In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(95)

She gave Ross a shaky smile, curling her legs up beneath her to face them both. She had called them to come over, wanting to confess to everything, knowing that they both deserved an explanation for what had happened to Ross and the truth she learned about her father.

“Oh, Lauren, what’s wrong?” Susan asked, always knowing when something was bothering her.

“Mom…” The tears came first, spilling over and down her cheeks before she could even get the words out, but when she did, forcing them out between choking sobs.

When she was finally recounting everything that had happened—the Christmas dinner, Ross’ visit, her confrontation at the manor—Susan was quiet for so long, Lauren feared that at any moment she was going to break down. She was ready for it though, ready for the accusations, for the anger she expected her mom to feel for her, but what she didn’t expect was her deep sigh.

“I know, Lauren…I know.”

“What do you mean you know?”

She reached for Lauren’s hand, clasping it between both of hers. “Lauren, there are things about your father…and I never wanted to tell you any of this. It was best to leave it in the past.”

Lauren closed her eyes. “Mom, just tell me.”

“Thanksgiving, you asked me why I was acting…strange when I met Mishca. It was because I had met him once before. Years ago, before you were born. Your father and I were here visiting when he got a call—an emergency, he told me.”

Lauren looked to Ross. He was quiet, staring out the window, his impassive expression letting Lauren know this was not news to him.

“I followed Cameron when he left the hotel.” Susan got this faraway look in her eyes, like she was reliving it. “At first I never questioned him, all those days he would have to leave, the mysterious phone calls every couple of weeks. I just got tired of not knowing.

“We went to a warehouse where a bunch of men were waiting for him. I thought I could sneak in, see what he was doing, but when I saw them, I almost wished he was having an affair. That…I could get over. They brought me in to see their Boss, Mikhail. Mishca was with his mother. Cameron swore to them that I would never breathe a word of what I saw there that day.” Susan squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, you have to understand. I promised your father I would never tell you about any of this.”

“Then tell me now,” Lauren demanded. “I think I have a right to know.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” She asked pulling her hand free, climbing to her feet.

“Now, Lauren—”

“Don’t even start, Ross. I don’t…I mean, how are the two of you so calm about all of this? I tell you they killed father and you’re barely batting an eyelash.” She turned to Ross. “They attack us and I’m the only one freaking out.”

“You think I didn’t know?” Susan asked, her voice cracking. “I knew it the moment I came home and saw him, but it wasn’t like I had any evidence to give? I only had what your father told me and that would never have been enough to bring them down. I’ve had fifteen years of living with the knowledge about Cameron’s killers. Do I feel a little better knowing that Viktor was the one that killed him and now he’s dead? Yes, but it doesn’t change anything. Your father is still gone.”

Everything was a lie. It was like she was the only one who had no idea what was happening around her, and was the only one hurt by it all.

Storming out of the room, Lauren grabbed her coat, wrenching the front door open, coming up short as she nearly ran into two detectives as they were about to knock on her door.

She stepped back, taking a calming breath. “Yes? Can I help you?”

They flashed gold badges. “Lauren Thompson?”

“Yes?”

The first cleared his throat and said, “I’m Detective Parker, my partner Detective Lorenz. We would appreciate it if you could come down to the station and answer a few questions.”

Ross staggered out of the bedroom behind Susan, leaning heavily on his crutches. When he spotted the men, his fatigue vanished and he stood to his full height, his head held high.

“What’s this about?” He asked.

“In regard to the murder of Viktor Volkov.”