Close Up: Exposure Book Three (17 page)

I
picked up Natalia
, and we headed over to my father’s home in silence. His London home, which he apparently just purchased, was a sprawling mansion in East Horsley, a wealthy enclave situated in Surrey. It was a gated estate, Tudor style, very old England. It was a gorgeous home, but it still was nothing compared to his home in Russia. His home in Russia was as large as a castle, and was outfitted with security rooms that were constantly manned by various specialists in the security field.

Natalia and I went through the gate and rang the doorbell. To my surprise, my father answered the door. He usually had one of his servants answer the door, so that was a sign that he was anxious to speak with Natalia and me.

He gave me a big hug as I walked through the door. “Alexei, I cannot tell you how nice it is to finally see you again. It has been way too long, my son. Way too long.”

I hugged him back, and all of us went through the enormous foyer, and we ended up in the den. My father got up to make himself a brandy, and he got Scotch for me and vodka for Natalia. Natalia was Russian, through and through, and vodka was always her drink of choice. She drank it straight-up, no ice, no mixer.

As he got the drinks, he was talking. “So, Alexei, tell me how you have been? I am overjoyed to hear about my new grandson.”

I cleared my throat. I had no idea that Sophie was having a boy. “That’s what Natalia and I were going to talk to you about.”

“What about it? You are going to marry that woman. You cannot abdicate your responsibilities to her. I hope that you know that.”

I looked over at Natalia, and she gave me a look back. I wondered if she was half as nervous as I was. She certainly did look it, but, as she sipped her vodka, it did seem as if she was calming down just a little.

I drew a breath. I wanted my father to bring up his health issues. I couldn’t bring it up to him at all. If I did, he would be suspicious that I might have been behind it, and then everything would unravel.

He shook his head. “Well, I hope that you and Sophie get married soon.” He drew a breath. “It turns out that I am not well.”

I feigned concern and got up and put my arm around him. “Not well? What do you mean by that?”

He shook his head again, and there were tears in his eyes. “My heart. Apparently my doctor has told me that I need another open heart surgery, or even a heart transplant. It does not look good, Alexei. I am 65 years old. I have had a previous bypass surgery. I do not think that I can survive another surgery, so I need to put my affairs in order.”

I hugged him tighter. He looked so shaken, so lost, so hopeless…I truly felt sympathy for him. I hated that I was putting him through this, but I knew that it needed to be done.

“Oh, father, I’m so sorry to hear about that,” I said. And then Natalia got up and hugged him as well. “Is there anything I can do?” I asked him.

“Yes, Alexei. Marry Sophie. Give me an heir before I die. That would make me immensely happy. Please, Alexei. That is all that I have ever wanted – a grandchild. Sophie can make you a very happy man.”

I felt uncomfortable. I wished that CJ was pregnant, because, once my father found out the truth about Sophie, it would have been nice for him to know that he would be a grandfather. Of course, chances were great that he actually would see a grandchild before he passed away, as he was fit as a fiddle and probably was going to live a long life. But he didn’t know that. He thought that I needed to produce a child quickly, as he thought that he had little time left.

“Father, let’s not get too far ahead. You aren’t dying.”

“I am, Alexei. I have elected to not have the heart surgery. Apparently two of my arteries are so blocked that there is very little that the doctors can do without opening me up again. And I do not believe that I am strong enough to survive another surgery. That is very invasive surgery.” He shook his head. “I am weighing my options, but I am leaning towards getting only palliative treatment.”

“Now, come on, a second bypass surgery has a very high success rate. I’ve reviewed the research on it.”

He furrowed his brow. “Why were reviewing the research on this, Alexei?”

I had to think quickly. I couldn’t believe that I gave myself away like that. “After you got your first bypass, I looked at the research on the success rate for a second bypass. I wanted to make sure that all the bases were covered. I figured that you might have to do it again.”

He seemed to be satisfied with that answer, and I let out an internal sigh of relief. I looked over at Natalia, whose face had gone white after I slipped up. At that moment, though, she, too, looked completely relieved.

“That is my son, always being prepared.” And then he paused. “That is why, Alexei, I would like for you to take over for me. I might not be dying. I do not know. What I do know is that the stress of this job is not good for my heart. I need to go away and retire. Relax in the sun somewhere. I cannot remember the last time I had a holiday.”

My heart sunk. Somehow, I knew that this was coming. I had to simply tell him what he wanted to hear. “Father, I am sure that you know that I have my own company to run. But I can step in for you until you find someone to replace you permanently.”

He shook his head. “No. I want you to take my place permanently. Your business acumen is astounding. I could not be more proud of you, looking at how far you have come and what you have done. I feel as if my business could be in sound hands if you take over.”

Natalia stepped in at that point. “Father, you know that Alexei will not do a good job for you. He does not like your line of work. It makes him want to….” She contemplated what word she wanted to use, but could not think of it. So, she pantomined vomiting by making a gagging sound and sweeping her hand like it was puke coming out of her mouth.

My father nodded his head solemnly. “I understand this, Alexei, which is why I am going to leave you with no choice in the matter. You must take over. If you do not, then you will not be protected anymore. You will be dead within a month.”

I knew what my father was talking about. If he were ever incapacitated or if he died, I would still be protected. I would be protected by the person who took over for my father. That was the agreement that the Pushkins had with all the other families, and it was inviolate. Everybody knew that if you messed with the son of a Pakhan, you and your group would be dead.

Crap.
“Father, I don’t want to make a commitment on that right now. What I do want is for you to tell me what happens to Natalia. When you were in this position before, you said that she could come to America and work with me. I would like that to happen this time, father.”

“Natalia can go to America. But I want you to stay here and run my business.”

I was going to have to talk him out of that. “I won’t do it. I refuse. You can threaten me all you want, but if you want your organization to collapse into utter chaos after you retire, then put me in charge of it. Because that’s what will happen. You’ve always known that. You’ve always known that I can’t stomach 99% of what goes on with your business.” I crossed my arms.

My father stared at me for a few minutes, but he called my bluff. “You are right, Alexei. I would like the business to stay in the family, but if you are going to do a poor job running it, then I cannot chance that. I will assign Evgeny to my job. He has always wanted it anyhow. He is very ambitious.”

I nodded my head, feeling relieved. I was just a tad bit concerned that he backed down so quickly, but, then again, he seemed weak to me right then. Defeated. I wondered if he wanted to retire from his position, anyhow, and this “health problem” just gave him the excuse to do so. I wouldn’t be surprised, as he seemed on the edge of burnout.

“Okay, then, so I will go back to America and Natalia will come with me. Right?” I looked over to Natalia, and she was nodding her head. I could see hope in her face, and I closed my eyes. I needed the commitment from my father. Natalia needed it, too.

“Yes. Natalia, I want you to be happy. That is another thing that I would like to see before I die. For you to be happy. You have expressed to me many times that you are unhappy working for me. If you can be happy in America, working for Alexei, then that is where you should be.”

I smiled. It was amazing how differently people feel about things when they’re facing their own mortality.

“Thank you, father,” Natalia said, and then hugged him again. “And you can survive a surgery. You’re strong and fit. You cannot give up.”

He nodded his head. “I probably will try the surgery, but I am weighing my options. There are less invasive ways of treating this disease, and I have to meet with my doctor to find all of these options out. At any rate, even if I do opt for surgery, I do believe that this health issue is a sign that I need to retire.”

Then I looked over at Natalia and nodded. I held my breath, for this was going to be the trickiest part of the process. Once my father knew about Sophie, the shit could hit the fan.

“Father,” Natalia said. “I have something to tell you about Sophie.”

My father said nothing, but just nodded his head, giving her a non-verbal cue to continue on.

She took a deep breath. “Sophie is pregnant, but it is not Alexei’s child.”

My father didn’t look surprised about this. “I know this. It is Viktor Kazakov’s child. But Alexei must take responsibility for the baby. Nobody will ever know.”

I shook my head. I never even considered the thought that maybe my father knew the truth. Then again, it made a lot of sense. He was going to protect Sophie, even if it was at my expense.

It was then that I made a decision. It was a lie, because CJ’s last pregnancy test came up negative, but, at that point, I did what I had to do. “Father, I can’t marry Sophie. She’s not carrying my child, but CJ actually is.”

Then my father’s face changed. He furrowed his brows and looked like he had no idea what I was talking about. “I do not understand. Alexei, when you told me that you wanted to meet this CJ woman, you did not tell me that she was pregnant. When did this develop?”

I tried hard not to look at Natalia. I could just imagine the look on her face.

“She’s pregnant now. We just found out today, as a matter of fact.”

My father shook his head. “Alexei, you cannot do this to me. I have already promised Sophie that you would marry her and give her child a name. I know that you know what will happen to her if the truth was ever brought to light. I do not know this CJ. She is not one of us. I cannot trust her. Sophie I can trust.”

“You don’t know her, so how to you know that you can’t trust her? And I’m in love with her, and I want to make a family with her. You told me that you wanted a grandchild before you died. CJ will give you that. But if you don’t approve of her, then she’ll die and so will your grandchild. CJ isn’t safe unless she gets protection from you, the same type of protection that I have gotten over the years.”

My father contemplated what I was saying, but he seemed unconvinced. “CJ is in danger because Sophie put her in danger. But, as long as you marry Sophie, then CJ will remain untouched.”

Again, I was taken aback by the fact that Sophie told my father
everything.
But she apparently did, and my father remained firmly in her camp.

I decided to use simple logic for the situation. “Father, I’m not going to marry Sophie. I won’t do it. And as soon as Sophie finds out that this meeting between you and I took place, CJ’s life will be danger. I’m breaking my word just coming here to talk to you about all of this. If you don’t bless my union with CJ, again I must say, father, that your grandchild will die with CJ.”

“How will Sophie find out that you talked to me? As I understand it, you’ve already agreed to accept paternity for this child. I am not sure how Sophie will know that you talked to me.”

It was then that I knew that I had to take a risk. Perhaps the biggest risk of my entire life. “Father, if you don’t bless my union with CJ, then I’ll tell Sophie that our deal is off, and I’ll tell Viktor’s wife what is going on. Sophie will immediately put a hit on CJ in that event, and then, as I said, your grandchild will be no more.” I crossed my arms. “You said that you wanted a grandchild, and I would assume that you meant a grandchild that is blood related. CJ’s child would be blood-related. Sophie’s child would not. Now, if you want your grandchild put into that kind of danger, then refuse me, father. Refuse me. You’ll lose everything in that case – your grandchild and you’ll lose me. Because I will refuse to talk to you anymore. I know that might be a death sentence for me, but I’m willing to risk that. I would rather die than marry Sophie, and I would literally give my life for CJ.”

My father looked like he was going to murder me right on the spot. “Impossible. CJ is not Russian Orthodox. She is not even Russian at all. How can I trust her?”

“She’s not Russian Orthodox, but neither am I. Neither are you, for that matter. I don’t think that you have ever even been inside a Russian Orthodox church in your life.”

My father shook his head. “I understand that you might believe that I have required that your wife be Russian Orthodox because her religion is important to me. But that is not why. I really just want to make sure that your wife is Russian, and I do believe that the Russian Orthodox Church teaches excellent values and morals.”

I sighed. “If the church is going to teach excellent values and morals, then wouldn’t a religious woman be less likely to marry me, considering my background? Father, think about this logically. If anything, a religious woman would be more likely to want to go to the authorities and turn you in.”

“Alexei, as I said, it is just more important to me that your prospective wife is Russian. That is why I put the stipulation in that your wife must be Russian Orthodox. In truth, Alexei, I do not care if she is religious or not. I do care that she is Russian. And this CJ is not Russian, I assume. If she were, you certainly would have told me that she was by now.”

“No, she is not Russian. But I only ask you to meet with her. Just meet with her. She’s carrying my child. That should be your insurance policy that she won’t do anything to you. She knows that your protection would extend to our child. She knows that if something happens to you or to Evgeny, if you choose to retire, that she will be exposed and so will our child. She’s not stupid, father.”