“My man did it. And he’s no longer employed with me.”
The small hint of humor left her gaze. “I bet he isn’t.”
Scared grandma had left.
Now a strong-minded woman stood in front of me.
She didn’t even look at the bag. “How much is it?”
I widened the bag more. “A quarter of a million.”
She shook her head. “That’s a lot of money for silence.”
“It is.”
“What do you do?”
“I have a successful tech company.”
She gave me a skeptical look.
I thought about her conversation with her brother. “I know it doesn’t sound believable, but you should check my bio. Yandex me.”
She leaned her head to the side. “Do what?”
“Yandex is Russia’s google. You Americans always say, ‘Google me,’ so. . .” I placed my hands in my pockets, trying to anchor myself in the overwhelming pressure. “I am sorry. It was a sad attempt at a joke.”
Silence remained.
I cleared my throat. “What you will find is that I may come from old money, but I used it to start a company at the height of Russia’s tech wave. I saw what it did to America and knew that apps and .coms would be my country’s future.”
Still, she made no move toward the money.
She’s not buying any of this.
I adjusted the bowtie on my tuxedo. “In your research, you will also find out that there is some. . .darker associations.”
“Darker?”
“In Russia, the Bratva is prevalent. You Americans would call the brotherhood, the mafia.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“In Russia, there are many with some connection to the Bratva—cousins, fathers, even a few aunts, but many uncles. It’s a normal part of life for all.”
“And you have a connection to the Bratva?”
“My first cousin Kazimir would be considered. . .a sort of leader of the Bratva.”
Terror hit her eyes.
“He is my cousin, but that doesn’t mean that I am connected.” I thought of her brother. “Surely, you have family members that may do unsavory things. Perhaps, you’ve asked them for help from time to time.”
She widened her eyes.
“Still.” I shrugged. “Just because your family may be involved in that life, it doesn’t discount your efforts at being the best person you can be. Sometimes around St. Petersburg, I’m guilty by association.”
“So, you are not a part of the Bratva?”
“I am not.”
“And the man that kidnapped me. . .did he work for you or your cousin?”
I knew I should’ve lied, but I didn’t. “Fuego worked for me.”
“He didn’t seem like he knew anything about computers.”
I nodded. “He dealt with my company’s. . .security.”
“And happened to be in New York?”
“My company is now worldwide. I have headquarters in New York.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “How long have you known Ava?”
Sweat beaded along my forehead. I thought that I would have control of this conversation, but it appeared she would be guiding it.
I should’ve had Maxwell come in here with me.
“I’ve known Ava for about a year.”
Shock covered her face. “You both have been dating for a year?”
“No. Our dating has only been recently. This week in fact.”
She let out a long breath.
“I met her through her friend—”
“Olesya?”
“Yes.”
She widened her eyes. “The one that was recently killed?”
Thanks a lot, Valentina.
“Yes. Olesya was dating my cousin.”
Now fear decorated every angle of her face.
I tried to clear it up. “However, my cousin had nothing to do with her death.”
At least not that cousin. It was Valentina, but you don’t need to know that.
Jacqueline walked away from the piano. With each step, she shook her head. “I have to tell you the truth. I. . .I don’t keep things from my granddaughter.”
I froze unable to deal with whatever she would say next.
She turned around. The fear had gone. A neutral expression hid whatever emotion went through her. “However. . .I will remain silent for a few days.”
You know these guys are coming. Are your betting on them to help you?
“A few days will work.” I nodded. “And then I will tell Ava myself.”
She quirked her eyebrows. “You’ll tell her?”
“I will. Like you, I do not want to keep secrets from her either.” I picked up the bag and brought it to Jacqueline. “Tonight is a special moment for Ava. I’m sure they will announce that she is the prima ballerina. Also. . .she told me that you have never seen her perform on a professional level.”
Sadness pushed through the mask. “I haven’t.”
“While I was an idiot for sending such a crazy person to get you. Please understand that my intention was innocent. It was supposed to be a romantic gesture. All I wanted was Ava to look up from the stage and see you sitting in my balcony.” I tried to offer her the bag.
She waved her hand. “I won’t take it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t need it. You’ll get three days and then you can tell her.”
“You should still take the money.”
She shook her head.