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Chapter 1

Sasha

My father’s men say he only has days to live Maybe only hours We’re at his home in Moscow—a residence I’ve never been permitted to enter before

A place I hated froirl

Itdeath

I can’t say I love the man He was a terrible father and a worse partner to my mother Partner, not husband—no, he couldn’t marry her

It’s against the bratva code

She was his kept mistress for thirty years until last hen he inforht-hand ht—he literally bestowed his mistress on another man Like she was some whore he owned No, worse than a whore—like she was his slave

She had no choice in the matter

Like I say, he’s not a nice man, my father

“Come, Sasha, your father wants to see you,” my mother says in a hushed tone My once beautiful mother suddenly appears old She’s pale, her face drawn up and pinched in grief

Despite it all, she still loves my father deeply

I follow her into his rooe bedroom has been converted to one Medical machines surround him; there are nurses on duty twenty-four/seven The curtains are open, letting the sue s

“Sasha”

I flinch He’s still as formidable as ever, even thin and frail in his crirey pallor

“Come” He summons me to his side I walk over reluctantly Iabout the man makes me still feel like an errant child He takes my hand, and I have to work not to shudder at the feel of his dry, bony fingers holding mine

“Sasha, I will provide for you,” he says Coughs

I s

Providing for us was the only good thing he did for rateful We’ve lived in luxury for our whole lives I even got to attend the college of my choice in the United States—University of Southern California, where I studied acting But of course, he suraduated

And I cas

If he leaves o back to America to pursue my dreams