Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Kaz turned my way and frowned at me. “Mysh. . .”
I scowled at him. “Be patient, baby.”
Sighing, Kaz put his view back on Timur.
“After the commotion, Celina comes out of the room. Very pregnant. This was why she fled Russia. I had no idea.” Timur shook his head. “Always, my sister gave me trouble, but my mother made me watch over her. Well. . .I demanded that Celina immediately abort the baby and return to Moscow with me. Valerie instantly interrupted me. She was a woman of so much spirit and not scared of me at all. She told me that it was Celina’s body and her choice. I laughed, and Valerie threatened to hit me again with the bat.”
I like this Valerie.
Timur moved his attention to the window and gazed at the birds flying by. “I was forced to stay in California and watch over my sister until she had the baby. Plus. . .”
Timur faced us. This time a sad expression covered his face. “Plus. . .Valerie. . .she began to seep into my. . .hard exterior. I had a hotel room, yet I stayed in Valerie’s bedroom most nights.”
Max muttered, “Russians and sisters. Soon as one of you motherfuckers see a sister, your dicks just—”
I shushed him.
“Finally, it is time for Celina to have her baby. Valerie helps her give birth, and. . .” Timur gazes off in the distance. “Such a beautiful little girl. Curly hair, hazel eyes, and such a golden complexion. The moment I saw her little face, I vowed to protect her.”
Max turned to me.
What?
Max grabbed his forehead and turned back to Timur.
J.P. stirred and blinked several times.
What am I missing?
Timur frowned. “Celina confessed that it was Fela’s baby. Knowing how the Brotherhood had treated Fela, she did not want the same fate for her child, which was why she had fled.”
Oh shit. So. . .Fela had a daughter with Celina?
Timur let out an exasperated breath. “Three days later, Celina disappeared. We only knew because the baby kept crying for her mother. We rushed to the room, and there was a letter in the crib right next to the baby. It only had three words. I am sorry.”
J.P. stumbled back to the window as if someone had hit him.
What?
Timur frowned. “Celina did not return to her child for many years, but by that time. . .Valerie and I had married and raised Eden as our daughter.”
“Oh!” I shrieked, not meaning to say that out loud.
So. . .holy fuck. Eden is Celina and Fela’s daughter? What the fuck?
That was why Max was blown away. He figured it out before me. Clearly, he knew what Eden looked like since he had just come from France. I had only seen a few pictures here and there.
Louis left his chair, carried it over to J.P., and gave it to him. The Butcher looked to be having a difficult time, comprehending it all.
Timur continued as if he had not just dropped a mega bomb into the room. “Keeping Eden’s true identity a secret proved to be a problem. I could not take them back to Russia. I only had a few of my closest friends come to Valerie and my wedding. Your father was there, Kazimir.”
Stunned, J.P. sat down in the chair.
Louis remained by his side.
My lion looked to be equally speechless.
“Secrets and secrets. Years go by, I find it difficult to remain in the Brotherhood, so I retired and invested my money. The King wanted to kill me for leaving. Rolan fought for my safety. He also knew the secret.”
Misha widened his eyes.
“By this time, Fela is no longer a sweet-talking college student.” Timur tapped his fingers along the cane. “Fela is now a rising force within Nigeria. He becomes a major player in not just politics, but the criminal underworld. If you want to do any major dealings on the continent of Africa, you must go to Fela, and he would make the connections to whatever criminal lord or country you wanted to do business with.”
Kaz tilted forehead. “Fela does not know that his daughter is Eden?”
“No idea.” Timur shook his head. “By now, it does not matter. But back then, I worried. Fela would have made a move to get her. Every year, I took many trips to various parts of Nigeria, watching and checking on him.”
Kaz quirked his brows. “Why?”
“I planned on killing Fela. It was my top priority.” Timur smiled. “Valerie knew Fela’s story and argued against it. So. . .I monitored Fela for years until I knew there would be no chance that he would come for Eden.”
Everybody remained silent.
There was too much to process.
Timur continued, “I know Fela very well. His first love is his country. Next is his family. Then, it is God. This is the exact order, and that is how others have beaten Fela. When you threaten these things, then you control him.”