Leveled: A Novella (Saints of Denver #0.5)(60)

Nas came closer to stand beside me. She lifted her nose at the man who stood in front of Lev’s car. “Uncle Laredo.”

The older man smiled at her. “You haven’t called me that in a long time, Nastasia.” He looked saddened. “I’ve missed you.” He looked around to Sasha and Lev. “All of you.”

I peeked around Lev to the man named Laredo, and from the way he looked at me, he was as curious about me as I was about him. When his eyes met mine, I pulled back to hide behind Lev’s broad back before hissing to Nas, “Laredo is your uncle?”

“By marriage,” she explained. “Laredo married my father’s sister, my Aunt Alina. She died young.” She grinned, but it was harsh. “Then he had an affair with my mother.”

I peeked around Lev, gasped, and spoke to the man himself. “You did? That’s not cool!”

He shrugged weakly. “We were both lonely.” He looked to Nas. “And if you’ll remember, I was the one who ended it and brought the matter to your father.” He shook his head. “I never meant to hurt anyone. Talya was there for me in the saddest time of my life. We both took advantage of the attention, and we both regretted it sorely. Your mother especially.”

I stepped out from behind Lev and stood by his side. “She was an awful woman.”

Laredo looked up at Lev and nodded compassionately. “Yes. She was deeply troubled.”

Sasha had lowered the gun, but still held it in his hand. “Oh, boo-f*cking-hoo. It’s your regular family reunion.” He sneered. “What do you want?”

He lifted his hand and pointed to me. “To see her.”

Shit. He knew. I reached up and held onto Lev’s hand. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Lev, thinking the same thing I was, gripped my hand tight. “It wasn’t her idea. You’re stealing our customers. We needed to know what we were up against. If you have an issue, take it up with me.”

Laredo laughed then. “I see. That’s what you were doing at Aphrodite’s.” He took a step closer, but Lev pulled me away from him. Laredo shook his head but smiled. “I’m sorry. This is rather surreal.” He spoke directly to me. “You look like someone I used to know.”

“I don’t know you.”

He sighed gloomily. “No, I suppose you don’t.” He looked at me then, really looked at me, and whispered, “It’s like looking into the face of a ghost.” I wasn’t prepared for when his eyes took on a faraway look as he uttered a hushed, “Clara.”

My lungs seized.

My mother.

He knew my mother.

Nas was as shocked as I was. “Mina, wasn’t that your mother’s name?”

I nodded, looking into Laredo’s astonished but hopeful face. “Yes. Clara was my mother.”

Laredo stepped forward under the streetlight, and I had the opportunity to look at him. He was average height. Not very attractive, but his smile was lovely. He had average brown eyes with plain brown hair cut into a business do. He wore a nice suit, and had a gold tooth in the bottom right side of his smile.

He looked me in the eye and said genuinely, “I loved your mother very much. She was my world. We were going to get married a few years after my Alina passed away, but…” He shook his head.

Lev asked the question I had wanted to ask since my mother was mentioned. “Are you saying you’re Mina’s father?

Sasha muttered an annoyed, “Figures.”

Laredo chuckled, but shook his head. “No.” He looked me in the eye and he looked sad. “But I wanted to be. I would have given anything to be your father.”

My throat was dry. I was parched. I licked my lips and stuttered, “D-do you know who my father is?”

He smiled, and it looked like something a naughty schoolboy would pull off. “No more.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “No more. Not until you agree to have dinner with me.”

Lev growled, pulling me to his side.

Laredo’s brow rose as he handed me the card. I reached out and took it eagerly. He stated through a smirk, “You chose the right brother, Mina. Lev’s a good boy. Sasha…” He shrugged. “I don’t know Sasha. I thought I did, but…” He looked over at the angry brother. “No, I don’t. Not anymore.”

He walked to stand in front of Nastasia and smiled down at her with fatherly grace. “I’ve missed my bella boo. May I have a hug?”

She looked like she would’ve given her right arm to throw herself into his embrace, but being the badass she was, she lowered her face and shook her head.

“No?” He sounded disappointed, but smiled through it. “Perhaps next time then.”

Laredo took my free hand and kissed the back of it before making his way to the street. Halfway there, he turned, snapping his fingers. “Wait, I forgot.” We all waited to hear what he had to say, unknowing that it would change my life forever. He grinned happily. “There’s someone you need to meet. I hope you change your mind and come see us.”

I was confused. “See who?”

His smile softened. “Your brother, of course.”

Satisfied with my stunned silence, he turned around and went on his merry way, unaware that my world had just imploded around me, sucking me into a vortex of white noise.