Beautiful Trouble: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Oligarchs Book 2) Read online

  “Understand what? Anthony, what happened?”

  Anthony took a deep breath and began.

  30

  Anthony

  Ten Years Ago

  I loved being a Servant.

  Not like, servant servant, but my family. I loved my family and the status that came with my name.

  Doors were opened. People looked at me like I mattered.

  It was so cool.

  Mom and Darren and my sisters always tried to make me understand: Servants were different. We had privilege and money and whatever. There were things I didn’t really know about, but Darren was involved somehow.

  My big brother was the coolest guy in the world. A lot of the other guys at my school thought that about their big brothers or whatever, but I was actually right. Darren was the strongest, smartest, coolest guy I’d ever met, and he was my brother.

  I didn’t see him much on account of him being away at college. I missed him and stuff, but whenever he came home, we’d hang out. He’d teach me stuff, like about cars and shooting guns or whatever, cool and fun stuff that mom and my sisters didn’t like all that much.

  One day, I wanted to be just like him.

  “You know this is a bad idea, right?” Erin frowned at Darren and put her hands on her hips. “He’s ten, dude. He can’t go to Monica’s party.”

  “He’s a Servant.” Darren grinned at me. “That means you’re good, right, little man?”

  “Yeah, Darren, I’m good.” I didn’t know what it meant to be good. I wanted to be good desperately though.

  Erin rolled her eyes and looked at me. I loved Erin, she was my big sister, but she could be a real pain in my butt. And she was kind of weird sometimes. Like mega weird. Everyone said she was smart. Like a super nerdy genius or whatever. She tried to hide it, but I noticed. Things came easy to her.

  “If you come with us, you can’t wander off, okay? Stay close to me.”

  “Yeah, whatever.” I rolled my eyes. Darren laughed. I loved making Darren laugh. That made me roll my eyes harder like they were gonna burst out of my skull.

  Erin sighed, but eventually we all got into Darren’s truck and drove over to Monica Green’s mansion down near the lake.

  Monica was Darren’s age. She had a brother Erin’s age. Everyone said Monica was really hot. I could see it I guess. Big boobs, pretty blonde hair. She laughed a lot. Darren liked her anyway. I thought she was kind of scary and mean, but her parties were like super epic, and I was lucky to go.

  Darren parked in a long line of other cars. Monica’s place was big. Not as big as our place, but still pretty big. Older kids hung around outside smoking something that smelled skunky and weird. “Is that weed?” I whispered to Erin.

  She nodded. “Don’t smoke any. You’ll hate it. Come on.”

  Darren tossed an arm around my shoulder and led me into the house. All the guys out front shook his hand and he introduced me, and one of them said I had on cool shoes, which made me happy, since Darren bought me them for Christmas.

  Erin hung around, looking annoyed as always.

  The inside was packed with more people. Everyone seemed to know Darren and Erin. I was introduced but couldn’t really hear anyone over the super loud music, which was kind of annoying, how can you have a party with such loud music? But anyway, someone shoved a cup in my hand and apparently there was beer in it, so I took a sip, but then Erin stole it away and I acted all mad which made Darren laugh, but the beer tasted like cold puke so it was okay.

  “Was that your first beer?” she asked as Darren made a path into the living room.

  “Yeah,” I admitted.

  “Did you like it?”

  I hesitated. I didn’t like lying to her and anyway she always caught me. “Not really.”

  “You will one day.” She took a sip and smiled. She was okay sometimes.

  Darren did a shot. He threw it back like a champ. Everyone cheered. I didn’t really get it, I mean, they were drinking a lot and yelling at each other, and it was really confusing and overwhelming. Erin stayed with me, which was annoying at first, but then really good because Darren got pulled into a game of beer pong. I got to throw the ball a few times and even got it into a cup once, and everyone cheered, which was awesome.

  But it was also really scary and weird. Erin talked to Monica’s brother and I felt lost, looking around at everyone. I was a Servant, I should’ve been the most important person in this room, but everyone was so much older than me—there weren’t any kids my age around.

  Since Erin wasn’t paying attention, and Darren was still playing that beer pong game, I walked off on my own and headed into the backyard.

  It was quieter outside. I found a half-empty cup of beer and tried another sip. I made a grossed-out face and dumped it. Seriously, how did people like that crap? Monica’s pool was nice though and I sat down on a chair and watched the water ripple. A big donut-shaped inflatable toy drifted past. I imagined jumping into the pool and going right down through the middle without touching the sides and everyone would cheer and chant my name Servant, Servant, Servant, and they’d love me and treat me just like Darren. I could probably pull it off, but there wasn’t anyone else around, so it seemed kind of dumb to try.

  I felt good. The night was cool and cozy. The noise wasn’t so bad. Erin was kind of cool when she wasn’t such a dick. Darren was awesome. I wondered what life would be like for me when I was their age.

  Would I do shots? I didn’t think so.

  “Hey, kid.”

  I looked over, startled. It was Roman. He and Darren were friends, or they were like colleagues, or something like that. Mom tried to explain to me once that our family was a part of some big, fancy, important group, but I didn’t care. Roman was part of that group too or something.

  “Hey, Roman. What’s up?”

  “Your brother let you come out?” He grinned at me, walked over.

  “He said I needed to learn what it was like to be a Servant.”

  Roman snorted. I didn’t like that. He didn’t treat my family name the way he should have. Being a Servant was the most important thing in the world, and I didn’t know what I’d do if I weren’t one.

  Probably be some stupid, worthless loser, like everyone else.

  “That sounds like him.” Roman hesitated, looked around. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Uh, yeah, whatever.” I wanted him to go away so I could go back to daydreaming, or maybe I could head inside and find Erin and Darren, or maybe I could try beer again. Actually, okay, no beer, beer was super gross, but maybe beer pong, that was fun. Darren could drink the beer if he wanted.

  “You ever notice that everyone in your family has the same color eyes?”

  I made a face. I knew I had blue eyes and everyone else had green. But I learned in science class that blue and green were basically the same thing, so whatever.

  I was a Servant and that was all that mattered.

  “I guess so.”

  “Did you ever ask your mom why?”

  I shook my head. “Genetics or whatever.”

  “That’s true. You’re a smart kid.”

  “I think I should head back inside.” I stood up and started back toward the door.

  Roman caught my arm. “Hold up. I need to talk to you.”

  “What do you want?”

  He pulled me away from the house. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like it at all. I wanted to get away, but Roman was Darren’s friend, and I didn’t want to be a fucking loser. I was a Servant. I wasn’t a loser.

  He stopped at the far end of the pool. It was darker in the shade of some big trees. Nobody else was around.

  “I don’t know how to say this so I’m going to just say it.” Roman stared at me with this weird look on his face. “Your family hasn’t been honest about where you’re from.”

  “Dude, shut up. You’re joking.”

  “Your eyes, kid. You have blue eyes, just like me.”

  “Whatever. It’s just ge
netics. Blue and green are like the same thing.”

  “Anthony.” Roman seemed upset. I didn’t know why but he was freaking me out. “You’re my brother.”

  I laughed. What a stupid thing to say. I wasn’t his brother. I was Darren’s brother. But he wasn’t laughing. “Shut up, man. This is really lame.”

  “My dad and your mom had an affair. Shit, I can’t believe they haven’t told you, but you need to know. I had a brother a long time ago but he died, and his name was Anthony, too.”

  I stared at him. I was on the verge of freaking out. “Stop it. You’re being weird.”

  “I think my dad forced your mom to name you after my brother. You’re my half-brother, that’s why your eyes are blue. I don’t want anything from you and your life doesn’t have to change, but I needed you to know that. You’re my brother.”

  “Shut the hell up.” I ran at him. I was so pissed. He was lying and saying the dumbest fucking shit ever, so I smashed into him and knocked him backwards.

  Something fell from the waistband of his pants. It glittered in the moonlight.

  A gun. A real, freaking gun.

  I knew guns.

  Darren taught me how to load and use them. I grabbed it from the grass and held it up, aiming right at Roman. I wasn’t a good shot, not like Darren, but I wouldn’t miss.

  “What are you doing?” Roman held his hands up.

  “You’re lying to me. Say you’re lying. I’m a Servant.”

  “You’re a Servant,” Roman said slowly, “but I’m not lying to you. We’re half-brothers.”

  “Shut up. Shut the hell up.” I felt dizzy. My entire life was built around my name. I was a freaking Servant.

  And now this weird stupid moron idiot asshole was telling me I wasn’t?

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard, but I’m telling you the truth. It’s why we have the same color eyes. Look at me, Anthony.”

  I stared into his eyes.

  It was like a stinking mirror. The same exact color.

  My arms went weak. They trembled. My hand shook. Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, not at a party like this. Darren took a risk bringing me along. Erin thought it was a bad idea and I didn’t want to prove her right by crying like a freaking baby.

  Roman got up and stepped toward me, holding out a hand.

  “It’s okay, little man. You’re gonna be fine. Nothing has to change, but now you know the truth. You’re my half-brother. You’re a Servant but you’re also a Lenkhov.”

  I pressed the gun against my chest. Right near my beating heart.

  “No, no, no, no.”

  I was a Servant. I was always a Servant.

  What the hell was I if I wasn’t that?

  My entire life was a lie.

  Mom lied. Darren and Erin and Liv and Penny all lied. They probably knew. They laughed about it all the time, I bet.

  Stupid Anthony with his stupid blue eyes.

  Not a real Servant. A fake one.

  A loser and a phony.

  I was worthless. Nothing. Darren bringing me here was a joke.

  “Anthony.” Roman held out a hand then lunged forward.

  I tried to pull away but the gun went off.

  The noise was amazing. It left my ears ringing.

  Then the pain.

  Oh my god, the pain. I didn’t mean to shoot. I wanted to hurt myself but mostly just scare Roman and maybe—I didn’t know what I wanted. But god, oh my god, oh my god, it hurt so bad.

  I fell forward, groaning. I was soaking wet. Did I fall in the pool? Make that sick jump? But no—it was sticky and red.

  Blood. Oh, god. I was bleeding.

  I shot myself.

  Roman ripped the gun away. He said something. I couldn’t hear. He pressed his hand against my chest. Then there were shouts.

  Darren appeared. He tackled Roman. I opened my mouth to explain but it hurt so bad. I couldn’t speak. I felt so dizzy. Darren was hitting Roman, over and over, and Erin was screaming, and more people were piling out of the house. Monica’s brother pressed a shirt against my shoulder. Oh my god, it hurt so bad. I tried to cry out and beg Darren to stop but he kept on going.

  Erin said something. “You’ll be okay. You’re gonna be okay. I got you.”

  “Sister,” I croaked.

  She was my sister.

  Half-sister.

  I blinked a few times. I felt so pale and dizzy like that time I got food poisoning from the hot dogs at the baseball concession stand. My mom said that I deserved it for eating like a peasant.

  Whatever. I liked hot dogs.

  Erin pulled me against her. She was crying. Why did she care? I was her half-brother. But she was crying.

  Darren appeared then. “Ambulance is coming. Press it tighter. You’re gonna be okay, Anthony. Stay with me. Stay with me, man.”

  Roman was gone.

  Darren was here.

  I was a Servant. I had to be a Servant. Right?

  I blinked a few more times, then everything went black.

  31

  Darren

  Anthony was pale and shaking. “I woke up at the hospital. I guess I barely survived, but I don’t remember much. People kept asking what happened, and you kept telling them that Roman shot me, and I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I never spoke up.” He squeezed his eyes shut. More tears rolled down his cheeks. “After a while, the lie was too much. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I wanted to tell you the truth, but then Liv killed herself, and how could I tell you then? It would’ve broken you.”

  I tried to speak, but couldn’t.

  There were no words.

  The whole room was ringing silence.

  An accident.

  All this time, an accident.

  Anthony took several steadying breaths and looked at Roman. “He didn’t shoot me. I shot myself. I think it was an accident, but I think about that moment all the time. I wanted to die. At the time it felt like my world collapsed. Roman didn’t mean anything by it, I think he just wanted me to know the truth about myself. He had no clue that being a Servant mattered more than life to me back then.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roman said, and I flinched at his voice.

  That fucking bastard.

  “You don’t need to apologize,” Anthony said. “You covered for me when you didn’t have to. You protected me, even if it meant going to war with Darren. If anyone’s sorry, it’s me. There’s so much blood on my hands that sometimes I don’t know how I can wake up in the morning.”

  He stared at the ground, shaking.

  Roman never shot him.

  The revelation still worked its way through my mind.

  All these years. A decade of hating that man, of blaming him for nearly killing my brother, but wondering why he did it, of fantasizing about revenge, of trying to logic my way through that night—it was all built on a lie.

  One single lie that changed everything.

  I stepped closer to Anthony.

  He didn’t shrink away. He raised his chin. “If you want to hurt me, you should hurt me. I deserve it. I’m a worthless piece of shit and I should die for what I did. I never should’ve let it go this far, Darren, and I’m so sorry, I’m so—”

  I grabbed my brother and hugged him as hard as I could.

  “Shut up, idiot.” I held him tight as he sobbed into my shoulder. “God, you stupid bastard. I love you, Anthony. You could’ve told me.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He sobbed so hard his chest felt like it might break.

  I couldn’t fathom living a lie for that long. Anthony must’ve been in agony every day. When I sent him out to war with Roman, he must’ve known that men were dying because he couldn’t speak the truth, and that he could end everything if he only found the courage to face his past.

  He finally did it. He should’ve done it sooner—but better now than never.

  I released him and looked into his eyes. He stared back and I saw the wounded ten-year-old boy again, the broken and sensitive little
boy. I never should’ve brought him to that party, but I wasn’t that close with my little brother and I wanted to try. I was young and stupid. We were all young and stupid.

  “We have a lot more to talk about,” I said softly, and patted his cheek. “But you’ll be okay. All right? You’re going to be okay.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I swear, you will be. You’re my brother. You’re a Servant. You’ll survive this like you’ve survived everything else.”

  He nodded and said nothing.

  I sucked in a breath and faced Roman.

  He watched me carefully. Cassie stayed behind him, but her eyes were wet.

  Even Roza looked touched, which was a minor miracle. She put her gun away like it was no big deal.

  “Why did you play along?” I asked, shaking my head. “We could’ve avoided so much.”

  “We’re similar in that regard. I protect the people I love.”

  “It was foolish.”

  “In the early days, I tried to tell the truth, but nobody believed me. I bet you don’t even remember, but I told you the real story. You called me a lying piece of shit and said that if you ever saw me again, you’d murder me.”

  A conversation along those lines did sound familiar. “Well, shit.”

  “I realized Anthony wasn’t telling the truth either pretty quickly. I figured if he didn’t want the world to know the truth, then I’d respect that.”

  “You’ve always denied shooting him.”

  “Because that’s the truth.”

  I sucked in a breath and let it out. I placed my gun down on the table.

  For the first time in a long time, I felt free.

  I looked at Winter. She chewed on her lip and came closer, pressing herself against my side.

  If she hadn’t pushed for this meeting, none of this would’ve happened. I kissed her cheek and smoothed her hair.

  My hatred for Roman dissipated. Not entirely—I didn’t think I could release it all right away—but the place in my heart where I’d built a fortress of anger began to break apart.