Embrace of the Russian Tiger (Russian Mafia Kings #2)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

T he sun's rays slashed through the tall windows, casting a blinding light on the grand mansion. I sat on the edge of my bed, the empty space next to me a constant reminder of Maxim's absence. My heart was heavy with a cold emptiness, his touch still lingering on my skin like a brand.

I wanted to scream in frustration. Last night was supposed to be different, a moment of connection amidst all the chaos and control. But it was just another sick game he played with me as his pawn. He didn't care about my pleasure, only using it as a tool to punish me. And yet, despite it all, I still craved him. The thought anguished me - how he could still have this hold over me, make me want him even though he treated me like trash.

But no more. With determination burning in my chest, I stood up and made a decision. I refused to be controlled by Maxim anymore. I had power too, and it was time for him to see that.

As I stormed towards his office, I heard mumbles coming out of his library. The door was left a bit open, and I heard Mikhail’s voice. I wanted to barge in when I overheard my name and then I stopped myself. Then I heard:

"… sooner or later, she's going to find out," Mikhail's voice said.

"Mikhail, shut up," Maxim growled in response. "She cannot find out that she is Rossi’s daughter! Don’t you get it?”

My heart skipped a beat. Rossi’s daughter. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks - I was the daughter of Don Rossi, my mother's boss and the Italian mafia leader who Maxim had killed years ago. The man who had raped and murdered Maxim's sister - and I was his biological product!

Right that moment, I felt the realization as a slap. The reason why Maxim hated me the way he did was there, raw and so clear.

I took a step back, reeling from this shocking revelation.

My mind was in chaos, my emotions swirling as I tried to process this new information. All my life, I had been living in the shadows of other people's decisions - first my mother, then Maxim. And now… this. I wasn’t just Anna anymore. I was someone important, with a past that I didn't even know existed.

Why keep this from me? He ignored the anonymous note I received the other day. I brushed it off as a coincidence, but I was wrong. This arrogant bastard with his whispery voice and beautiful cock decided to hide the truth from me.

I turned and hurried back down the hall, my thoughts racing. I needed space, time to think. But as I made my way back to my room, a part of me wondered if I could ever trust him again. He had kept this secret from me, controlled me with lies and half-truths. What else was he hiding?

As I reached my room, my phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking through my thoughts. My brows furrowed as I picked it up and saw a message on the screen.

Do you want to know more? Meet me at Papa Joe's Pizza tomorrow at 4 PM.

My heart pounded in my chest as I read the words. "Who is this?" No one was supposed to have my number except for Maxim and his people. But clearly, someone else did - and they knew something about me that I didn't.

I sat down on the bed, fear and curiosity warring within me.

"Want to know more?"

The question taunted me, tempting me to find out what secrets were being kept from me. But it could also be a trap, a way for someone to use me against Maxim. The risks were high, but I couldn’t ignore it. I needed answers.

My mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain - I couldn’t back down now. I had to know the truth, no matter the cost.

The thought made me hesitate. But then again, I had been living under other people's control for too long. This was my chance to take back some power and finally learn the truth about myself.

I glanced at the closed door, half-expecting Maxim to walk in and stop me from going. But he didn't, and for once, I felt like I had a choice in my own life.

I made up my mind.

I would go to Papa Joe's Pizza tomorrow and see what this person knew about me. And I wouldn’t tell Maxim, not yet. He had kept secrets from me for far too long, and now it was my turn.

As I sat there with the phone in hand, I realized that finding out the truth came with a price. But I had come too far to turn back now.

Later, I needed something to do. Something to keep me from spiraling into a thousand different thoughts. I made my way toward the kitchen, hoping a drink—anything—would calm the storm raging inside me. Every step I took felt heavy, the weight of the revelation I had overheard pulling me down like an anchor. Russo’s daughter. The words echoed in my head, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

I pushed open the kitchen door, the cool, sterile air of the room offering a brief moment of relief from the pressure mounting inside me. It was late, so I didn’t expect to see anyone, but as I entered, I froze.

Mikhail was there, standing by the counter, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as if he were lost in thought. His hand was wrapped around a glass, but he hadn’t taken a sip. Instead, he stared out of the small kitchen window, the tension radiating off him so palpable I could almost feel it.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Stay calm, Anna. Don’t let him see anything’s wrong. I couldn’t afford to give away what I knew. Not yet.

“Anna,” Mikhail said, his voice breaking the silence as he turned to face me. His eyes softened when they met mine, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before he gave me a small, almost weary smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I forced a smile in return, though it felt stiff, unnatural. “I just needed something to drink. Couldn’t sleep.”

Mikhail nodded slowly, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than usual. There was something off about him—something uneasy. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days, the lines around his eyes deeper than I remembered. But then again, he always looked like that these days. Ever since Maxim’s sister’s death, Mikhail had carried that weight, and it showed in every part of him.

I moved toward the fridge, feeling the tension in the air between us. My hands trembled slightly as I grabbed a bottle of water, trying to keep myself composed. Act normal.

Mikhail shifted, leaning against the counter as he watched me. His eyes were soft, but there was an intensity behind them that made me feel like he could see right through me, like he could sense that something was wrong.

My grip on the water bottle tightened as I mustered a casual shrug and fed a blatant lie to Mikhail's penetrating stare. But inside, I was screaming with terror. Does he know? The thought shot through me like a bolt of lightning, sending shivers down my spine. Pushing down the fear, I flashed him a fake smile. I couldn’t let him see how much I knew - not yet.

Mikhail's gaze bore into me, searching for any hint of deception behind my carefully chosen words. Did he already suspect that I had overheard his conversation with Maxim? But then, just like always, he smiled at me with genuine kindness - a gentle contrast to Maxim's cold demeanor.

"You've been through so much," he spoke softly. "More than anyone should ever have to endure. I know things have been tense… but I want you to know that I’m here for you. You don't have to face this alone."

A wave of emotions washed over me at his words, tugging at my heartstrings. Mikhail was different from Maxim in all the ways that mattered - more empathetic, more willing to show vulnerability. It was hard not to trust him, even though every instinct was telling me not to trust anyone right now.

"Thank you, Mikhail," I barely managed to whisper, unable to meet his gaze fully. "That means everything to me."

He nodded earnestly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I mean it, Anna. If you ever need anything - if you're ever in danger or if something feels off - you can count on me. You can trust me."

His offer hung heavily in the air between us. He was giving me an escape route, an option if things became too dangerous. And for a moment, I almost spilled everything - I know the truth. I know who I really am . But I held back. I needed more information, more certainty before revealing my true identity.

Summoning another smile, I pretended to take a sip from the water bottle. "I appreciate that, Mikhail. More than you know."

His features softened even further, exposing the pain hidden behind his eyes. Like me, he had been through hell and back - maybe even worse. His family had been torn apart by violence and grief, and it showed in the way he carried himself, always trying to protect those around him even when he needed saving himself.

"Be careful," he cautioned in a low voice. "This world... it's dangerous, Anna. And sometimes, the greatest threats come from those closest to you."

His words hit me harder than they should have, especially considering what I had just learned about Maxim. Was he warning me about him? Did he suspect that I was questioning everything?

I nodded slowly, unsure of how else to respond. "I’ll keep that in mind."

There was a long, tense silence between us, and I could feel the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the air. I wanted to ask him more, to press him for details, to find out if he knew the truth about who I was. But I couldn’t risk it. Not yet.

Mikhail finally pushed himself off the counter, giving me one last look before he turned to leave. He spoke softly, his words lingering in the air. "If you need anything," he said, "you can always come to me."

I watched as he strolled out of the kitchen, his footsteps fading away. The tension in my chest eased slightly, but my mind was still a whirlwind of doubts and fears. I couldn’t ignore the nagging suspicion that Mikhail knew more than he was letting on, that he was trying to warn me about something I hadn't fully comprehended.

But I refused to give up. I had made my decision. Tomorrow, I would confront the mysterious sender of the text and uncover the truth for myself.