Chapter 16

Anatoli quickly updated Max and Dimitri on what was happening with Violet. He had little information, but it was enough to know she was hurt.

“We should play into what he wants,” Ryan suggested.

“I agree. He wants the Ivanov Organization, so we pretend that we’re eager to get it out of our hands,” Anatoli added. “But it means Kyle will have to be involved.”

“I think we need to stick to the plan,” Dimitri interjected. “We already have men in place, waiting for us to show up at dawn to take everyone.”

“I agree, and before you say anything, this is not about Kyle. We have a plan, and we should stick to it.”

“Agreed. I want Violet home safe as soon as possible, and if that can happen tonight, then I’m all in for keeping our plan.”

He wanted to stick to the plan because it was the safest thing for Violet. He didn’t want her spending any more time with her father than she had to.

He knew she was strong, but he was afraid she was too traumatized by her past to stand up to her father.

***

“Violet, this is Tobias, the son of Bill Archer. Tobias, this is my eldest, Violet.”

“You weren’t kidding when you said you had a beautiful daughter,” Tobias said.

Her father smiled, happy with the comment. “Yes, and I’m offering her hand in marriage to you in return for an alliance.”

“Not to be disrespectful, Mr. Archer, but I will not marry you. I’m committed to a man that I love who treats me right,” Violet interjected.

Tobias let out a small laugh. “That hasn’t stopped me in the past.”

Violet was disgusted by his answer. “I have a problem with it. I will not be marrying you, so you can move on to the next girl.”

“Mind your manners, Violet,” her father yelled.

“Not until you mind yours,” she spat back.

“I’m sorry, Tobias, it seems my daughter needs to be taught a lesson about obeying people of higher rank.”

“No need to apologize. I like sassiness. It’s a challenge I’m willing to take on and work out of her.”

Violet rolled her eyes. “I’m still not consenting. I’ll have to be dead to be forced into marriage.”

She was trying everything she could to resist what her father was setting up.

“It’s settled then. We’ll arrange for the marriage to happen a month from now.”

Violet was trying to hide her smile. She knew her father wouldn’t be around to force her into this marriage, and she would be happily back home with Anatoli.

“Are we done? I would like to be away from this conversation,” she said.

“I’ll have fun with her. You have a deal,” Tobias stated as he shook her father’s hand.

Violet spun around and left the room, hoping to get far away from them, when she suddenly bumped into her brother.

“Arlo,” she gasped. “I didn’t see you there. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was actually looking for you.”

“Really?”

Arlo nodded and asked Violet to follow him.

“I wanted to talk to you about leaving. The three of us need to leave. It’s not safe here anymore. I begged Mom to take us and she wouldn’t.

“I hated her and you for the longest time because you got to leave.”

“I wasn’t going to a better place,” Violet protested. “If it wasn’t for the Volkovs, I would have been in a horrible situation.”

“Can you take me and River with you? I know you’re trying to ruin Dad and you’re going to leave again.”

Violet took a seat next to him and grabbed his hand. “I’m here because of you and River. I want the two of you to be safe.

“I had plans to bring you back with me, or at least take you to someone who could take care of you until you can be on your own.”

“Things have gotten worse. Dad is too greedy and he’s burning bridges. It’s only a matter of time before someone kills him. We don’t want to be here for that.

“We don’t want to be associated with him anymore.”

“Are you sure? Once you make this decision, there is no going back. You will be stuck with me and the people I call family.

“Or you can start your own life, but there will be no more going back to Dad.”

“I know. I’m willing to do that, and I’m sorry for everything that has happened to you, Violet. I didn’t realize.”

“You were too young, and I don’t blame you or River. I blame our parents, the ones who were supposed to protect us. They’re the ones who put us in this position.

“All they cared about was money. I’m sorry Mom left without you and River.”

Arlo was now silently crying. It was the first time Violet had seen him cry since he was a child.

“If I don’t leave, Dad is going to force me into this business, and I can’t do that.”

“To be honest with you, if you come with me, we’ll still live in this world, but you won’t be aware of what’s going on. And nothing will be expected of you except for finishing school.”

He wiped his face. “I can handle that. I don’t want to be part of the killing, and I don’t want to be used as a pawn.”

“You’ll have a good life once you’re away from here. I promise you.”

***

Violet spent the rest of the day with her siblings, getting to know them. It had been two years and they’d grown up a lot, more than they should have.

As she was heading to her room, Simon was standing at her door, waiting for her.

“I told you I can’t be with you, Simon.”

“Please give me another chance. I can prove to you I’m not like your father.”

“I know you’re not like him, but I’m not in love with you anymore. My heart belongs to someone else. You had your chance, and you ruined it. We can only be friends.”

“I won’t give up. I have always loved you,” Simon said.

“You don’t love me, Simon. Once you get out of here, you’ll meet someone else.”

Simon shook his head before walking off. Violet felt bad for being honest, but she didn’t want him chasing her when there was no chance he could be with her.

Her heart belonged to Anatoli, and that would never change.

She felt like she had just gotten to sleep when she was awakened by a loud commotion in the hallway.

She quickly jumped out of bed and opened her door, seeing her father’s men running and panicking. She was about to shut the door when a guard came up to her and grabbed her.

“Your father wants you in his office immediately.”

“I’m not going.”

“You have to. We are under attack. Your father has a panic room that you’ll be safe in.”

“I’m not going. You can leave me here and I’ll take care of myself.”

Just as she finished her sentence, the guard fell to the ground. Arlo had hit the man on the back of the head.

“Arlo! What are you doing?”

“I came to get you. River is waiting for us down the hall. We’re going to use this as our way out.”

“We can’t take the chance. River is too little, and I’m not putting him at risk.”

“If we don’t go, he’ll get kidnapped, and I won’t let that happen.”

Violet grabbed Arlo’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

“I think we’re being attacked because they’re coming to save me. You need to get River and hide in my room.

“You’ll be safe there. I need to see what is happening. Give me the bat, and go get River.”

Arlo listened without further argument, and she headed down the hall toward the stairs.

“Violet,” someone whispered from the room to the right. It sounded like Simon.

“Simon?” she whispered back.

“Yes,” he said as he opened the door. “What are you doing?”

“I need to see what’s happening. Why are you hiding?”

“If I go out there, I’m going to be expected to protect your father, and I don’t want to do that anymore.”

“Then come with me. If you’re with me, you can tell them you’re protecting me. Besides, I’m pretty sure my father is hiding.”

“Step away from her.”

They turned around, and Violet gasped. Standing in front of her was Anatoli. She smiled and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

“You’re here,” she whispered. “Please don’t hurt him. He’s a friend.” Anatoli pulled her back while keeping the gun pointed at Simon. He quickly kissed her before speaking.

“Who is he?”

“A childhood friend.”

Violet knew she couldn’t tell Anatoli the truth right now. He would kill Simon without thinking.

“He was going to help me kill my father.”

Anatoli lowered his gun and looked at Violet. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine. My brothers are hiding in my room. We have to take them with us. I can’t leave them here.”

Anatoli took out a gun hidden in his jacket and handed it to Simon. “Don’t make me regret this.

“And remember, I have no problem putting a bullet in your head if you try anything. Let’s get your brothers and get you out of here.”

He felt relief flood him as he set eyes on Violet. To physically see her and know she was unharmed put him at ease, but he still wanted everyone dead, including Simon.

Simon gave Anatoli a weird vibe. Anatoli didn’t trust him, but for Violet’s sake, he would act like he did.

“Why did you come?” Violet asked.

“I want you safe at home.”

“But I have things I need to do here. I can’t leave without making sure my father is taken care of. I want to see it to believe it.”

“Trust me, Violet, we’ll take care of him.”

Violet ripped her hand away from Anatoli and quickly yanked Simon’s gun away and ran to her father’s office. She remembered the guard telling her he was in a panic room in his office.

Simon and Anatoli were behind her, but she didn’t care. This was her only chance. She threw the door open, and she was surprised to find her father sitting calmly at his desk.

“I knew you came here for a reason. Showing up out of the blue wasn’t to save your siblings. It was to take me out. I knew it from the moment you showed up.

“I thought I would have some fun, but I didn’t think you would actually have a mafia organization backing you up.”

Violet aimed the gun at her father.

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said.

“Violet!” River cried as a guard came from the panic room holding a gun to his head.

“He’s just a little boy.”

“A little boy who made plans to run away. Consider this punishment for you and Arlo, unless the two of you want to stay.”

Before Violet could say anything, Anatoli ran into the room and stopped dead in his tracks when he laid eyes on Violet’s father.

“I would know that face anywhere,” he taunted. “You’re a Sidorvo.”

Anatoli’s hand clenched around his gun. He never thought he would see his parents’ killer again, and he sure as hell didn’t think it would be Violet’s father.