My eyes lift to his, and there's so many questions between us, but instead, we continue to eat in silence.
Chapter 21.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Fairfax, but all that remains in your trust today is five hundred and seventeen thousand dollars. It seems that, without oversight, the trustee withdrew the rest and it is... unaccounted for in her will."
The lawyer's words become fuzzy and I lean back in my chair. Dimitri's hand rests atop of mine in a supportive manner, but I can feel the tension bristling through him.
"That said, she did have numerous business holdings, as well as her investment account which houses six-hundred-million dollars, all of which is left to her sole remaining child, Mr. Brokov."
Dimitri's jaw tenses, and if he could, I'm sure he'd breathe fire.
"I am not her sole remaining child," he sneers, and the mousy lawyer gives me an apologetic smile.
"I'm only reciting what's in her last will and testament. Along with her business holdings and investments, you are also to inherit her Long Island home, and her Cyprus vacation home."
"When will the arrangements be made?"
"Well, Ms. Fairfax will receive the balance of her trust upon her twenty-first birthday, as previously agreed. Unfortunately, if you want the full balance of your original trust, you would traditionally have to have to contest the will, stating that she wasn't allowed to bequeath the money to Mr. Brokov as it was part of your trust."
Dimitri tightens his hand on mine. "It's fine. We can work it out without that," he says, looking at me for my agreement, but it's all too much of a haze. I don't understand.
"Unfortunately, I also have on file a legal contract, signed by you, stating that you will not sue for more money upon being paid the five hundred and seventeen thousand in your trust, and that contract extends to her estate."
The document Rebecca had me sign. I had no idea...
"How much was originally in my trust when my father passed?"
"Eight hundred million. He intended for you to get nearly everything aside from his properties."
I sit back, taking in a deep breath.
"Eight hundred million. She's leaving Dimitri six hundred million, and there's half a million left in my trust. Where did the rest of the money go?"
The lawyer gives an apologetic, though tight, smile.
"Business investments aren't guaranteed Ms. Fairfax. I'm sure when Mr. Brokov is sent the documents, he will find most of the money is tied up in her businesses and properties. Now, if you'll just sign these documents, I can start the process."
Dimitri looks at me, standing up. Anger darkens his eyes, his entire body seeming coiled like a snake, waiting for his chance to strike.
"Send the documents to my office. I'll review them with my lawyer before signing."
Chapter 22.
"Did you know about this?" I ask, my anger bubbling to the surface despite seeing how pissed off Dimitri is.
He looks offended as he drives us towards his condo, his body still tense.
"Of course I didn't know. I figured your trust was safe and sound."
I sneer out the window, my hand pounding down on the armrest.
"Damn it! It's not even the money, it's that she lied to me! And then she fucking hires me to go work in your company with a promise of a big payoff when that payoff is just my trust. A fraction of my trust."
He sighs, his grip still tight on the wheel.
"She must've been embezzling it through her companies and that damned goombah. Though embezzling through my own company... She must've been desperate."
"Wait, what?" Rebecca embezzling through Dimitri's company? She'd hired me to look into his books, but I figured he was skimming off the top. That he was laundering dirty money through his company.
He looks at me with a furrowed brow, seeming just as confused as me.
"Sarah... that's why she hired you, isn't it? To get a look at my books, to find loopholes?"
"She never told me why, but I just... I figured you were taking some off the top."
"Bozhe moi," he curses under his breath. "Of course I was taking some off the top. That's what I was hired to do. The company is set up to be a legal front. But I was starting to get suspicious after she put me in charge, looking into things too closely. It wasn't adding up, what we were giving to the bosses and what we were bringing in."
"Then why would Rebecca want me looking into it?"
"Because she was skimming off their percent, Da? Sending it to those damned Italians. But that money wasn't in her will. It's missing."
I lean back in the passenger seat, watching as the streets of Brooklyn whip by.
"You were hired to spy on me, Sarah?"
"Oh come on, don't be so surprised I'd do that, Dimitri. Especially after how you abandoned me when Rebecca kicked me out."
A brief hint of sorrow crosses his face, and he pulls over into an alleyway, turning off the vehicle and facing me.
"Sarah, you know why I did that now, right?"
I shake my head. I have ideas, but none that make me feel better about it.
He licks his lips, choosing his words carefully.
"When I got home that night, a few hours after you, mom was up and in the kitchen. She called me in. She asked where I'd been and I lied. I told her I was with my friends, but she saw right through me. I still don't know how, whether she was having me tailed or not, but she knew I was with you. She knew that when I lied, it was because I had something to hide."
I cringe with embarrassment. I had no idea about any of this. Rebecca kicked me out the next morning, and that was the last I ever heard from Dimitri.
"Oh."
"That... that's not all. We got into a fight. I told her that I was leaving the life, the Bratva. She'd have none of it. She brought up my father, all the sacrifices he'd made for the family. All the sacrifices she'd made to ensure we would bring more value to the Bratva, so that they'd promote me young."
I can't meet his eyes anymore. I know where the story is going. All the pieces are falling into place, and I don't want to hear the rest, but I can't bring myself to interrupt him. His hand goes to my leg, squeezing it in a comforting manner.
"She told me that if I ever contacted you again that she would have you killed. That you're too soft, like your mother, and couldn't handle this life. I guess that's why she wanted to offer you a lump sum payout before your trust matured, so that she could get your signature that said you'd never sue or try to get any more money from her. She wanted you out of our lives forever, Sarah. And I thought... I tried to believe it'd be so easy."
Tears are threatening to spill from my eyes and I try to hold them back. I hate being so emotional, but I can't help it. Not when he's telling me all the reasons why he left me that had nothing to do with me not being good enough. It's such an intense rush of pain and joy, and my breath catches.
"Sarah, I've not been with anyone else since. Sure I flirt, or go to dinner parties, but I never connected with anyone. Not like with you. And when you came back, I hoped it meant that you had Rebecca's blessing. I found out she'd met with you before I saw you in the coffee shop, so I hoped it was safe, even though I knew that with me, you'd never be safe. It's not just Rebecca that'd love to hurt me."
I sob and he squeezes my leg harder, moving in towards me. It's awkward in the car, but he manages to pull me closer.
"Sarah, I've loved you since you were seventeen and you got that tattoo. I've loved you every day since, and it killed me to have to cut you out. But you're still not safe with me."
"I should have a choice about that," I manage out in a soft, uncertain voice. "You can't make it for me."
"I know. I've... I've tried, Sarah, to push you away, but at every turn you're one step ahead. You're smarter than me, and stupider all at once."
It makes me laugh, and his thumb brushes along my cheek.
"I need you, but if you're really smart, you'll walk away. I don't need all that money, and it's rightfully yours. You can take it and start a new life for yourself, find someone safe. Boring, even," he says and I wonder if that's his attempt to dissuade me from listening to him. Some subconscious effort to make me turn away from tedium and run into his dangerous arms.
"Dimitri, I couldn't even stay at the party for an evening. That life isn't for me."
"So? Go, do your own thing. Travel, see the world. Hide your wealth and just do whatever you please. Work as an accountant for the C.I.A. if you want a real rush. Somewhere where you won't get hurt."
I shake my head, and all the tears I've tried to contain start to fall.
"Dimitri, I've missed you so bad. I can't leave you now."
His thumb wipes away a tear as it rolls down my cheek.
"I've gotten you in too deep because I've been selfish. I've wanted you close. But last night... If Viktor had spotted you, there'd be no way to talk him out of it."
"Then I'll stop. I won't follow you."
"You've promised me that before."
"But now I know, right? I know everything, and... I know there's things I'm better off not knowing."
"You are."
"Please don't make me leave, Dimitri."
He sighs, his large chest rising and falling.
"I can't make you leave this time, Sarah. I can't bring myself to want that. But I want you to leave me for your own good."
"My own good is being with the man I love."
He stares at me, his chocolatey eyes brimming with emotion that I can't read, but when his mouth presses against mine hungrily, all of my barriers crumble down. All of my fears, my apprehension, wash away, and his arms wrap around me urgently.
Though it seems like only seconds have passed before there's a tap at the window, and a stern police officer is looking at us like we've just robbed a bank.
Dimitri and I both laugh nervously as he turns the ignition and slowly backs out onto the road, heading us back towards his place.
Chapter 23.
I can't believe how lucky I am. I wake up in Dimitri's plush bed, a light breeze pulling me from a happy dream. We'd spent the entire night in one another's arms, and even though he's absent now, there's a note on his pillow.
I smile as I open it up, finding his handwriting.
Sarah, I've made breakfast for you. It's in the oven to keep warm. I had to head to the office early and you looked like an angel, so I didn't want to wake you. I'm handling the will, and getting you your trust back.
Tonight, I've made a reservation for dinner. Take the day off work if you like and go find something amazing. I'll be home at six to pick you up.
Love, Dimitri He makes me feel like a giddy school girl, and beneath the note is his black AmEx card. I swing my legs, pulling myself reluctantly out of bed. It's so comfortable, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to doing a bit of shopping.
Last time it was for the event I didn't want to go to. This time it's to knock his socks off for a dinner date.
The smell of breakfast is rich in the air, and I head to the fridge to grab a glass of orange juice. Opening the oven, I find eggs, bacon and pancakes, all arranged into a cheesy smiley face. I giggle as I take it out, putting it on the table and taking a moment to really say thanks for how perfect life is.
No sooner had I lifted my fork, though, that my world goes black.
Chapter 24.