Undaunted (The Kings of Retribution MC)

Your Father,

Demetri Volkov

I fold the letter back up, shove it into my pocket and stand. Jake stands, stepping in front of me.

“Logan, no matter what you choose to do I support you. That man may be your father, but I consider you my son, no matter who else makes that claim.”

He pulls me in for a quick hug and slaps me on the back. “Let me know how things go,” he says as he steps back over to his desk sitting down.

“I’ll fill you in over a drink later,” I tell him and turn to leave.

Turns out I really don’t have to drive too far because he’s staying out on Point Road, just north of King’s Point. When I reach the end of the road, the property is surrounded by a solid ten-foot wrought iron privacy fence along with a large wrought iron gate. As I’m pulling up and prepare to stop, the gate swings open and the guard steps out. With a deep Russian accent, he tells me I will be greeted at the door.

I pull into the circular driveway and park my bike. Victor, the guy who accompanied my father and brother to the compound yesterday, is waiting at the steps. “Your father is pleased to hear of your arrival Mr. Kane, follow me.”

I take a good look around, noticing all the cameras mounted to the house, and I’m impressed. I expected to walk into a grand, over the top sterile environment, but instead, the interior matches the exterior of the large log cabin home, furnished much like my own. I’m lead into a large den/living room area. A floor-to-ceiling window takes up one whole wall, giving an amazing view of the waterfront. I’m left to wait, so I walk over to gaze out at the water.

“Logan.”

I turn as I hear my name. Demetri makes his way over, extending his hand for a shake. He’s much more casual today. Jeans and a t-shirt. The resemblance between us is a bit unnerving.

“Come sit. Would you care for a drink?”

I take a seat in one of the leather chairs close to the window but facing the entrance to the room. I’m not ready to let my guard down. I have no reason, other than the fact he says he’s my father to trust him or anyone that works for him. We do business with them and that’s as far as it goes—for now.

“I’ll take a beer.”

Walking over to the mini bar off to the side of the room, he opens the small fridge and pulls out two bottles, pops the tops off and brings them over. He hands one to me as he takes a sip of the one in his other hand.

“You must have many more questions. I promise I will answer them all to the best of my ability.”

I take a pull of my beer, wondering where to start. The questions I have are all a jumbled mess in my head. “Why not tell your family to fuck off if you loved my mom so much?” I take another drink from the bottle before setting it on the table beside me.

He doesn’t hesitate to answer and what he says is unexpected. “To save her. I was trying to save her life. My father didn’t frown upon what he thought was a fling, but when he became aware I had fallen in love, he not only threatened your mother but my mother and sister as well. Said he would not only ruin Rose’s life but if I walked away from my obligation, he would throw my mother and sister out to the wolves.”

Demetri walks over to the bar and sits his half-empty beer down and pours himself two fingers of whiskey into a glass tumbler. Holding it up he offers a glass, but I decline. I’ll just stick to having a beer. I would rather be clear headed, ready for whatever he throws at me.

“I did what was necessary to protect the most important people in my life from a heartless bastard with the power to do and get away with whatever he promised would happen. So, like I told you yesterday, your mother and I parted ways. For her own good, I married another woman that I despised. Who was just as ruthless and conniving as my father.”

He may have sacrificed but that still doesn’t do much to squash the resentment I’m feeling towards the man.

“You never once tried to get in touch with her the years she was alive. Why? With all the resources and power your family has, why is it you didn’t have a clue about me?”

“Son—”

“Don’t call me son. You haven’t earned that right.” I bite out.

His shoulders slump a little. “Fair enough.”

Sitting back down into the leather chair across from me, he sighs. “Logan, after going back to my home country and leaving your mother here, my father had me put on lock down so to speak. His men watching my every move. I was never left alone. The marriage between my ex-wife and I was purely a business merger to bring two of the most powerful families in Russia together.”

None of what he says has me giving a damn. He still left my mother and never looked back.

“The day I found those files, found out what my father had done...I told you before, if he weren’t already dead I would have killed him myself. When I found the letters written to me from your mother, my Rose, it nearly did me in. When I found out I had created a life with the only woman I had ever loved...” He pauses, trying to collect himself, “not only did I find out my father hid all of this from me, but I also discovered my own wife knew I had another son before we had our own...”

Before he can finish, his son—my brother walks in holding a metal lock box, setting it down next to Demetri.

“Sorry to interrupt, Father, but this was just delivered. I assume you wish to have it now?” Nikolai cuts his eyes to me. My younger brother looks so much like me in appearance it’s fucking freaky a