Page 16 of Tainted Empire
The question is, who is out to destroy Mikhail? It can’t just be any enemy because this person knows personal details about him.
“You look deep in thought,” Lee’s voice drifts through the living room as I sit there with my legs drawn up and staring out of the window. “Care to share?”
She plops down next to me, takes my legs and drapes it over hers. It’s odd how close we’ve become over the past few weeks, how she’s sort of built me up after I shattered.
“It’s just… who could be after Mikhail? Someone must know how he feels about betrayal and was adamant to make it look like I was cheating on him,” I say, shaking my head. “And to slip him a drug and make him more paranoid… God, it feels like it’s right on the tip of my tongue!”
Lee is biting her bottom lip as she crosses her arms. “Well, you’re asking the questions we all have been busting our heads over. Each lead is as elusive as the next,” she says. “But I don’t think it’s for you to worry about, Gabi. Let him sort it out while you focus on you.”
I frown at her suggestion. “Mikhail is my husband and him nearly killing me makes it something for me to worry about,” I say, swinging my legs over and sitting up. “It’s not fair that I’ve been punishing him like this when he was drugged and not in his right mind. We both lost part of ourselves that night.”
Lee looks taken aback at my words, and honestly, so am I. But I’m tired of sitting here and wallowing when someone’s obviously out to ruin Mikhail by slowly ruining what he and I have. He started trusting again, trusting me, and they trampled all over it.
At least this makes me feel like I have some semblance of control over the situation.
She sighs, nodding her head. “I understand. Mikhail is doing everything he can to track down the person who spiked the bourbon given to him as well as who sent the pictures. It’s a bit difficult because whoever did this, knew what they were doing.”
“Or they planned it for a long time,” I finished her thought, the realization hitting me with a chilling clarity. “They’ve been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike. It’s methodical, calculated.”
Lee nods, her expression serious. “Exactly. Whoever this person is, they’re not just some random enemy. This is personal, Gabi. They knew exactly which buttons to push.”
I lean back against the couch, feeling a mixture of fear and anger swirling inside me. The idea that someone has been orchestrating this, manipulating our lives with such precision, is terrifying.
“It’s scary to think about,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “The level of hatred someone must have towards Mikhail … and to use me as a weapon against him.”
Lee reaches out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find whoever is responsible.”
I nod, feeling a sense of determination building within me. “I want to help,” I say, more to myself than to Lee. “I can’t just sit back and be a victim in all of this. I need to be a part of the solution.”
Lee looks at me, her eyes assessing. “That’s a brave stance, Gabi. But you need to be careful. We’re dealing with someone who’s dangerous and cunning.”
“I know,” I reply, steeling myself. “But I refuse to be just a bystander. This is my life too, and I won’t let someone else control it.”
Lee’s eyes narrow as she appraises me, a calculating glint in them. “If you’re serious about this, there are things you need to learn. Tricks of the trade, so to speak. Things that no one would expect Mikhail Baranov’s wife to know.”
I sit up straighter, intrigued and a little apprehensive. “Like what?”
“First off, Russian,” Lee begins, her voice taking on a tone of seriousness. “I know you’re a quick learner, so you need to understand it fluently. Not just the basics, but the nuances, the street slang, the underworld jargon. It’s the language of Mikhail’s world, and it’s vital you understand it if you want to be a part of this.”
It makes sense. My mind flashes to moments when Mikhail and his men switched to Russian, a barrier that kept me out. “Okay, Russian lessons. What else?”
Lee leans forward, her demeanor shifting into something resembling a mentor. “We’ll get you trained on how to handle a gun. It’s not just about shooting. It’s about understanding the responsibility that comes with holding a weapon, knowing when to use it and when to hold back.”
The idea sends a chill down my spine, but I recognize its necessity. “I’ve never really handled a gun before, but I’ve always wanted to learn,” I admit, my voice tinged with nervousness.
“It’s about time then,” Lee says with a hint of a smile, but her eyes remain serious. “And not just guns; self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, awareness training. You need to be sharp, always on your toes.”
I can’t help but feel a twinge of resentment. Why hadn’t my father, with all his underworld connections, ever thought to teach me these things? “Why didn’t my father teach me any of this?” I ask, more to myself.
Lee shrugs. “Old-school thinking, maybe. The idea that the women in our world need to be protected, not be protectors. But times are changing, Gabi. You need to be your own safeguard.”
I sit up straighter, feeling a newfound sense of empowerment. “I’m ready,” I say firmly. “When do we start?”
“We can begin with the language lessons tomorrow. As for the rest, I’ll set up a schedule. We’ll start slow and build up,” Lee says, her tone now business-like. “It’s going to be tough, I won’t sugarcoat it. But if you’re going to be an active part of this life, and not just Mikhail’s wife, you need these skills.”
I nod, a sense of determination settling over me. It’s a different path, but one I know I need to take. Not just for Mikhail or for dealing with our current situation, but for myself. I need to stand on my own, to be a force to be reckoned with, not just the sheltered daughter or the trophy wife.
I need to become the Bratva Queen they never saw coming.