The Prelude (A Musical Interlude Novel) - By Kasonndra Leigh Page 0,36
that right?”
My brother’s face turns stony. This is the man I’m used to seeing, the one who left me to die after I suffered through a vicious gang attack in downtown Moscow a few years back.
Hagar steps into the room. He’s the only one of Father’s servants who remained loyal to Mother after they parted ways. “My purpose wasn’t to cause you pain. Father, your husband, wanted to make sure you were safe. The rumors back home are flying. They are saying a couple of our enemies may have settled here,” Dmitri says and glances back at Hagar. “Ah yes, Hagar, Father’s faithless assistant and the man who started a great deal of all this.”
Every muscle in Hagar’s body tenses. He’s not a small man in any way. In his youthful days, he was a member of the Russian Special Forces. It was those skills that he used to help Mother, Adriana, and me escape from my father’s world of tyranny. I’m fairly certain there’s some truth in Dmitri’s words.
“I'll be happy to assist you with finding the door,” Hagar offers, his steady gaze never leaving Dmitri’s face.
My brother smiles and turns back to Mother. “Father will be in touch soon, now that he knows your new address.”
“There is no reason our father should be contacting anyone in this house,” I say, stepping over to where Dmitri stands. “Stay away. Consider yourself warned.”
“Are you threatening me, little brother?” he asks. Both of us stand at a generous 6’2” tall with my older brother being the broader one. He has light brown hair and dark blue eyes like Father’s and Adriana.
“No. I’m only telling you what’ll happen if Sergey does anything to hurt Mother.”
“All that anger penned up inside you isn’t a good thing, Sasha. I am here to help, not fight. Come home with me. Leave this life of pansies and plastic bodies behind. We could use your skills and make our mark. Come back home to Mother Russia,” Dmitri suggests, his voice filled with misguided passion, as he punches a fist into his palm.
“Thanks to you and Sergey, I’ve already made enough impressions to last a lifetime. “Goodbye, Dmitri.”
He nods toward Mother one last time, turns, and walks out of the door, with Hagar trailing close behind him. His cooperation comes too easily. Dmitri doesn’t like to lose. I have no doubt I’ll see him again. The anger rising inside me begins to fade, and the tension eases out of my muscles.
Behind me, Mother lets out a shaky gasp. I rush over to her side, supporting her as she sits on the couch. “Drink. I need one, Alek.” At first, I hesitate. Clenching my fists, I head over to the bar and pour some schnapps into a shot glass, filling it to the halfway point.
“I can barely even see the liquid in this glass,” she scolds as I hand the glass to her.
“That’s more than enough, Mother.”
She scoffs and then gulps the alcohol in a single shot. “This is the very thing I was afraid would happen. We need to strengthen our empire here in this city. Provide our own resources to survive without relying on your father.”
“Adriana and I are doing well,” I say, taking a seat beside her. “You don’t need Father’s blood money. And you definitely don’t need me to keep dating…” I can’t speak the words.
“Just say it, darling. I can’t continue to whore out my son to the daughters of Russia’s wealthiest families.”
“That sounds extreme, Mother. I’m a big boy. I make my own decisions.”
She places a hand on my cheek. My mother is one of the toughest women I know. She has come a long way since the time she met Father in Austin, Texas. To see her upset and crying this way rips through the most delicate parts of my soul.
“How will I continue to pay for the costs of covering everything for your careers? Eventually, I may have to go back to him.” Her voice cracks and she palms her mouth for a short moment. “I might not be the greatest mother. And I know I can be a handful. Hell, my mother was the same way. But I have done all I can to keep both you and your sister safe, and away from Sergey’s illegal band of rebels.”
“It’ll be alright, Mother. We’ll be fine,” I say, putting my arm across her shoulders. “Let me be the one to find a way to make everything right for us this time.