has made significant improvements since Elena began treating her.”
Natasha ignored that. “Is she a doctor?”
“No, more of a scientist.”
“A scientist?” She laughed. “Did you pick her up on a college campus, Konstantin? Aren’t you too old to be hanging around college kids?”
“Funny,” I remarked. “No. She is Thaddeo’s widow. We have a deal. If she heals Tatiana, she can go free and live with my blessing.”
Natasha’s eyes danced. “And if she does not?”
“Then she does not.”
My niece let Evgeni crawl down onto the table, hidden from sight. Despite him being out of view, the affectionate direction of her gaze allowed me to know where it was. “So, she is beautiful.”
“What makes you say that?”
She looked back up at me. “I’ve never heard you make such a merciful bargain before. Especially in regard to someone you consider family.”
“You have not seen me for a long time. Perhaps I am now a merciful man.”
That made her laugh, the sound echoing through the microphone. “If you’re a merciful man, then I am a merciful girl.”
We shared a Tarkhanov smile, an understanding.
I loved my chosen family, despite the lack of blood connecting us. Fighting side by side for decades had built a bond between us that could never be severed.
But the connection I shared with my niece was unrivaled. It was the connection of two Tarkhanovs, two descendants of a once powerful Bratva, and who, unlike our fathers, still had the ambition and power of kings and queens in our souls.
The last two Tarkhanov rulers. Not pretenders or usurpers.
Since the day she had been born, I had known this. Had recognised the same majesty in her that I saw in myself.
It would be a few more years before she was ready, but time moved continuously, and before I knew it, my little niece who liked bugs and teasing her uncle would be the Empress of Russia.
Maybe then I would allow her to speak back to me.
“Indeed,” I said, responding to her earlier joke. “Speaking of the merciful, how is my brother?”
Natasha sighed. “Dumb and arrogant as ever, Uncle Kostya.” She stretched her back. “Sometimes I wish you were my father. Then I wouldn’t get a headache every time I had a family dinner.”
“What has he done now?”
My niece told me about my brother’s new idea to take down an American oil tycoon. The tycoon in question had disrespected my brother—he had shaken his hand over a doorway. Though merely a cultural mistake, my brother had taken it as a personal insult and was now gunning for the tycoon’s death.
However, my niece emphasized, the tycoon had three brothers; all who were set to inherit the company if their brother died. Is my father going to go through half of the family and then suddenly realize we had no allies wishing to sell us oil anymore? she had wondered. He is risking trade over a mistake. Like an idiot.
“I can’t wait until he dies,” she finished off her story with. “Maybe I’ll kill every Tarkhanov to avoid any inheriting.” A small smile grew up her lips. “Except you, of course, Uncle Kostya.”
I didn’t believe she wouldn’t kill me if she had the chance, but I pretended I did. “When you’re ready, you will know,” I told her. “Until then, bide your time.”
“I am.” Natasha scooped up Evgeni again, holding up the spider to the camera. “Evgeni thinks I should kill them all now and deal with the consequences later.”
“I’m sure the spider does.”
She sighed and dropped her hands, Evgeni disappearing from view. “Can I come and visit when it is safe? I want to come and see your new territory.”
“You are always welcome,” I assured her. “As soon as I deem it safe.”
“As I deem it safe,” she repeated. “The kink in the fine print. Will you ever deem the world you thrive in as safe?”
I didn’t respond.
Natasha smiled. “I will wait. Like a snake in the grass.” Her gaze dropping to her lap. “Like a spider in a web.”
A knock on the study door caught my attention.
“Is that Uncle Artyom?” Natasha asked. “Let him in.”
“Come in,” I called out.
But it wasn’t Artyom who stepped into the study. Elena slid in, her hair swaying around her like a curtain. Her usual aloof expression hardened when she noticed I was busy.
“I can come back later...” She went to leave but I called out.
“Nonsense. Elena come and meet my niece, Natalia.”
Natasha cooed out in delight and said in English, “I won’t bite.”