Page 64 of Deadly Knight (The Bratva’s Elite #2)
“You want me to come inside with you? Act as backup or anything?” Anastasia stares out the SUV’s window at my parents’ house.
“It’s fine.” I jerk the handle, pushing open the passenger door. “I should be no more than an hour, but even that’s aiming high. Twenty minutes.”
She slides the driver’s seat back, kicks her feet onto the dash, and grabs her phone from the console. “Take your time. I have more pointe shoes to order. Might test out a new brand…”
Chuckling, I shut the door and stride up the pathway to the house, knocking a few times. I hadn’t warned them of my visit, considering hours prior, dropping by wasn’t in the plans.
The door swings open after a moment, Papa standing in the doorway. “Katya! Milyy , you didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“It was unplanned.”
His gaze shifts from me to the large black vehicle parked by the curb, Anastasia not-so-hidden inside.
“A friend,” I supply. “She’s waiting.”
“Oh…okay.” Papa’s tone doesn’t hide the fact that me bringing people around is strange and unlike me. “Does she want to come in?”
“I offered, she said no. Mama home? I need to see you both.”
He blinks, jerking his attention back to me. “Uh, yeah. Come on in.” He steps back, shutting the door once I’m inside and heads for the cozy living room, decorated much like our old house in Moscow.
“Who’s at the door?” Mama’s voice calls from down the hallway.
“Our daughter,” he hollers back, earning a surprised noise from Mama right before she appears in the doorway.
“You didn’t mention you were coming by.”
I sigh. It’s like déjà vu with these two. “Unplanned. Can we talk?”
They share a look before leading me into the living room, both dropping onto the couch across from the single chair I settle in.
For a moment, I’m no longer in my twenties, but back to being the teenager who was admitting why she came home past curfew, or that I had a boyfriend who I was certain they’d faint at seeing me with.
They stare expectantly, unnerving me breath by breath until my fingers link into the cushion and my words tumble out in a mess.
“I’m moving back home. To Moscow, I mean.”
They share a look. Mama coughs. Neither speak.
I admit everything. Just like that day in the hospital when I didn’t hide the cold, hard facts, I tell them about Dimitri’s return, being brought to Moscow and why, the fact Dimitri bought our old house, and his recent capture.
Lastly, everything I’ve realized about it and him and why staying here isn’t an option anymore. That I’m done hiding.
When I finish, Papa curses, shaking his head. “He’s the buyer… Why did I not put that together? It makes so much sense.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad?” He blinks. “That boy loved you so much. It makes me happy to know he never stopped.”
“Wait.” My eyes flick between them. “You’re okay with this?”
Mama shifts towards the edge of the couch. “Katya, you haven’t been happy since the day we moved here. You were always looking over your shoulder, always needing one more thing in your life. You never left Moscow, not entirely.”
“It was home.” Even my argument feels weak. “For you as well.” For them more than me, considering they were born there and spent many more years there than I had.
“Da,” Mama agrees slowly, “but we’ve adapted.
You’ve been…floating, for lack of a better word.
The first few years were nice—all things considered, given how recent the attack was.
You attended school, seemed like you were adjusting, but then it changed afterwards.
Like deep down, you knew this wasn’t where you were meant to be. ”
Did I?
“You never said anything.”
“It wasn’t our place. You’re an adult, Katya. You experienced something terrible. Who was I, besides your mama, to tell you what you needed?”
Somehow, I feel betrayed by them, but not really. Certainly no less than I’ve betrayed myself by fighting the inevitable. By pretending I was okay and moving on when really, I always had one foot in Russia. Running from it while running towards it.
“So after all this, you’re okay with me going back?” Both nod. “Will you be moving home too?”
Papa shakes his head, giving the offer zero thought. “As much as we do miss home, we’ve adapted here. We enjoy our work and the neighbours. We’re nearing retirement, and would prefer not to move again. Nyet , I think it’s right that you return alone and find your place.”
This is not how the conversation was supposed to go. So… easy . I expected fights and arguments and tears. Not acceptance.
“What about Dimitri?” I ask, the child in me clinging to their approval.
“The Bratva was at fault, not him,” Papa says offhandedly, making me jolt.
“You knew?” I don’t say what he knows, in case it’s not correct.
“That he’s part of the mob? Yes, we knew.
For a while, we did blame him, da . You are right.
His world sucked you up, but that boy went through hell like you did.
He fought to protect you then, now, and will always.
In the end, the same outcome could have happened if you were with a regular boy; kidnappings and all sorts of horrible acts occur all the time.
With him, we know you’ll be treated like a queen.
Who better to protect you than a man trained in death? ”
Holy fuck, I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My mouth opens and shuts a few times, every word dies on my tongue.
“In fact, we’d love it if he could visit when he’s all healed up.
” Papa shares a look with Mama, who smiles.
“And if that’s in a few months, that’s okay too.
Maybe we’ll come visit you both in Moscow once you’ve re-settled.
It’d be nice to visit the old haunts. Either way, I’d like to have another conversation with him.
I’ve thanked him once for saving you in that warehouse, and it seems now he’s owed more gratitude.
If he didn’t care so much, if he wasn’t watching you, I shudder to think what his family could have done after the park. ”
Fuck therapy. I could have just spoken to my parents about everything. Immediately, years of weight I’ve been carrying slides off my shoulders.
“Do you think I made a mistake back then?”
This time, Mama responds, and I swear, it’s like she’s been reading my old textbooks, or is taking lessons from Ava.
“That wasn’t really our call to make. For the record, no, I don’t think you made a bad choice.
I think healing away from the city that everything happened in and growing away from Dimitri was wise, healthy, and required.
I simply think you clung to those beliefs long after you needed to and used them as a crutch. ”
I have no response.
So this time, I give up trying and push off my seat to cross the room to them, throwing myself onto the couch, one arm pulling at each of their necks to get them into a tight, group hug.
As happy as I am to be returning with Dimitri, I’ll miss them so much. Our Sunday lunches. Having them a phone call away. Now we’ll be separated by an ocean and time zones.
I may have to borrow Vanessa’s plane occasionally.
“Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciated you guys back then.
You never hesitated in supporting me after grad night, selling the house you bought together at the beginning of your relationship.
You gave up all you knew and moved to a whole new country, all to stick close to me.
You’ve been supportive over every decision I’ve ever made, and now are okay with me abandoning you guys here.
You’re the best parents and I couldn’t ask for better. Thank you.”
Mom grips my waist. “You don’t need to thank us for loving you. True love isn’t conditional, Katya. You know that.”
I know it, but I’ve often found myself forgetting it.
“How’d it go?” Anastasia straightens from her slouch and drops her phone into the console. “House is still standing, so their rage didn’t blow up the block. That’s good.”
“Surprisingly well.” I stare at the house I’ve promised to visit one more time before moving, this time accompanied by Dimitri when he’s feeling up to it. “They’re remaining here, but understand me going.”
Anastasia pulls away from the curb. “And you being with Dimitri?”
“They like him,” I say simply.
“Huh. Damn. Here I made a bet thinking otherwise with Vanessa. Seems I’ll be paying up. That means you will be staying with him this time?” She throws me a look before shifting her focus to merge into traffic on one of the more major roads in the area.
“I should never have left.”