My brothers and I make our way up from the basement and head out to greet our unexpected guest.

I see Bella and her sister coming from upstairs, so I stride in their direction.

“Hey, babe,” I say pulling her close to me and giving her a kiss. “You get Alba settled in okay?”

“Yeah, everything is good.”

“Alright, Angel. I’ve got some shit to do, so if you need anything just let one of the prospects know and they’ll get it for you.”

“We’re okay. You go do what you need to do.”

Just then, Lisa steps up next to us. “Why don’t you girls come help me with lunch. I could use the extra help now that we have guests. It will give us a chance to get to know each other.”

“Cooking is one of our favorite things to do, so we would love to help you,” Bella says to her sincerely.

“You and I are going to get along just fine then,” Lisa replies with a big smile on her face.

I watch as Bella and Alba walk off towards the kitchen, then turn to Lisa. “Thanks for including them and making Bella and her sister feel welcome.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. I like her, Logan. I can tell she’s going to be good for you. You deserve to be happy.”

“Thanks, Lisa,” I say giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

“Now, go on and see to your guest,” she says, shooing me away, “Your girl will be fine.”

I catch up with Jake and Gabriel as they head across our compound’s parking lot towards the gate. I see our prospect, Blake, standing next to a black suburban SUV with blacked out windows. Standing next him is a man in a dark gray suit, I’m assuming he’s the driver.

Once we reach the man in question, I immediately notice the two guns in his shoulder holster under his suit jacket. I’m also betting he has one strapped to his ankle as well. My observation tells me that this man is more than a driver. These men are no threat to us, but I’ve learned to always be observant. Ready for anything.

“My name is Victor,” he says in a Russian accent while offering his hand to Jake.

“Jake,” Prez replies gruffly, accepting Victor’s handshake.

“Volkov and his son would like to apologize for their unexpected visit, but hope to meet with you so we can dissolve our mutual problem together. This is not how we normally conduct business,” Victor tries to assure him.

Jake tells the man, “I called Volkov a few days ago out of courtesy, and I don’t too much appreciate him just showing up at my compound unannounced.”

“We can understand that,” Victor says. “But Mr. Volkov also has a personal reason for this meeting as well, and feels with all that’s going on, it is time for those things to be addressed.”

I look over at Jake and he has the same confused look on his face as I’m sure I do. What the fuck is he talking about personal reasons? We’ve only been in business with the Russians for about a year, so I don’t know where this shit is leading, but to say I’m not a little bit curious would be a lie.

“Alright, Victor,” Prez says. “Blake here will show you in. I’ll meet you all inside.”

Victor nods his head, then my brothers and I follow Jake back into the clubhouse.

We all walk in and head straight to the bar. Austin sees us approaching and starts pulling out beers. I grab mine, downing almost all of it in one pull.

Turning to Jake, I say, “ What are you thinking, Prez?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t take too kindly to them just showing up here like this.”

“We have shit under control,” Gabriel adds.

“I agree,” Jakes says. “But I’m going to hear them out. I don’t believe Volkov would show up without cause. He’s always been nothing but respectful in the time we’ve been in business with him. So in return, we will show him the same respect and hear whatever it is they came all this way to say.”

The clubhouse door opens and in walks Victor, behind him are two other men, I’m assuming is Mr. Volkov and his son. The older man looks to be in his late forties and his son probably early twenties, basically a younger version of his father. Both are wearing similar suits that reek of money.

The men walk over, stopping in front of us. I notice Jake go deathly still, looking a bit taken aback. I glance over at Gabriel, who also has noticed Jake’s behavior. I wonder what’s gotten into him. He’s always cool and collected.

Prez offers his hand. “I’m Jake.”

“Jake, I’m Mr. Volkov. This is my son, Nikolai.”

There is a collective round of handshakes between us.

“If it alright with you, Jake, I would like to talk to you in private for a moment,” Volkov asks.

“Alright, we can go to my office. Nikolai, why don’t have a drink at the bar.”

I watch as Jake heads towards his office, then turn my attention to Nikolai. “Come on, man. Let’s get a beer.”

Nikolai and I take a seat at the bar, while the prospect gets us a beer and pours a couple shots. He is the first to speak.

“My father and I are grateful for your club agreeing to meet with us. I assure you we don’t normally do business this way.”

I down my shot. “You going to tell me what the hell is going on? Your guy over there,” I say pointing to Victor, who is at the end of the bar talking with Reid, “says this is somewhat of a personal visit?”

“I’m sorry, Logan. I’m afraid that is for my father to tell.”

“Alright man, fair enough,” I say blowing out a frustrated breath.

“How long will you guys be in town?”

“We’re not quite sure yet. That will depend on how things go today.”

Now I’m really fucking curious. I’m also fucking tired of these cryptic answers.

“My family has an estate just a few miles from here, so we will be staying there,” Nikolai tells me.

I’m about to reply to him when I feel a hand on my arm. Turning, I see Bella.

“Hey, babe.” I smile, pulling her to stand between my legs. She snuggles into my chest, while I kiss the top of her head.

“What you are doing, Angel?”

“We just finished cooking lunch. I wanted to come say hi for a minute.”

“You can come say hi anytime you want, babe,” I say, forgetting for a minute about the man sitting next to me, I turn back to Nikolai. “Nikolai, this is my girl, Bella.”

“It’s nice to me you, Nikolai,” she says, offering him her small hand.

“You too, Myshka, little mouse,” he says.

I’m just about to ask what the fuck myshka means when Quinn comes up to me.

“Prez wants to see you, man.”

“Alright. Thanks, brother.”

“Well, that’s my cue to get back to the kitchen,” Bella sighs.

“I’ll see you later, babe.”

“Okay,” she says, giving me a quick kiss before walking off.

When I walk into Jake’s office, I notice his whole body is tense.

“Hey, Prez. Quinn said you wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, son. Why don’t you come sit down?”

I stride over, taking the empty seat next to our guest. Nobody is saying a word, and it’s raking on my fucking nerves.

Clearing his throat, then standing, Volkov turns his chair to face me directly. His odd behavior has my full attention.

“I suppose there is no easy way to say what I’m about to tell you, so I will start by properly introducing myself. I’m Demetri Alexander Volkov.”

I tilt my head at him. He looks like he’s waiting for some sort of a reaction, but I have none. I look over at Jake for some clue, and his eyes are boring holes into me like he’s waiting for a reaction as well.

Suddenly, I realize he said his name is Demetri. Now my wheels are turning, because my middle name is Demetri. My mother never really talked about who my father was, but she did say she gave me my middle name, Demetri, after him. I take a good look at the man in front of me. He has brown hair with a bit of gray. He’s also about the same height as me, but that’s not what has all the air leaving my body. The man in front of me has one blue eye and one green eye, just like me. I feel like this is some sort of fucked up dream, but no, it’s my fucked-up life. I’m positive the man in front of me, Demetri Alexander Volkov is my father.

“You’re my father.”

“Yes, Logan. You are my son.”

I have a death grip on the arms of my chair, needing to keep myself in check. It’s crazy how many emotions one can feel all at the same time. Confusion, elation, anger. Here I have been wondering my whole life about my father. Always wondering why he left. Did he know about me? Was he dead?

“I can tell by the looks playing across your face you have many questions. I assure you, I will answer them all.”

I’m finally able to bring myself to look at him. “How long have you known about me?” I ask because that is possibly the most important question.

I don’t even know if I’m prepared for his answer. What if he’s always known, and just never wanted anything to do with me. Will I be able to handle that?

“I become aware of your existence a year ago, son. Had I known about you from the beginning, I would have come for you.”

“You said you found out a year ago?”

“Yes,” he replies.

“You’re contacting our club to do business...”

“Was my attempt to somehow be close to you,” my father tells me without hesitation.

“Why wait a whole fucking year to meet me? Why not come as soon as you found out?”

“I don’t have a good excuse for that. Only that the lies and deception I uncovered in my own family had me wanting to tread cautiously. I did not want to act hastily or do anything that might bring you harm.”

“Bring me harm? What the hell you are talking about?”

Sighing, Demetri leans forward. “What I’m about to tell you, son, is not going to be easy for you to hear. Believe me, it about broke me.”

I nod for him to continue.

“I met your mother twenty-six years ago. My family has an estate here in Montana because we do a lot of business in this part of the country and in Canada. I was here with my own father. I met Rose in a coffee shop the second week I was here. One look at your mother, I was a goner.”

Demetri pauses, with a faraway look in eyes, like he’s remembering that day like it was yesterday.

Continuing he says, “I spent every spare moment that I wasn’t working with Rose. I want you to know, Logan. I was very much in love with your mother.”

“Then why did you leave her?”

Demetri closes his eyes. I can tell that it pained him to do so. I’d say that I am pretty damn good at reading people, and I have no doubt this man loved my mother. What I don’t understand, is why someone would leave the person they were in love with. I could never leave Bella. Nothing in this world could keep me from her.

“I left because I had an obligation to my family. I was to be married to another woman. My marriage already arranged for me. I didn’t dare defy my father. That is how things worked in my family. It’s been that way for generations.”

“Did my mother know you were engaged to someone else?” I ask through gritted teeth. He still pursued my mother, knowing that he would eventually break her heart.

“No, I didn’t have it in me to tell her. She knew I had to return to Russia. We both parted with broken hearts. On good terms, but broken nonetheless.”

“How long after you returned to Russia were you married?”

“Two months. Nikolai was born a year and a half after that.”

Fuck. How could I have overlooked that? Nikolai is my half-brother. I have a fucking brother.

“So, while my mother was here alone and pregnant, you’re were off playing family and living happily ever after,” I snap at him bitterly.

“Logan!” Jake hisses at me.

Shit, I forgot he was still here.

“It’s alright, Jake,” Demetri says holding his hand up. “I assure you son; my life was far from a fairy tale.”

“Can we get to the part where you find out you have a son?”

“It was after my father passed away last year. I was going through his office and came across a file with your mother’s name on it. When I opened it, there were a dozen photos—Rose pregnant, Rose with a baby, and Rose with a small boy. Also with the photos were letters. Twelve letters total. Two were from her telling me of the pregnancy, the other ten were each written on your birthdays. Telling me of all the new things about you each year that went by. How much you’d grown. All your likes and dislikes. How you were doing in school.”

I close my eyes, trying to control my shaking hands. I had no idea she did any of that. I remember asking about my father a few times, but my mom would always change the subject.

“The letters were postmarked to our estate here in Montana. The housekeeper must have forwarded them to my father’s home in Russia. He knew the whole time and kept it from me. My father knew I was in love with Rose. Had I known of the pregnancy, I would have given everything up for her, and for you, Logan.”

“Why do I get the feeling that that’s not all of it?” I question him. I have a gut feeling, that I’m not going to like where the rest of this story is going.

“Your mother’s car accident was no accident at all. My father saw Rose as a threat. He did what he felt he had to do to eliminate that threat. Alexander Volkov was a heartless man, and would never let anything stand in the way of his business. I found your mother’s death certificate in the files as well. I knew right then what evil my father had done. When I didn’t find any record of your death I immediately began my search for you. I was relieved to discover you were alive and well and living in Montana. I’m truly sorry, Logan. If my father were still alive, I would kill him myself,” Demetri declares with anger and sadness in his voice.

I need to get the fuck out of here. I refuse to break down in front of him.

I feel like I can’t breathe.

I need to go somewhere. Away from all this.

Standing on shaky legs, I don’t utter a word as I leave the office. There is nothing left to say. When my mom died I was devastated, but now finding out that she was killed simply for falling in love with the wrong man?

I don’t even know how to process that information.