"He is Nikolay's top man," Grandfather added.
Pavel, that conceited ass, stood a little bit taller, puffing out his chest. "No testing is 100
percent accurate. The probability of paternity isȄ"
"Cut the posturing, Pavel." What part of 'in plain terms', didn't he understand? "Are they related? Yes or no?"
Silence filled the room. All eyes were on Pavel. Tatyana trembled in Nik's arms.
The man took a deep breath. "Yes, they're related."
Twelve
"Whenever possible, hedge your bets."ȄSergei Kaerta After delivering that bombshell, Pavel backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
No one spoke because there was nothing to say. They were related. She had a living relative, something she dearly wanted, but that relative despised her. Igroek glared at her as though this situation was all her fault.
As though she wanted this. She didn't. It changed nothing, that he was her grandfather. She wouldn't allow it to. The crazy gnome had disowned her sweet mom. He would disown her just as easily.
"Now that that's done," Tatyana said in her most casual voice, turning to Nikky, "Did you like your tuxedo?"
"Which one?" He quirked an eyebrow. That action reassured her. Nothing had changed. He was still the same. He still loved her.
"You are not getting married," the crazy gnome spouted.
Great. Another man thought he could boss her around. She ignored him and continued,
"The baby blue one was a joke."
"I figured as much." Nikky put his arm around her shoulder, creating a protective barrier between her and Igroek. "The other one is very similar to the tuxedo I own."
"Oh." He would own a tuxedo, wouldn't he? The jet-setting ass. "No need to rent then.
That'll save some money." As his mom was going overboard on the flowers.
"You are not getting married," Igroek repeated.
She ignored him. She had to. She couldn't deal with this right now. "Speaking of money, your mom is insisting on a band."
Nikky kissed the tip of her nose. She blinked. "Get the band. Money is not a consideration."
"Listen to me!" Igroek rose out of his seat.
She frowned. "But a DJ allows us to have a wider variety of music. Boris knows a cute little DJ." She suspected he was sweet on her. "She's available." In more ways than one.
"Tatyana," Nikky's grandfather growled.
"Grandfather," she addressed him.
"He is not your grandfather." The crazy gnome was red in the face now. "I am."
He thought their relationship had changed? They hadn't. "A DNA test doesn't make you family, you should know that." She paused. "Or maybe you don't." He hadn't any family left, had he? Except for that sneaky ass of a brother. "Nikky's grandfather has earned a right to interfere in our lives. You haven't," she explained.
"You are not getting married." Igroek stood.
"Oh, we are." Tatyana stood also. The crazy gnome didn't intimidate her. He was mere inches taller than she was. "See this finger?" She held up her hand, her engagement ring sparkling. "Tomorrow, there'll be a wedding band on it. Nothing you can do will stop it."
"I will stop it!" Igroek shook.
"Why would you want to? We're in love. We're happy. If you cared about me at all, you'd be happy for us." But he didn't. Care. He didn't even know her.
"Because you're in love?" His laugh was bitter. "That happiness won't last."
"My parents' happiness lasted almost twenty years. It would have lasted longer if you hadn't killed them." He took her parents away. Now, he wanted to take Nikky away. He wanted her as alone as he was.
Igroek paled. "I didn't kill them."
"Whether you pulled the trigger or not," she shrugged. "One thing the Kaertas have taught me..." She looked over at Nikky. His lips twitched. "...is that a failure to protect someone you love is the same as harming them yourself. You failed to protect my mom."
"Her so-called husband failed to protect her."
"Shut your damn mouth about my dad." She picked up a shoe. One more insult and she'd throw it. Right at that thick bald head.
"Language, Brat," Nikky cautioned.
The ass. She dropped her shoe. "You have no right to criticize him. He kept mom alive for almost two decades. Alone. With your professional killers after us. All while raising a family. And they were happy, happy with that life. Could you have done any better?"
The gnome's eyes bulged as she yelled. "I don't think so. Dad was more than worthy of mom's love. You insult your daughter by implying anything else and you insult me by implying the same of my choice." She paced in front of him, angry as hell. "Nikky and I are getting married. Deal with it. Or don't. I don't care." She had enough of this. "Now if you excuse me, Grandfather." She nodded at Nikky's grandfather. "Nikky." She gave him a quick kiss. "Mr. Igroek, I have a wedding to organize." Without a backward glance, she stomped off.
Nikky watched her go, his vengeful she-wolf. Damn, no one told people off like Tatyana. It took all his willpower to keep from smiling.
Grandfather wasn't as considerate of Igroek's situation. He chuckled, lighting another cigar.
"That went well."
"Go to hell, Kaerta." Igroek sat back down.
"Older, but not wiser. All these years and you still haven't figured out how to deal with strong women," Grandfather needled.
"I'll deal with her in New York. She's coming home with me."
Nik's good humor fled. He straightened to his full height. "She is going nowhere." Not without him.
"There you go." Grandfather shrugged. "Her husband-tobe says no and since you're a dead man walkingȄ"
"I'll deal with my brother. There will be no wedding." Igroek turned to him. "You'll tell my granddaughter you changed your mind." He didn't ask, he told.
That was one command he wouldn't obey. "No, I won't." Not ever. Tatyana was his.
"Why would Nikolay do that?" Grandfather asked.
"I'll kill him, otherwise."
He could try. The old fool. Nik reached behind his back, placing a hand on his gun.
"And likely kill your granddaughter in the process. I have dozens of grandsons.
