The Romanov Series Book #1: My Rogue Girlfriend

Chapter Eighteen: Of Dark Legacies and Dark Princes

Leonid's POV
I studied the pictures presented to me.

My suspicions were right. The three are connected. Katerina lied to me when he said the kid was just a neighbor. The billionaire neighborhood has five families. I looked into all of them and the boy can only belong to the doctor and is at turns out he is. My first thought was he's a product of a one night stand. The doctor has a promiscuous life style. But then I have other photographs of him with my other daughter Katya. The boy is my daughter's son. I confirmed that the pair must share something when I put her in harms way to see which doctor she will run to. He came to her apartment that night and only left in the morning.

It was not my intention that Katya is severely hurt but she plays rough. Both of the men I sent to do the job didn't make it. She got rid of them while driving a fast moving Porsche. She's my most skilled soldier and I'm about to make one out of her son; my protégé... my heir. Of the two, Katya is my favorite daughter who also happened to stick a knife into my neck. I love her offspring dearly just like I love her.

"What are my instructions?" Igor asked me. I am losing my faith in Alexei. He is sleeping or rather has been sleeping with Katerina. His judgement is flawed. Igor does the things I don't trust Alexei to do anymore. It's disappointing to raise a boy as your own, to be generous with him and then he stabs you in the back. Betrayal is a female flaw. Men should stick to their word.

"Nothing." I set aside some pictures. I closed the folder full of the rest of the photographs. I hurled it into the fireplace watching it burn to ashes. "Regarding my daughter and grandson, nothing. Regarding the doctor however..." The flames have given me an idea to make him play ball. There's a distinct difference between billionaires who inherit legacies and those who are self made. The latter tend to value every penny they have. They put sweat and blood into it to lose a cent and not be troubled. "Set a section of his pharmaceutical company on fire. Just a section. Then let him know, I am waiting."

"Yes sir." He took his leave.

I reached into my jacket to take a look at Katya. I do this often. I love this girl. This firecracker is my greatest achievement yet she despises me. I am old and sooner or later, I'll be nothing more than a memory. Before that day comes, I must leave an heir in place.

I am also self made.

The Russian mob consists of families. The number tends to varies but usually between five to seven families. My family name was insignificant. I was just like Alexei, a bottom feeder who rose up the ranks to be one one of Popov's most trusted men. I realized I was when he gave me the responsibility me to raise his great grandson. After that I got higher in the ranks until my name meant something. It became one of the ruling mob families. I worked hard, it can't go to waste.

"Grandfather."

I couldn't contain my excitement to see the boy. I opened my arms for him. He hugged me. I'm not entirely heartless. My heart already beats for Terrence. I pressed my lips on both his cheeks. "You seem tired. Didn't you sleep well?"

I want to test how much he can say about a situation that should stay secret.

"Long night." He shrugged. He doesn't suffer from loose lips. "How are you?"

"Old! Have you eaten?"

"No."

I snapped my fingers and the waiters started setting up the table. Before he tasted the food, they did what was expected of them. I don't take chances especially now that the number of the people I trust is shrinking.

"Enjoy your breakfast." He filled his plate with a little of everything. He's just like Katya who is not a picky eater. "Why aren't you in school?"

"I got suspended."