Page 12 of Ricochet
“Kieran,” my father started, “you will soon be twenty-one, am I correct?”
“Yes.” But where the fuck was he going with this?
“And Ophelia, you are going to be eighteen soon?”
“In November,” she replied quietly. My mind was trying to figure out what they were planning, but nothing, none of my theories could prepare me for what Nikolai announced next.
“Well,” he stood up from his chair, taking the glass filled with wine in his left hand, “seeing as we are basically a family, Logan and I have decided to truly strengthen those bonds.”
Ava paled at his words, and I found myself fidgeting in my seat. Did she know something? She told me she had to talk to me, had to share something with me, but we didn’t have time. Was this it?
“My son isn’t here yet. He is late as per usual.” The disgust in Nikolai’s voice was hard to miss. “Nevertheless,” he continued, “he will find out later. Ava,” he looked at my sister and unease started rolling in my gut, “you’re almost like a third daughter to me, and I cannot wait to officially welcome you to the family.”
What the fuck was he talking about?
“What’s this all about?” Cillian asked, his knee bouncing again, no doubt as confused as I was with all of Nikolai’s babbling.
“This, my boy, is me officially announcing that Ava will be marrying Theo in a couple of months—”
“You can’t fucking do that.” Cillian jumped from his chair, knocking it to the floor in the process. I was in shock, but I kicked my ass into action when Cillian started rounding the table. I stepped in front of him before he could reach Nikolai, the sound of sobs slicing through the air.
Ava.
“Go back to your seat, Cillian.” Our father stood next to me, taking a hold of Cillian’s arm, but he wasn’t having it.
“Are you fucking serious, Dad?” His eyes were unfocused, the madness taking place. This whole dinner was going to turn into a bloodbath, and we didn’t even get to the appetizers. “You’re just gonna sell her to him. Just like that.”
“Kill—”
“No, no, no,” he repeated, “I won’t allow it.”
“It’s not up to you, Son.”
“The hell it’s not. That’s my sister, you sick fuck,” he screamed at our father.
“I wasn’t finished, Cillian.” Nikolai spoke again. I tried turning around, but holding Cillian in one spot, didn’t allow for any additional activities.
“Kieran and Ophelia will be getting married on the same day as Ava and Theo.”
I’m sorry, what? I turned around this time, just in time to see the knife flying toward Nikolai, missing his shoulder by an inch. Ophelia stood, her full focus on him, her hair disheveled around her shoulders. Nikolai chuckled, taking the knife from where it fell, and placed it on the table.
“You missed,dorogoy.”
“What the fuck?” She slammed her hands on top of the table, sending a couple of glasses to the ground. Ava gaped at her as if she was seeing her for the first time. Goddamn, she looked hot when she got angry.
“I told you—”
“You didn’t tell me shit.”
“Ekaterina—”
“Ah,” she groaned. “Stop calling me that. I am not marrying Kieran.” Did my heart just stutter at her refusal. “And Ava isn’t marrying Theo. We aren’t living in the old country anymore, for you to have arranged marriages ready for us.”
“Ophelia.” He spoke with a warning clear in his voice. The vein on his forehead became visible, and I didn’t know if I should hug her for standing up to him and waking up from whatever stupor she was in, or take her upstairs and spank her for the same reason. I’ve seen what this man could do, and he didn’t give a shit if he shared blood with you. “I suggest you lower your voice and sit down.”
The calmness with which he spoke sent shivers over my skin, and I rushed toward her, pulling her away from the table.
“Are you crazy, birdy?”
