Desmier stares at me with curious eyes.
“Anastasia…”
“This is the meadow, Desmier. This is the place.” I whirl around, and then I see the house way down at the bottom of the hill with the lake beside it and the woods behind.
“Oh my God. The house… it feels familiar, too.”
“Come on, let’s go there and see what happens.”
He takes my hand and leads me back to the car. Leif then drives the rest of the way along a winding road that takes us right on to the drive in front of the two-story home.
We all get out of the car. I look over the house, hoping to remember because it’s beautiful and exactly the kind of place I could imagine myself relaxing and roaming around in.
The front door opens, and a man with shoulder-length hair walks out.
He looks to be in his mid-thirties and moves with that air of authority I’ve seen with most Bratva leaders. When he gets a little closer, I spot Russian tattoos on his hands, and I guess he must be Lucca, the Pakhan of the Yurkov. I’ve never seen a Pakhan so young before, but I know there are at least three in the alliance.
“Morning,” he greets us.
“Lucca Dyshekov, you look more and more like your father every time I see you,” Leif says with a warm smile.
They hug instead of shaking hands, and Lucca smiles.
“I take that as a massive compliment, Leif Volkova. Your presence is most welcome.”
“Thank you.” Leif turns to Desmier and me and points to us. “This is my nephew, Desmier, and his wife, Anastasia.”
Lucca dips his head.
“Thank you for accommodating us,” Desmier says with a curt nod, too.
“That’s not a problem. It’s good to meet you both.”
“And you.”
I attempt a smile when Lucca looks at me. I notice the way he takes me in. I’m sure Leif must have filled him in on what’s happening, so when he walks toward me, I’m not surprised by the wealth of concern in his eyes.
“Please feel free to go wherever you need to, inside and outside the house.” He gives me a polite smile.
“Thank you. Do you live here?”
“No. I have a custodian who does. I come here most weekends to train my birds. When the Butyrskayas lived in the U.S, they used this home for breaks. I remember them from when I was a boy. They were one of the families who always provided my father with business because they loved his birds.”
“When was the last time you saw them?”
“About twenty years ago, just before they left the U.S.”
“Oh.” I was hoping he might have seen them later than that.
“But I was told they came here several times a year. Have a look around.”
“Thank you.”
Desmier taps my arm. “Do you want me to come with you?”
I nod. “Yes. I need you.”
“Then I’m here.”