Mafia Bloodlines

Chapter 39

Third person's POV

The corridor felt colder than usual.

Faina's boots echoed against the marble, a sharp staccato she couldn't mute no matter how slow she walked. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, more for emotional protection than warmth. Her jaw was set, her face a mask of indifference. But underneath, her thoughts spun like a storm.

They were going to corner her. She knew it.

She paused at the large wooden door - Vladimir's office. She could already hear muffled voices inside, low and tight. A lump formed in her throat, thick and metallic. She swallowed it down.

When she opened the door, all three of them were there. Her father. Her mother. Nikolai.

Anastasia sat poised, legs crossed, her red nails tapping rhythmically against the armrest. She didn't look angry - not yet - just composed, unreadable. Nikolai stood in the corner, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched so tight the muscle ticked. And Vladimir.. He was behind his desk, staring straight at her The cold, unreadable one. The look that said he was already disappointed.

"Close the door, Faina," Anastasia said.

She did. Slowly. Deliberately. Her spine straightened as she turned to face them all.

"So?" Faina said. "Are we doing this like a tribunal? Should I sit or are we going for a public execution?"

"Don't be flippant," Nikolai snapped immediately. "This isn't a joke."

Faina raised a brow. "I didn't laugh."

"Sit," Anastasia said calmly, gesturing to the chair in the center of the room - the one they'd placed there, deliberately, like she was some kind of exhibit.

Faina sat, legs crossed, arms still folded, shoulders high. Defensive. Guarded.

Nikolai leaned forward. His voice was calm, but each word was razor-sharp. "Tell us what happened with Mikhail."

Faina's stomach twisted at the name.

She held Vladimir's gaze he was quiet maybe Mikhail's name also had the same effect on him. "You already know what happened. Brother so get to the point."

"No," Anastasia cut in. "We know what he did. We know you... let him. But we'd like to hear it from you." Faina chuckled a bit, it amused her that her mother believed her daughter to be so innocent.

"Nothing much happened.
Like Vladimir said I basically threw myself at him. What can I say Mama, Mikhail was simply irresistible." Faina said as a smile formed in her lips, she was trying hard to get on Vladimir's nerves.

Nikolai made a disgusted sound. "He was thirty-five, Faina. You were a child."

"I know how old I was." Faina deadpanned.

"Then act like it! You are not even ashamed. You speak of this fling or whatever you want to call it as if it were right." he snapped.

Faina's lips parted, then closed again. Her chest tightened. She wasn't going to show emotion She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

"I wasn't stupid," she said finally, voice low. "I wasn't seduced. I desired him-"

"You fell in love?" Anastasia's voice was a blade wrapped in velvet.

Faina looked away. "I thought I did."

"oh lord it gets worse" Nikolai hissed, he was losing his cool.
Silence fell, sharp and bitter.

Then Anastasia stood. She crossed the room with slow, predatory grace and crouched in front of her daughter.

"You're not the first girl to think her bodyguard understood her soul," she said softly. "But that fantasy? It dies the moment you realize he wouldn't have wanted you if you were twenty-five and powerful."

Faina flinched.
" In your case I killed the fantasy for you. You should be glad I did." Vladimir speaks up. What did he even mean by that?

Anastasia sighed. "What did you think would happen? That he'd run away with you? Build a life? Make you his teenage wife?" that was ironic considering how things turned out with Faina.

" Fine you all can judge me all you want. I was sixteen my foolish choices are understandable what about you guys?
Nikolai you slept with Ivan's girlfriend, got her pregnant and then forced her to abort the baby...." Faina was interrupted by Nikolai

" How do you know about that, that happened years ago and it was a mistake. You don't see me acting proud about what I did." Nikolai said with snaking eyes. Faina had dug up some skeletons, things that were meant to stay buried forever.

" You can't do that because you've kept it a secret, even from Ivan. And Mama you chose Vladimir, for the second time in one lifetime.
Frankly I think your bad choices are far worse..." Faina stated maliciously. Surely she didn't think Vladimir was that bad, did she?

" I'm offended." Vladimir spat, with an undertone of sarcasm.

" Faina we are not trying to crucify you , Nikola and I just wanted to understand what happened.
Sure the main reason we had called you here was to lecture you but I also want you to know that we missed you while you were gone. That was a difficult time for us, not knowing whether you were dead or alive. This is our second chance to become a family and I want us to try, do better than last time.
No secrets henceforth right baby?"

Faina hesitated, forced a smile and replied before giving her mother a hug. She realised she had missed her mom. Anastasia hadn't been welcoming when Faina returned, she was angry at Faina and now maybe, just maybe they were going to be okay." No secrets."

A tear slid from Faina's eye. Anastasia caught it before it fell further.
" Hey, why are you crying?" Anastasia asked in a soft tone. She was a bit concerned because Faina never cries.

" No, I just really needed you in the last two years you know, I'm glad you are here now, Mama." Faina said with a lot of sincerity.

"And I'm sorry for bringing that up Nikolai. It was a low blow." Faina expressed. Nikolai just flashed a warm smile towards her, they may fight a lot but they also do love each other. They just have odd ways of showing it.

" Well we will leave you two to talk. No guns, juts talking. " Anastasia  stated, emphasising the no guns part.

" Mama you can't leave me with him.
Vladimir is psychotic.
He will kill me." Faina said through her teeth.

"Vladimir you will not kill my daughter." Anastasia said, though you couldn't tell if it was an order or a question.

"Anastasia I will not kill our daughter." Vladimir stated while raising his right hand as if he was taking an oath on the stand.

" Well If you won't kill me then what was my punishment?" Faina arched an eyebrow while awaiting a response.

"An arranged marriage." Vladimir answered almost immediately. Has he been planning this all along.