Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Uncle Albert just laughed it off and even asked Papa and my other uncle not to reprimand us.
He was the mediator of the family, the account keeper, and the peace that maintained the bridge between my third volatile uncle and my hotheaded Papa.
Now, there’s only he and I to protect the other two remaining members of our family. And, hopefully, find my brother one day.
Small hands reach out for my face, grabbing at air. “Sasha…Sasha…”
I scoop my youngest cousin, Mike, from Uncle’s clutches. He’s four years old and the only survivor of Uncle Albert’s children. In fact, he’s my only cousin who stayed alive.
Mike was lucky enough to be hidden away by his mother in the cupboard at the time of the massacre. The cost of that sacrifice was her life, but he, at least, didn’t witness all the blood. He doesn’t remember her, either, since he was only a few months old at the time.
I’d give my life to protect the innocence that shines in his light eyes. They translate everything beautiful and pure. Whenever I look at him, I’m reminded of the laughter, adventures, and mischievousness his elder siblings and I used to take for granted.
It wasn’t until I lost them about four years ago that I realized just how privileged we were.
Mike’s fair hair has grown, becoming longer and wilder, nearly eating up his small face. “You need a haircut, Mishka.”
He giggles and then pats my cheek. “Man, Sasha.”
“Am I?” I use my manly voice, and he breaks into a fit of giggles as he hugs me tighter.
“You are!”
“My little bear is so old now, he can even tell what I sound like.”
“Yup! Babushka says I’m gonna be a big boy and help ya.”
“You will?”
He rolls his eyes with so much attitude for a four-year-old. “Of course! You can’t do it on your own, Sasha. You’re no Superman.”
“And you are?”
“I’m gonna be. And I’m also gonna stop Babushka from crying every night.”
My heart squeezes, and I raise my head to gauge Uncle Albert’s reaction. He’s leaning against the wall of the old, deserted warehouse we agreed to meet in.
It took me a few hours of hitchhiking to get here, but it’s located far enough from the heart of Saint Petersburg that no one could follow or locate me.
Our communications are done strictly through an encrypted phone from my uncle’s end and a burner from mine. I could’ve gotten one like his, but the chances of it being confiscated in the military are a lot higher than I’m willing to risk.
Gloomy silence creeps through the air of the small shed as the icy merciless winter air slips in from the cracks in the walls. The strong wind blows and whistles in a violent symphony.
Four years ago, we lost our family, our social standing, and our business. We had to stay in hiding and constantly moved from one nook of Russia to the next. Two years ago, we were found by mercenaries sent by our enemies, and once they heard I was still alive, they nearly managed to kill me if it weren’t for Uncle.
Since my father was the head of the family, I’m the only heir alive. The only one who’s able to gather his contacts and rebuild our business from scratch. Uncle and Babushka said it’ll be dangerous if they learned I’m still alive, so they faked my death and I had to live as a man since. With a fake name and background.
A few months after that incident, I joined the army to find out who ordered the hit.
Uncle still has some contacts in there and he’s also trying to rebuild our network, but it’s hard when our last name is blacklisted in Russia.
“Is it true about Babushka?” I ask my uncle.
He throws up a dismissive hand. “That’s not important right now. The fact that you leveled up does.”
“Didn’t you say the higher I climb in rank, the better?”
He nods solemnly as he pushes off the wall with difficulty and squeezes my shoulder the way my father used to do to my older brother. The memory makes my stomach coil, and my breathing deepens and hardens.
“I’m proud of you, Sasha.” Uncle Albert’s voice rings in the hollowness of my rib cage. “I knew you had the spirit of a warrior.”
“I will do anything for our family.” And I mean every word. I was too young and weak to stop the previous attack that robbed us of everything.
This time, it’ll be different.
This time, I have the chance to accomplish something else.
“I know.” He pats my shoulder once more before he releases me. “Promise me you’ll be careful and not reveal your gender or identity. You’re only safe when you’re someone else, Sasha.”
I nod.
“Don’t get close to anyone who’s prone to uncovering your real gender.”
Another nod.
“I know you must feel lonely, but if you make any friends and they figure out who you actually are, none of us will be safe. I can disappear easily, but not with your grandmother and Mike. They’d slow me down and we’d eventually be in danger.”