Chapter 14 - The Last TomlinThe attack lasted seven minutes.
Seven minutes of glass breaking.
Gunfire.
Screams.
Smoke.
Leo moved Natasha into the cellar while Marcus and Elena held the upper floor.
The grandmother stayed in the library.
She refused to move.
When Leo returned, she was sitting by the fire.
"You knew they were coming."
"Of course."
"Who?"
"Everyone."
He stared at her.
"You orchestrated this."
"No."
She looked at him.
"I arranged the board."
"The same thing."
"No."
She smiled.
"The board is still being played by someone else."
Leo's expression darkened.
"Viktor."
She shook her head.
"You're still looking at the wrong man."
"Then who?"
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a passport.
Not Natasha's.
Not Elena's.
Leo picked it up.
The photograph belonged to Carlo Tomlin.
But the name was different.
Anthony Volkov.
Leo stared.
"Carlo was Viktor's brother."
"Yes."
"Then my father was..."
"Anthony."
Leo's eyes widened.
"Carlo changed his name."
"Yes."
"The entire family history..."
"Was a lie."
Natasha entered.
"Then who is Viktor?"
The grandmother looked at her.
"Your grandfather's enforcer."
"Why pretend?"
"To hide Anthony."
Natasha shook her head.
"This never ends."
The grandmother's gaze softened.
"It ends with you."
"How?"
"By refusing the inheritance."
Natasha looked at Leo.
"And the baby?"
"Safe."
"Are you sure?"
"No."
The honesty hit hard.
"But you can make it safe."
Natasha looked down.
"How?"
"At midnight, sign the dissolution."
Leo stepped forward.
"What happens to the family?"
"Everything disappears."
"The money?"
"Liquidated."
"The properties?"
"Sold."
"The organization?"
"Dissolved."
"The enemies?"
"Unfunded."
Leo stared.
"What about us?"
The grandmother smiled.
"That depends on whether he chooses you or the empire."
The room went quiet.
Leo looked at Natasha.
He did not hesitate.
"You."
Natasha's eyes filled.
The grandmother nodded.
"Then sign."
Natasha took the pen.
She placed it over the document.
Then she heard footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming from the hallway.
The door opened.
Viktor entered.
Everyone raised weapons.
He looked at the grandmother.
"I warned you."
She smiled.
"I remember."
Viktor looked at Natasha.
Then at Leo.
"You're both fools."
"Leave," Leo said.
Viktor laughed.
"No."
He pulled a folder from his coat.
"The child you're carrying isn't eligible for the inheritance."
Natasha froze.
"Why?"
"Because Leo isn't a Tomlin."
She looked at him.
"What?"
Viktor smiled.
"Leo is my biological son."
The grandmother stood.
"Don't."
Viktor continued.
"But Carlo adopted him."
Leo stared.
"So I'm not..."
"A Tomlin."
Viktor shook his head.
"Not by blood."
Natasha looked at the contract.
Then the grandmother.
"The baby needs Tomlin blood."
"Yes."
"Then..."
The grandmother whispered:
"Someone else is the father."
Natasha's world collapsed.
She looked at Leo.
Leo looked devastated.
Viktor smiled.
"Ask your mother."
Natasha turned.
"Mom?"
Elena began to cry.
"I didn't want you to know."
"Tell me."
"I was twenty-four."
"Tell me."
"I was married."
"To whom?"
Elena closed her eyes.
"The man who raised Leo."
Natasha stared.
"Your husband?"
Elena nodded.
"And Leo?"
"His son."
Natasha whispered:
"Then why did the paternity records say otherwise?"
Elena looked at her.
"Because Carlo had them changed."
Leo took a step backward.
"Who am I?"
Elena said nothing.
Viktor answered instead.
"You're my son."
Then he looked at Natasha.
May you like
"And the baby is mine too."
Everyone froze.
