Mafia Bloodlines

Chapter 20

Anastasia's pov

I wasn't satisfied with Faina's answer yesterday so I took it upon myself to find out what they were really doing here in Spain. I knew Faina and Roman were not going to budge so I decided to ask Vladimir while we were all having breakfast.

" And why exactly are you three not in Russia. I'm very interested to know what business you guys handled? I mean Faina should be heading to school now, except she is here."

" I needed her to find someone for me. We took care of him. It's all handled." Vladimir replies. I would even say that he sounded proud.

" And of course you saw it fit to bond with your daughter over skipping school and dead bodies." I say rolling my eyes, unable to hide my annoyance.

" Mama don't be angry . I asked him to take me with him and I had fun." Faina interjected. Knowing Faina she probably did have fun and she may have just asked to accompany him.

" I actually just realised how alike Faina is to our sons, and here I was confused as to how I would  figure out how to build a better relationship with her." Vladimir remarked. He is right, since I've been getting to know my sons I can definitely say that they are all cut from the same cloth.

" We have to get going now. Roman, go ahead and walk Faina out," Vladimir said, his voice low and husky. "I'll be right there."

Faina nodded and skipped out of the room, but not before glancing at the both of us. Roman follows closely behind. As soon as they were out of earshot, Vladimir turned to me, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Anastasia," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I've missed you, then and now. Nothing has changed, believe me." He said while stroking my cheek ,softly. Everything felt the same, his touch, the way he looks at me, his piercing eyes . I could feel the old spark between us flaring to life. For a moment, it was like no time had passed at all, and we were back in the past, when our love was new and all consuming.

But then my expression changed, and I looked away,
" You have to go, Vladimir." I say trying to make sure my voice sounds firm, it betrayed me. It came out low and shaky.

"Tell me to leave her and I will." He said as his eyes bore through my soul. I hesitated and he saw it.

" You are right, I have to go.  Seeing you is always a pleasure Anastasia," he said gruffly as he perked my forehead before turning and walking out of the room.

Klara's pov

Vladimir, Roman and Faina came back late in the afternoon. It was almost time for dinner.

" When I grow up I want to be like Faina. I mean I still don't get how you got Papa to let you not go to school for two whole days. What was so important, or was he just trying to impress?" Zakhar asked. I knew he wouldn't keep quiet about this, I didn't want to be the one to ask about their whereabouts because of how Vladimir and I left things yesterday.

"Vladimir took me to Disneyland, the land of magic." Faina replied, her tone was sarcastic so I doubt there is any truth in that statement.

"Oh please my dad's doesn't even know what that is. This is probably the first time he is hearing that word. Don't be all mysterious now, we are family. Tell us Чертёнок(little devil)" Luca pushed the matter.

" Fine, Vladimir needed my experties.We were in Spain.  Vladimir was looking for someone who he needed to silence so I helped him find him. I also killed the neighbours with Mikhail's help. Don't worry they didn't hear anything because no guns were used, we were all just feeling crafty. Oh and the best part is where we hid the body but I can't really tell that." Faina continued, she was rather chirpy if you asked me. I don't believe most of what she said because it sounded a little crazy except for the fact that they were in Spain. That didn't sound so crazy, it made sense. He wasn't answering my calls, he went there right after our big fight.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as I processed Faina's words. Spain. He went to Spain. To see her. Anastasia. The thought of Vladimir running to her after our fight was like a punch to the gut. I couldn't breathe. I tried to maintain a neutral expression, but inside, I was seething. How could he do this to me? To our family?

I pushed my chair back, the sound scraping against the floor. "I need some air" I muttered, trying to compose myself. "Excuse me."

I quickly got up and walked out of the room, leaving the dinner table behind. I couldn't bear to look at Vladimir, to pretend like everything was fine because it wasn't. Nothing was fine. Nothing has ever been fine. I can't do this. I don't hold a candle to her when it comes to Vladimir, I've known this all along but I had hope. Hope that he would forget her. He did try I'll give him that, he made sure that no one would ever mention Anastasia's name or bring her up during conversations but it was all in vain. Her name still echoed in his heart. For thirteen years he would call her name until he fell asleep when he was really drunk. At other times he would whisper her name as he came on top of me with his eyes tightly closed, I knew he was probably imagining her. His greatest love and my greatest tormentor.