All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1)(43)

‘Yes, I had heard something about that,’ Uncle Yuri said.

‘I’d rather he didn’t.’

‘You’re worried that we will corrupt him?’ Uncle Yuri asked. ‘You have my word that the only thing that will happen to your brother is the receipt of a nice paycheque for an easy day’s work. We will take care of him. He will never be asked to do anything dangerous or be put in harm’s way. I had heard he had lost his job. Giving him a temporary one is the least we can do, yes?’

Uncle Yuri certainly made me feel better about the whole matter than Jacks had. And considering how delicate Nana’s condition seemed and how potentially delicate my legal situation was, it would definitely be better for Leo to at least have the appearance of being gainfully employed. Not to mention, I had no idea when the situation at the animal clinic would resolve itself, especially now that Mr Kipling wasn’t able to work on it. Uncle Yuri and I had reached Nana’s room. I opened the door and called out, ‘Nana, are you sleeping?’

‘No, Christina, come on in,’ she said.

‘It’s not Christina,’ I said. ‘It’s Annie. And guess who I’ve got with me? Your stepson, Yuri!’

I wheeled Yuri into the room. ‘Ugh,’ Nana said to him. ‘Yuri, why have you gotten so old? And so fat?’

I happily slipped out the door.

Mickey Balanchine was standing in the hallway outside Nana’s room. ‘You probably don’t remember me but I’m your cousin,’ he introduced himself.

‘Who isn’t?’ I joked.

‘It’s true. Every time I meet a girl I like, I have to check and see if she’s related to me first,’ Mickey said. Mickey Balanchine was on the short side, only an inch or two taller than me. His hair was so blond it was almost white and his skin was equally fair except for the freckles across his nose and checks. In contrast to his skin and hair, he was dressed entirely in black. His suit was very well tailored and even looked new. Though I can’t say for sure, his boots may have had little heels on them to make him look taller.

‘I’ve been wanting to meet you for some time,’ Mickey said. ‘Now that you’re all grown up, I mean. When I was a teenager, I used to run errands for your father. I’ve been in this apartment on many occasions. I’ve even seen you naked, little Anya.’ He pointed down the hallway to the bathroom. ‘Right in that room. Your mother was giving you a bath. I accidentally walked in.’

That was too much information.

‘So,’ Mickey continued, ‘what did you and the old man talk about?’

Nothing, I thought, but that was none of Mickey’s business. ‘I suppose if it concerned you to know, he would have told you himself,’ I said.

At that moment, Jacks came down the hallway. ‘What’s going on here?’ he asked.

‘Just having a conversation with my cousin,’ Mickey replied.

‘She’s my cousin, too,’ Jacks said.

‘Maybe,’ Mickey said.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Jacks asked. ‘What are you trying to say, Mikhail? That I’m a bastard?’ His eyes were blazing and I swear I could smell the testosterone coming off him. He lunged at Mickey, but Mickey stood firm. It became obvious to all of us that Jacks didn’t have the yaytsos.

‘Oh, Jackie, relax!’ Mickey said. ‘You’re embarrassing yourself in front of my cousin.’

‘Annie, could I have a word with you?’ Jacks asked.

‘Speak,’ I said.

‘Alone,’ Jacks specified.

‘It seems no one wants to talk in front of Mikhail today,’ Mickey commented.

I ignored him. I have never responded to that sort of childishness. Besides, I had things I wanted to say to Jacks, too. ‘Let’s go out on the balcony,’ I said.

The balcony was just off the dining room. You could see Central Park and even part of Little Egypt. It must have been a nice view once.

My cousin got right into it. ‘Look, Anya, I’m sorry about the chocolate. I had no idea it had been laced. I honestly thought I was doing Galina a favour by bringing it over.’

‘I appreciate you saying that,’ I told him. ‘Because here’s how it looks to me: you brought that chocolate over extra early to ensure that my whole family died from eating it.’

‘No!’ Jacks said. ‘I have no interest in poisoning any of you! What could that possibly gain me?’

‘I have no idea, Jacks. But it’s how it looks to me.’

Jacks ran his fingers through his hair. ‘You probably know this without my having to say, but I’m low in the organization. No one tells me about anything. I had no more warning than you that that chocolate was poisoned. You have to believe me!’

‘Why do you care if I believe you?’ I asked.

He lowered his voice. ‘Because things are changing in the family. The chocolate scare was just the beginning. The perception – and I’m not saying I agree – but the perception is that Yuri is weak. I think the poisoning was the move of a rival family.’

‘Like who?’

Jacks shrugged. ‘I’m only speculating here but it could be the Mexicans or the Brazilians. Even the French or the Japanese. Any of the big players in the black-market chocolate biz. There’s not enough information to narrow it down. My point is, you could bring heat on me, Anya. You haven’t, I don’t know why, but I appreciate it. And I wanted you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you or your siblings.’