’m worried about. What he says goes, if he doesn’t want to let Marta in, or me, it’s going to be difficult to convince him otherwise.

I decide to keep the possible pregnancy to myself for now. I need to know if I want myself and my child to be a part of this family first, and if I do Yaroslav should be the first person to find out.

***

When I return, Yaroslav’s house is quiet and practically empty, only a few maids are milling around the place. Yaroslav and his men must be out working. I don’t want to dwell on what that work might involve, nor do I want to find out if they’re in the hidden room. The less I think about that right now the better. My shoes echo on the newly polished floors as I enter, amazed to find myself back here. If you’d asked me this morning, I’d have told you there was no way I’d run back to the wolf’s den so soon.

My initial resolve to speak with Yaroslav is dampened as I realize I have no idea how long he’ll be out. I was going to wait until after I spoke with him to take the pregnancy test, but now I can’t wait any longer. I need to know.

I hurry upstairs to an unoccupied bathroom, one I know is seldom used, and take the test. I made sure to buy one of the ones that can tell even in the very early stages if you’re pregnant or not. Time seems to stretch out forever as I agonizingly wait for the results. I pick up the test and look at it.

My heart skips a beat when I see the result and all of a sudden, I don’t know how to feel, or what to think. Should I be happy? Sad? Afraid?

Before I can take it in, I hear the front door open and the sounds of people entering. I recognize Yaroslav’s voice.

“Where is she?” he demands.

I don’t hear the response, but I do hear the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs to find me. Quickly, I stuff the test in the wastepaper basket covering it in toilet paper to hide it.

It’s time to face the wolf and find out if I’m a lamb for slaughter.