Chapter 7 - The Mother in the DarkNatasha could not move.
"My mother is alive."
Leo took the phone.
"I know."
"You knew?"
"No."
"Then how?"
"The video was recorded tonight."
"She said not to trust you."
"I heard."
"What does that mean?"
Leo looked at the screen.
"I don't know."
Natasha pulled away.
"You always know."
"Not this time."
The truth was in his face.
For once, there was no calculation.
Only confusion.
They drove to an underground location beneath an abandoned church.
Marcus was waiting, pale from blood loss.
"You shouldn't be here."
"Find my mother."
Marcus looked at Leo.
"Boss."
"Do it."
Marcus hesitated.
"I already traced the video."
"Where?"
"An old Tomlin warehouse."
Leo's expression hardened.
"My uncle's warehouse."
"It was sealed."
"Not anymore."
Natasha stepped forward.
"We go now."
Leo shook his head.
"No."
"She's my mother."
"And that's exactly why it's dangerous."
"Then go without me."
He stared at her.
"You're staying."
"I don't belong in a cage."
"You belong beside me."
The words surprised both of them.
Natasha lowered her voice.
"Then don't leave me behind."
Leo finally nodded.
The warehouse smelled like oil and wet metal.
They entered through the roof.
Below them, armed men moved around.
Marcus whispered coordinates.
"Office upstairs."
Leo signaled.
They moved.
A guard opened the door.
One shot.
He fell.
Natasha flinched.
Leo grabbed her hand.
"Don't look."
"I've seen worse."
He looked at her.
"Have you?"
"Three years with you."
For the first time, almost a smile touched his mouth.
Then it vanished.
They reached the office.
The door was locked.
Leo kicked it.
Inside was empty.
Only a chair.
Rope.
A video monitor.
And a letter.
Natasha ran toward it.
"Mom?"
No one answered.
The monitor flickered on.
Her mother's face appeared.
But this time she was not tied up.
She sat calmly.
"Natasha."
Natasha stepped closer.
"Mom?"
"I don't have much time."
Leo watched silently.
Her mother continued.
"You were told Viktor was your father."
Natasha nodded.
"It was a lie."
"Then who was?"
Her mother looked at Leo.
"Carlo."
Natasha's face drained.
Leo closed his eyes.
Her mother continued.
"Carlo loved your grandmother. He hated Viktor. He arranged the records so no one would know."
"Why?"
"Because Viktor was dangerous."
"Where is he?"
Her mother looked toward the camera.
"Still alive."
Leo opened his eyes.
"What?"
A laugh came through the speaker.
Not her mother's.
A man's.
Deep.
Calm.
Familiar.
Leo went rigid.
"You know that voice," Natasha whispered.
Leo said nothing.
The screen changed.
A man appeared.
Older.
Gray at the temples.
Scar over one eyebrow.
He looked directly at Leo.
"My son."
Leo's gun lowered by an inch.
"Viktor."
The man smiled.
"I wondered how long it would take."
Natasha stared.
Viktor continued.
"Carlo stole my empire."
"He stole your wife."
"He stole you."
Leo's face twisted.
"You abandoned me."
"No."
Viktor smiled.
"I was waiting."
"For what?"
Viktor's eyes moved toward Natasha.
"For the heir."
Natasha stepped backward.
"You."
Viktor nodded.
"The child you're carrying belongs to my bloodline."
Leo moved in front of her.
"Stay away from her."
Viktor smiled wider.
"That child is the reason I came home."
The screen went black.
Then every light in the warehouse turned red.
Marcus shouted.
"Boss!"
Doors slammed shut around them.
May you like
Steel shutters descended.
They were trapped.
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