"He's very small."
"He is," Mikhail said turning to me, "But you would be too if you'd been through what he has."
I sighed, "Parents?"
"Killed by common thugs," he said reverting his eyes back to the small sleeping boy, "He tried to pick my pocket," he said with a smile, "I almost didn't notice him."
"You have that look in your eye Mikhail," I said peering at him, "He's just a boy."
He sighed, "I will take care of him Adalia, that I can assure you. He's only a boy of 7, I'm not a monster," he smirked at me, "Not anymore at least."
I looked at him for a moment then laughed, "You're horrible, you know this, yes?"
He laughed, "Da."
A comforting silence passed as we stared at the small boy. He was skinny, incredibly skinny. His blonde hair was wet and laid messy on his head as he was wrapped in a blanket on top of the hospital bed.
"I want you to teach him," Mikhail said stroking the boys hair, "It's better he learns from you than from me."
I paused, "Teach him what?"
"Everything," he began, "He'll need your compassion. I fear that I might not have any to give the boy. He'll grow too cold if I'm responsible for him solely."
"He'll have Diana," I said.
"My wife and I won't be enough," he sighed, "We'll raise him, but you," he looked me in my eyes, "You will be his role model."
I thought for a moment, about the three babies I already had at home. My three children, who I had already loved more than life itself.
Then I turned my head to the vulnerable little boy sleeping in the bed, starved half to death, orphaned. I could only imagine what he's been through.
"What's his name?"
"Lorenzo," he said, "Lorenzo Ivan Smirnov."
______
Adalia
I paced the small confinement of the hospital room trying to process everything Niko had just told me. I had been in a coma for almost four years. I sighed, and Guillermo has Aleks.
I stopped as I heard the doorknob turn and watched my children rush towards me.
Val reached me first tightening her grip around my waist as I saw tears on her cheeks. Aiya followed in suit with Niko not trailing far after her. I was wrapped up by the three of them finally feeling some type of relief through all of this.
But my heart still weighed heavy; Aleksandra was taken because of mistakes I made in my own past.
"It's so good to finally see you two," I said keeping my strong grip on Val as Aiya and Nikolai released me, "You've grown so beautifully Aiya," I smiled at her, stroking her hair, "Short hair suits you."
"I'm just so glad you're awake," she smiled wiping the tears out of her eyes, "There's so much I need to tell you."
I felt a sadness wash over me. I had missed all of these memories in the lives of my children.
"There will be plenty of time for that," I smiled letting Valeria go, "Where's your, grandfather?"
"You want to talk to grandfather?" Nikolai said raising his eyebrows, "He's in the hallway with Lorenzo and father."
I felt a grin stretch across my face. It would be nice to see the man Lorenzo had grown into. I was responsible for a lot of the training he received, once Mikhail adopted him all those years ago.
"Get them for me please. There's much we need to discuss as a family," I said feeing my shoulders tense back up.
Once we had all settled into the hospital room, I started to speak, "As you all know, Guillermo has taken Aleksandra," I crossed my arms across my chest, "Why was he after her?"
Aiya sighed, "After seeing everything that happened that night, Aleks became very dedicated with killing everyone that was there, especially Guillermo."
My eyes widened and as a horrified look appeared on my face, "She saw?"
"She stopped the bleeding and got you and father to the hospital," Nikolai started, "She blames herself for not doing more. That's part of the reason why she started training."
"And the other?" I asked raising my eyebrow.
"She wanted to protect her family," Mikhail said, "To compensate for the feelings of guilt."
I stiffened, "And you trained her of course?"
"I did," he said.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "How many?"
"How many what?" he asked with a confused look on his face.
"How many people has my daughter killed?" I said raising my voice slightly.
The room fell silent. The number was either too great to utter or no one knew the answer.
"47," Lorenzo said.
I turned to him, "You helped her?"
He shook his head, "Nonno asked me to keep an eye on her. Just in case."
"Wonderful job you did of that," Nikolai muttered under his breath.
Lorenzo stiffened, his muscles tensing and his eyebrows furrowing, "If you hadn't forced an arranged marriage down her throat, I could've protected her," he tightened his fists, "I bet you forced her to push me away."
"I did," Nikolai said crossing his arms across his chest, "She has to be married to take over the Spanish mafia. Your relationship threatened that," he shrugged his shoulders.
Lorenzo rolled his eyes, "Don't fuckin-
"Enough," I said cutting him off, "Bickering won't help her now," I sighed as they both stopped glaring at each other, "I do however have a solution for that."
Everyone turned there heads to look at me, "What are you talking about, Adalia?" Dmitri asked.
"I know where Aleksandra is. I always know where my children are," I said.
They all paused for a moment and soon enough Mikhail erupted into a fit of laughter, "Very clever."
"How do you know where Aleks is, mama?" Aiya asked raising her eyebrows at me.
"What do you mean you always know where we all are?" Val asked.
"I put tracking devices in you when you were born," I said glancing over at Mikhail, "You did suggest it to me once I told you I was pregnant," I shrugged my shoulders.
He grinned at me, "You are a godsend, Adalia De León."
As the children shared equal stares of confusion, Dmitri turned to me, "How did I not know about this?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "You were otherwise preoccupied when I was giving birth."
"How does it work?" Lorenzo asked.
"There's a little implant inside each of them," I said, "They all believed the incision marks to be birthmarks. Aiya has one on her neck. Niko's is in his forearm. Val has on her lower calf and Aleks's is on her-
"Thigh," Lorenzo said cutting me off.
I nodded and my eyes widened, "You two are...?"
His face flushed red, "Da."
I crossed my arms, "Good."
"Santana was always better at technology than me," I said, "She helped me inject the devices into the four of you. We should be able to track Aleksandra from the Callahan stronghold."
________
Aleks
I had begun to lose my mind restrained to this bed. My head throbbed and my wrists were starting to ache. A painkiller would be nice, I thought to myself.
I sighed, I needed to find a way to get the fuck out of here, before they finish carrying out their plan. I refuse to marry Juan Carlos del Castillo.
What leverage could they possibly be in motion to secure? Information is too oblique. They could capture someone, but by this time everyone knows I've been taken. Everyone will be heavily guarded.
Suddenly a girl walked into the room, she was formally dressed, in a black pencil skirt and white blouse. Her brown hair was wavy and elegantly fell down her back. She was gorgeous, with tan caramel skin and round hazel eyes. This was Alandra Rodriguez.
"What are you doing in here?" I asked trying to get a read on her demeanor.
"You know who I am?" she asked.
I nodded, "I know all of my enemies."
A grin crossed her face, "I cannot be your enemy Aleksandra. I don't even know you."
"You're helping the del Castillos," I said, "That's all I need to know about you."
She simply shrugged, "I stay out of men's business, unlike you. You are heavily invested in this life, even though you're a woman. No one can deny you as a De León. Long line of female Capo's in your-
"Did you come to simply remind me of my own lineage? Or will you tell me what you want?" I said cutting her off.
She frowned, "I just wanted to see you in person," she shrugged again, "Many people want you dead."
"They'll die first," I said.
She laughed, "No doubt," she looked at me, "You're not at all what I expected."
"What were you expecting?" I asked curiously.
"I half expected to meet a demon. Cold and reserved, maybe a little more muscular, manlier," she shrugged.
"And now?"
"Now I realize, you're a beautiful woman, clearly forced into a situation she had no choice in. Sounds all too familiar to me," she sighed.
I looked at her for a moment, "What's his name?"
A shocked expression appeared on her face, and she blushed slightly, "You certainly are impressive, I'll give you that," she started, "Her name isn't important. It's doesn't matter regardless. After these two betray my father, I'll be marrying someone new at my fathers demand."
"So you know?"
She laughed walking over to me, "Of course I know. Men plot against men. But behind everyone man is a brilliant woman. The del Castillo's aren't trustworthy," she released me from my restraints, "Only a fool like my father would trust them."
I sat up and stared at her, "You haven't told your father?"
She shook her head, "I despise my father," she crossed her arms, "Besides, I don't want to marry Juan Carlos anyhow."
"Better me than you?" I raised my eyebrow at her.
She smirked, "Precisely," she paused, "But something tells me, you won't be wed to the man either."
"What makes you say that?"
She handed me a dagger, I recognized it as one of my own, "Cutting out the middle man, is most effective," she smirked, "No?"
- - End of Chapter - -