CHAPTER TWENTY - NINE

LORENZO GRAYSON\VADIM KERZHAKOV ©

“What was that about?” Alina asked as she closed the office door behind her.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a tired sigh.

I couldn't even bring myself to hit him. All I managed to do was throw him out of my office.

“It's nothing serious,” I said, walking over and dropping onto the couch. “The kid is just trouble.”

Alina gave me a look.

“That doesn't seem like anything serious,” she said. “I thought you told me you two were close.”

I sighed and leaned back against the couch.

If only she knew how complicated that word had become.

“What's the document for?” I asked.

Alina sighed and glanced at the door before taking the seat across from me.

Without a word, she handed me a sealed brown envelope.

I broke the seal and pulled out the papers inside. As my eyes moved across the first page, Alina spoke.

“Valerie Kerzhakov's injuries weren't caused by an accident.”

My head snapped up.

“What?”

I looked back down and read through the report.

“I was told her body had bruises,” Alina continued quietly. “From what I've learned, it looks like...”

She trailed off, struggling to finish the sentence.

I tightened my grip on the papers as a cold feeling crept through me.

The report confirmed that she had been tortured before her death.

My stomach dropped.

“This information is being buried,” Alina said quietly. “And that's all my informant could find. Digging any deeper is already making people suspicious.”

My chest tightened.

I adjusted my glasses and set the papers down on the table.

For a moment, I struggled to steady my breathing.

“The Kerzhakov family seems to have people everywhere,” Alina continued. “There are whispers in the police force, but no one wants to talk openly about it.”

Of course. That explained the phone call.

Father already knew I was investigating Mother's death.

No matter how careful we investigate, Antonio will always find out.

There was no hiding anything from him for long.

His words from last night's call echoed in my head.

“Valerie's death was sudden. But don't let your emotions control you, Vadim.”

I lowered my gaze to my mother's picture attached to the report.

“The heir of the Kerzhakov family cannot be ruled by emotions,” he had continued. “Pull yourself together, Vadim.”

I let out a slow breath.

Then I remembered the rest of the call.

“I need you involved in what I'm planning,” Antonio had said. “And I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back to me.”

“I'll make the people you care about suffer. And you'll be forced to watch.”

My jaw tightened as I stared at my mother's photo. My chest grew heavier with every memory.

“That includes the minister's daughter and that club owner.”

Antonio's words echoed in my head and I looked up at Alina.

The memory of last night's call came rushing back.

“You won't,” I had told him. “Whatever you're planning will fall apart the moment you touch her.”

A low chuckle had come through the phone.

“Is that what you think?” he asked. “We'll see.”

Then he hung up the call.

I stared at Alina for a moment before making my decision.

“Stop the research.”

Her eyes widened.

“What?”

“I want you to stop the investigation,” I said firmly. “This is the last time we'll meet to discuss this.”

She looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

“What? Why?” Alina asked. “Did something happen? Did they find out about us?”

“Nothing like that,” I replied and she frowned.

“Then why?”

I let out a tired sigh and looked away.

“I've had enough,” I said.

“What does that even mean?” she asked. “Is there something you're not telling me?”

“No. I just don't want anyone taking this risk anymore.”

She let out a short scoff, clearly unconvinced.

“You expect me to believe that?” Alina asked. “You didn't care about the risks when you first brought this to me.”

“You never looked like someone who was afraid of taking risks. So what changed?” She added and I stayed silent.

She shook her head, then she stood up.

“Whatever,” she muttered. “Keep your reasons to yourself.”

She turned and walked toward the door.

“It doesn't mean we're done, Alina,” I said.

She paused for a few seconds, without another word, she left the office.

She was right.

I wasn't afraid of investigating my mother's death.

I never was.

What scared me was the thought of Alina ending up in my father's hands.

That was the real reason I had fought with Nick.

After Antonio's call last night, Nick brought up the matter of Alina and I making out yesterday in my office.

He shouldn't have.

Instead, it reminded me of the danger Alina was in.

“Someone close to me.” Antonio's words echoed in my head.

For some reason, I found myself thinking about the kid.

I let out a slow sigh and looked down at the documents on my desk.

No matter how much time passed, it never got easier.

I clenched my fist and forced myself to take a slow breath.

The thought of my mother being tortured made my stomach twist.

For a moment, I closed my eyes.

No matter what anyone said, I had to find out what really happened that day.

This wasn't over.

I owed my mother that much.

Carefully, I slipped the papers back into the brown envelope, pushing my emotions aside before returning to work I had to do.

∆∆

~ FIVE STAR CLUB AND BAR ~

I stood on the second floor of the bar, my hands resting on the handrail as I held my beer.

My eyes stayed on Nick as he worked behind the bar. I watched as he mixed drinks and served customers.

What he saw yesterday between Alina and me didn’t bother me. But when he kept nagging about it, Antonio’s words from last night kept coming back.

“Here you are,” Kyle said as he stepped beside me.

I didn’t answer right away. I just looked away from Nick and scanned the room instead.

I gulped my beer and let out a slow sigh.

“Antonio found out,” I told him but he stayed quiet instead.

“He’s watching everyone close to me. Alina… and you,” I added.

He only nodded, like he already expected it.

Of course he did.

Kyle was the closest person I had here. The moment I moved to this city, we both knew Antonio would keep an eye on him.

"What about the kid?" Kyle asked and I turned to him.

"What about him?"

Kyle didn't answer right away. Instead, he watched Nick working behind the counter.

After a few seconds, he sighed.

"You shouldn't speak to my employee like that."

I scoffed, knowing exactly he meant last night.

"What? You're being protective of your workers now?"

“You were always concerned about him,” he said suddenly, letting out a small chuckle. “Feels like he’s your priority.”

“What do you mean?” I asked and Kyle sighed like the answer was obvious.

“He’s still young, but he works hard every day, trying to take care of his little sister.”

Slowly, I turned my eyes back to Nick behind the bar.

“What about his parents?” I asked while Kyle shook his head.

“He lost his father when he was young. Then his mother left a few years later.”

I looked away.

Why was he telling me all this?

“He’s always happy when he’s with you,” Kyle said. “When you’re around, it feels like he finally gets to think about himself.”

Something shifted in my chest.

“What?” I let out a small, nervous laugh and turned to him.

Kyle didn’t smile. He just looked at me.

“That goes for you too,” he said. “You’re more like yourself when you’re with him.”

“It always seems like you’ve forgotten why you moved here,” he added. “I see those emotions every time I watch you from here.”

“Shut up, Kyle. That’s nonsense,” I said quickly and turned to walk away.