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“I don’t need your apology, Nathaniel. All I ask is this. You’ve made a life for yourself. Please don’t waste it by obsessing over or hurting more people.”
“You have my word,” he says to Nikolay and Ana.
“Thank you,” their father says. “What is a future you think is correct? From here.”
I can see him struggling to find the right words. It isn’t a language barrier so much as a how do I make up for a lifetime of neglect barrier.
Not like I’d be any help. This level of family drama is beyond what any AI program can solve. If that was possible, I’d make ten times what I’m making now.
“I don’t know,” Nathaniel says softly. “I’ve spent the last five years thinking of what I would say to you when I finally got you in the same room.” He looks around and grimaces. “Turns out there isn’t much to say to a father who abandoned you.”
Nikolay nods. “Then we must speak as men.”
Nathaniel blinks. “What would that entail?” he asks cautiously.
“Sergei and I have spoken. He wants to be part of this conversation.”
After a minute, everyone slowly turns to look at me expectantly. Ana’s face is so hopeful, she’s nearly radiant.
I sigh and say, “Yeah, we can make arrangements for safe transport.”
Ana mouths a silent thank you while the two men nod solemnly, probably already regretting this impulsive foray into familial peace. What would reconciliation even look like for them? Trust takes years. Forgiveness requires effort. They have no solid ground for either.
I am promising transport and security to protect them from external contingencies as well as from each other. It’s a cold day in hell before I’ll trust Ana’s brother. A normal relationship is probably too late at this point. Nikolay will eventually return to Moscow, and Nathaniel will certainly have to answer for his actions.
An overdue reunion is far from a Hallmark card solution. All the good intentions in the world can’t compensate for decades of bitterness and seriously shitty judgment.
But my girl wants this meeting to happen, so I’ll make it happen.
I get a notification that Tristan needs to reach me. He was gathering details from police reports regarding the hotel and the shipyard.
“I have to take this,” I announce to the room before going outside. “Hi, what’s new?”
“Your guy, Nathaniel Turner, there’s a warrant for his arrest for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping by hiring armed guards. Depending on the charges Ana will launch, the DA is hoping to get a conviction for assault and false imprisonment. They’re looking for her. Her assistant at work was instructed to give her the message that she’s summoned to the police station. They need an official statement.”
“How are they classifying her escape from the captors?”
“The guards can’t identify anyone and the camera feed was fried, so it’s their word against hers once she comes forward. They’ll say she was taken by armed men, and she’ll say she slipped out during the evacuation.”
“Who do these clowns work for? I don’t want any retaliation because their security firm faced damages.”
“It’s an outfit in South Florida. We’ve got our eyes on them. They’re hired guns, Bryce. Nikolay Petrov can throw money at them like he does with everything else.”
There’s fatigue and disdain in my uncle’s voice.
“Hey, I can’t thank you enough for backing me up,” I state, being remiss in acknowledging the toll this has taken on our resources, both material and mental. “Thanks, Tristan. You’ve come through for me. I’ll never forget it.”
He clears his throat, embarrassed by my effusive gratitude. “So, when are you giving up Nathaniel Turner?” he asks, changing the subject.
“As soon as he meets Sergei, I think.”
“Jesus, who knew Nikolay had such a bleeding heart. That figures.”
“It’s Ana who’s getting these men to make peace,” I correct him. “Not Nikolay.”
“Someone hasn’t read the file I emailed on Nathaniel.”
“Been kind of busy,” I drone. “What else is there?”
