Mina
They say all good things must come to an end, and I was afraid our good thing was close to breaching the safety barrier.
It happened three days later when I had just walked into the house to hear Lev let out an animalistic roar from the kitchen. My heart pounded and I rushed over to him.
I found my him hunched over the kitchen table in his sweats and tank, looking about ready to break the table in half.
“Sweetie,” I asked cautiously. “What’s wrong?”
It was then that I noticed a piece of paper scrunched in his fisted palm. He breathed so hard that his chest heaved. I took another careful step forward, placing a hand on his back. “Baby?”
His eyes closed and he rumbled out, “Igor Alkaev wants custody of Lidiya.” He let out a long breath. “He’s taking me to court.”
My brow furrowed. “On what grounds?”
Lev barked out, “I don’t fucking know, Mina. Shit. When are they going to leave me the fuck alone already?”
I tried not to take his anger personally. I knew he wasn’t angry at me, after all. “Have you called your lawyer?”
He squeezed his eyes shut and muttered a cold, “No. I want to talk to Igor.”
“I’m coming with you,” I told him, and I was not asking.
Lev shook his head. “No. I’m going alone.”
I didn’t want to be the voice of reason, but if I didn’t take that role, who would? “Sweetie, you know how you get when you’re angry. You can go a little cuckoo,” I uttered quietly. “Let me come. I won’t say a word. Just let me be there for you.”
Yeah, okay, let’s be honest. I was worried that Lev might kill the asshole.
I came up behind him and placed my hands on his hips, leaning in to press my body to his, kissing the center of his spine. “Let me come, baby. Please. I’ll stay out of the way. I promise.”
He turned in my arms and looked down at me. “I don’t want you out of the way. I want you safe, here with Lidiya.”
I blinked up at him. “And if it were me, would you let me go alone?”
His brow furrowed. “Of course not.”
“And that’s why I’m coming with you,” I stated.
Although Lev didn’t like it, he conceded, and we made a quick stop to Nastasia’s where Lev called Sasha, and then we were on our way to the Alkaev residence.
I pitied the fool.
Igor Alkaev answered the door, and I had to admit he didn’t look at all as I pictured him. I imagined a short, rotund man with a bulging belly, dark hair, and maybe a beard. What I got was a tall, slim man with greying blond hair, a sharp nose, cold dark eyes, and a constant expression of distaste.
Igor showed us inside without a word and told his apparently voiceless wife, Vera, to bring in some coffee. She left without a word and Igor smirked. “So, you got the letter, I see.”
Lev was too tightly strung to sit. Instead, he stood by my side as I sat on the leather lounge. “I did. I want to know what the hell you’re thinking, Igor, because you’re not getting my daughter. I had two long years without her, and I’ll be damned if I give her up now.”
Igor watched Lev closely. “You’ve changed,” he stated. “Something is different about you. I can’t put my finger on it. You’re”—his brows rose—“poised or something.”
Lev grunted. “Tell me what you want.”
I watched both men carefully. I had pepper spray in my bag and I was not afraid to use it. I was no shrinking violet when my loved ones were involved.
Igor sniffed. “You have nothing I want, Leokov.” His face shuttered. “Not anymore.”
Lev gritted his teeth. “You’re not getting another dime from me, not ever again.”
The older man’s face blazed bright red. “My daughter is dead, you imbecile. You impregnated her then decided you didn’t want her. She loved you. Of course she became depressed. She dealt with your cruelty for years before she took her life.” He took a breath and let out an arctic, “And it is all your fault.” He sat up straight, adjusting his tie that did not need adjusting. “You’re toxic. Lidiya is better off with us. We love her.”
Lev swallowed hard, his jaw tight. “Think about what you’re doing. It may be the last thought you ever have.”
Igor smiled then, and it was slimy. “Is that a threat, Leokov?”
Lev replied calmly, “No threat. Accidents happen.”
Igor stood just as his wife returned with coffee for us all. “It seems we have nothing left to discuss. Please leave.”
I stood and took Lev’s hand as he said, “See you in court.”
We turned, and Lev’s hand gripped me tight enough to hurt. Just as we moved to open the door, it was thrown open and Corinna stood there. She looked as though she was on a mission and didn’t have time to stop and say hi. She strolled in like she owned the place, and with a snarky smile, muttered, “Mother.” She looked to her father and couldn’t hide the look of disgust. “Inconsequential sperm donor.”
And there she was, our teeny, tiny angel of vengeance. They say the best things come in small packages. We were about to realize just how true that saying was.
Igor went rigid. “I told you never to come back here.”
Cora scoffed. “As if I would willingly. Get a clue, old man.” She smiled slyly. “I’m here for Lev.”
Igor jerked his chin toward Lev. “Take him, then. We’re done.”
I watched in amazement as Cora chuckled lightly. “Wow, you really are a tool.” She walked over to the leather lounge and sat. “You don’t want Lidiya. You’re just pissed that your golden child is gone. And I get that. I miss her too, but what you’re doing is disgusting.” She sat up straight and looked Igor dead in the eye. “You want to play hard, Papa?” She smiled a Mona Lisa smile. “Maybe you should check your safe spot; find your ledger.”
Igor’s face went slack.
Cora’s smile faded and was replaced with mock-concern. “Your search will probably be futile though.” She shook her head in uneasiness. “So many thieves out these days. It’s a shame, really.”
Igor’s face paled as he whispered, “What have you done, Corinna?”
Cora stood. “I’ll tell you what I’ve done. I’ve made four copies of that ledger.” She paused momentarily. “You can have the original back, but if you want to go ahead with this petty custody battle for a child you don’t want,” her voice lowered a notch, “I will air all your dirty laundry, all over. Every news network will know the ins and outs of Zakon.”
Her father stepped forward and looked like he was ready to strike, but he stopped himself. “I’ll be killed.”
She shrugged. “So you’ll be a martyr to the cause.”
I wasn’t sure I was seeing right, but Igor’s forehead began to glisten with sweat as he choked out, “You’ll be killed.”
Cora folded her arms over her chest. “Yeah, I thought about that already. See, if anything happens to me, I gave strict instructions to release a copy of the ledger to the FBI. The other three copies…” She looked so pleased with herself as she sighed, “Who knows where they’ll go?”
Igor looked ready to roar.
Cora leaned forward and stage-whispered, “By the way, does Mama know you were the one supplying Irina meth?” At her mother’s pained gasp, Cora turned to us, cringing. “Shit.” She spoke through the side of her mouth, “That’s awkward.”
A thick silence enveloped us. We stood there, soaking in what Corinna Alkaev had just dealt her father, when finally, she clapped and stated, “Okay, so we’re leaving now, and you’re not going to see us again. Not ever. If you even try to look Lidi’s way, I will crush you like the fucking insect you are, you sad, bitter man.” Her harsh expression wavered a moment to reveal a deep sadness. “I loved you once.” She turned to her mother. “You need to leave him, Ma. He’s insane.” She warned her mom, “Get out while you still can.”
Igor’s fists balled and he uttered through gritted teeth, “You disrespectful whore.”
Cora ignored him, still looking at her mother. “Call me if you need me. I’ll support you in whatever you choose.” She smiled at the quiet older woman who now had tears in her eyes. “I love you, Mama. Always have. Always will.”
She turned on her heel and motioned for us to leave. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Cora walked us to our car and murmured, “Go. I’ll meet you at Nastasia’s.”
Lev didn’t stop to ask questions.
We got in the car and drove.
Cora and Nas were waiting for us as we stepped out of the car. I held out my arms. “What the hell was that?”
Nas turned to Cora and nudged her shoulder. “That’s what you call having game.”
Lev approached cautiously. “Please tell me that was not a bluff.”
Cora smiled at him. “No. Nas has a copy, and so does Sasha. My lawyer has one, and the last ledger is in a secret location.” She sighed. “Pappy will be royally fucked if he messes with you again.”
“Why?” he asked. “Why are you helping me?”
Cora looked down at the ground before speaking softly. “You said I was like family once. And families look after each other, have each other’s backs.” She paused. “I always felt more at home here than I ever did over there.”
Then Lev did something odd.
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Corinna, and hugged her. And this was no short hug. It lasted a full minute, at the very least. Cora slumped into him, reaching up and gripping his jacket tightly as she accepted the rare show of affection from a man who seldom gave it.
And I stood by, smiling like a loon.
He pulled back and cupped her cheek. “Thank you, Corinna. I’m in your debt.”
But she shook her head. “You don’t owe me anything. I just want Lidiya to be happy, and she’s happy here.”
That she was, the little munchkin.
A thought crossed me. “Are we sure Igor will heed the warning? He’s so cocky. Doesn’t seem like the type to worry about a threat.”
Cora’s brow rose. “Oh, he’ll listen.” She chuckled. “I emailed him back a copy of the documents just so he knows I’m not playing around.”
“Whoa,” I stated in awe. “You’re a badass motherfucker, Cora.” I smiled in appreciation. “I like it. It’s a good look on you.”
Nas cut in then, “Cora’s going to be staying here for a while, just until she gets back on her feet.”
Cora blanched. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
Lev replied sincerely, “Stay as long as you like. We have plenty of room.”
Nas nudged Cora and whispered, “Ask him.”
Cora’s brows bunched, and she shook her head discreetly.
Nas rolled her eyes. “Just ask him.”
“Ask me what?” Lev enquired.
Cora shook her head, looking mildly embarrassed. “It’s not important.”
Nas sighed loudly. “You realize she’s officially cut off now, right?” Lev nodded, but shrugged. Nas muttered uncomfortably, “She kind of needs a job, you know, to live.”
Lev looked down at Cora. “Can you serve drinks?”
“I don’t know. I never tried,” she replied.
Ooh! Ooh!
I raised my hand like a first-grader, not even bothering to mask my excitement. “I can teach her.” I looked to Cora with a smile. “I can teach you.” I shrugged. “If I can learn, so can you. And I was terrible when I started.”
Nas tilted her head in thought, half-chuckling at the memory. “You really were.” At my indignant, “Hey!” she then turned to Cora and shrugged. “She really was.”
Lev nodded. “Okay, it’s settled then. You’ll work at the club.”
Cora’s shoulders slumped in relief and she let out a sincere, “Thank you.”
Lev merely responded, “We’re family. We look after each other.”
Oh, man, he was so getting laid tonight.