"No need for that, Brat." Nikky's relief told her she made the right decision. "If Grandfather says that's what will happen, that's what will happen. I trust him."
"Glad to hear that," his grandfather grumbled.
Tatyana smiled. "Then he can live." Nikky's gun swung to Igroek. "I didn't really want to kill you, you know," she assured his grandfather. "It's just that I love Nikky very, very much."
"What did I say, Kaerta?" Igroek crowed. "They wouldn't have done it."
"You, however." Tatyana turned her entire attention to Igroek. "I really do want to kill. It crushed my mom that you didn't approve of Dad. He was a good man. And you allowed your own brother to kill them."
Igroek flinched. "I didn't allowȄ"
"Shut up." She didn't want to hear it. His excuses would make killing him all the harder.
Tatyana chewed on her bottom lip. "No talking from you. I can't believe a word you say. You killed your brother. You disowned my mother. You're capable of anything." But to kill him.
Her own grandfather. Did she have a choice? "What do you think I should do, Nikky?"
"Your call, Brat. I'll support whatever decision you make."
"I can't make a decision. I'm too close to this." She winced. This could affect her entire life and she wasn't thinking clearly. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally.
"Grandfather, Nikky and I trust your opinion. You know Igroek. You were partners once.
Should I kill him?"
Igroek groaned.
"Scared, Igroek?" Nikky's grandfather chuckled. "You should be. One word and your empire is in my hands. I'd have control of the entire country." The old man was enjoying himself.
"Nikolay, in situations like this, what do we do?"
"We examine the different outcomes and how it will affect the family," Nikky recited.
Nikky's grandfather searched his inside jacket pocket. "If we shoot Igroek now, his empire will have no clear heir. He assured that by killing his brother." He took out a cigar. "They'll be weak, distracted with infighting. I've been waiting for an opportunity like that. We'd strike fast and take their territory." He speared the air with his cigar. "Then, many decades from now if fate is kind, you and Nikolay inherit the combined empires."
"Nikky?" Tatyana didn't care about combined empires. She cared about Nikky.
"It's a good solution, Brat." He shrugged. "And we wouldn't have to worry about your family sending people after you. You'd be safe."
"But is it the best solution?" Nikky's grandfather lit his cigar. "If we convince Igroek to support your marriage and let him live, Tatyana will be his heir. Nikolay, you are my heir.
Eventually, the two of you will inherit the combined empires."
"Same results." But they wouldn't have to kill her grandfather. She preferred less killing.
There'd been enough death today. She glanced at her great-uncle's crumpled body then at the blood on Pavel's shoes. Too much.
"Not entirely. There'd be no war to weaken the empires." Smoke swirled around them, partially covering up the smell of blood.
"That's good." War meant death. No war meant no death.
"But," Nikky's grandfather paused dramatically. "Igroek would have an influence over both you and Nikolay."
The crazy gnome's eyes lit up. Tatyana glared at him. "I don't like that."
"No." Nikky's grandfather's lips twitched. "I don't either."
"And what if he double-crosses us? Tries to kill Nikky?" The thought alarmed Tatyana.
Igroek couldn't be trusted. He disowned her mother. He killed his brother. "No, I say we kill him."
"You can't kill everyone who might double-cross you, Granddaughter." Nikky's grandfather puffed on his cigar. "That possibility is always there. I could betray you, Boris, Chan, who knows." He shrugged.
"Chan?" Igroek choked.
"The man we spoke to at the church, the one with all the guns," Nikky's grandfather explained. "He was obsessed with your granddaughter even before he knew who she was."
"He isn't obsessed." Tatyana squirmed. That word was a little strong. Interested, perhaps.
"He kidnapped you twice, Brat," Nikky reminded her.
"Those were misunderstandings."
"One more misunderstanding and you'll have to kill him," Nikky's grandfather told her fiance. "Now that he knows who Tatyana is, he won't let her go."
"I'm aware of that." She didn't like the way Nikky readily agreed.
"You will not kill him." Chan killed his wife. He might hurt Nikky. "And he will let me go. He said I was only fair game until I got pregnant. After that, he'd leave me alone."
"Really?" All three of them stared at her.
Her face heated. "I'm still fair game," she clarified. "I think." She wasn't sure. It was too early to tell.
"Then I've got some work to do." Nikky grinned, the arrogant ass. "In the interest of keeping you safe."
"Great-grandsons," Igroek mumbled in wonder.
Great-grandsons, not great-granddaughters. Figures the male chauvinistic pig wanted boys.
"Igroek." Tatyana waved her gun in the old man's direction, bringing them back to the topic at hand. "What do we do about him?"
"No need to kill me. I'll support the marriage." It was an abrupt about face from the crazy gnome. "Your grandson will have my full protection, Kaerta. I give you my word."
"For what that's worth." Tatyana's eyes narrowed. "Backstabbing bastard."
"Let the bastard live, Granddaughter," Nikky's grandfather advised. "Nothing will happen.
Trust me. I wouldn't put your Nikolay in danger."
"I trust you." She didn't trust Igroek.
"Grandfather will keep him honest, Brat." Nikky lowered his gun. "Then it's settled. The wedding happens tonight."
"At midnight." She wanted him reinstated as heir. Nikky wouldn't be happy with any other position.
"Sooner."
Three hours. Nik sat at the poker table. Couples got married in drive-thru chapels every damn day, yet his bride claimed it'd take three hours for her to get ready. No, not his bride.
His mother. Accompanied by an amused Father Kaerta. A midnight ceremony. They were going to have a church wedding in the middle of the fucking night.
"She really would have shot me?" Igroek repeated for the thousandth time.
"Yes." Nik was glad she hadn't had to, as he was glad he hadn't had to shoot his own grandfather but, if pushed, they would
