5 - Kristoff

It's a quarter past nine when I get back to the mansion, upset and a bit drunk. After I had rallied a few men to try and get more information out of Patrick, and also task some secret spies with observing my insufferable uncle, I decide to pay my dearest step mom and brother a friendly visit.

My father married Lucille shortly after my mother passed away. Lucille was her best friend and half sister, and had been shamelessly having an affair with father without mother knowing. When she finally found out, she filed for a divorce and months later, they were separated. In remorse, he cut off all ties with Lucille and tried to get back with mother but she was adamant on getting back together with him. Father never had a good grip on his anger. One thing led to another and he accidentally pushed mother down a flight of stairs in the middle of a heated argument, causing her skull to crack and she breathed her last on the spot.

I was a little boy then so you could imagine the trauma I passed through at that age, seeing her body put in a coffin and buried in the earth. Worse, the court insisted that Father should get remarried before serving his jail term so I could have a trusted guardian to look after me. Without a care in the world, he married Lucille and she put me through hell. When Father managed to get a presidential pardon after just three years in jail, he returned and shortly afterwards, my snotty little brother, Harvey was born. He was the apple of Lucille's eyes as well as Father's little prince. While Lucille neglected and maltreated me, he stood by, stricken with guilt. Slowly, she manipulated him into being a sort of slave to her. Whatever she said, became law. With or without his consent.

I left home at eighteen after going through Mom's things she hid in a box in the ground underneath her bed and found the ring. It was golden and had little flecks of pure red diamonds on the sapphire blue pendant so I was able to sell it for a hefty sum and ventured into oil shipping. Without a clue about how to run a company, I took business masterclasses, put in a lot hard work, tears and sweat at the age of nineteen so my business could grown. After a few slow years, I became one of the leading, most influential oil magnate in New York and also, the most feared Mafia Don.

Luckily, I still had the contact of the ring buyer, and although I bought it back for thrice the sum I sold it for, I was glad I had a piece of mother back. The ring was her most treasured possession and not only Lucille and Father had been trying to get it for ages, but now, also Uncle William.

I still can't believe I'm related to such greedy lots.

"Oh, look who's home," Harvey huffs the minute I step out of the elevator into the cream-themed living area. He's sprawled on the sofa, shirtless, a stick of cigarette between his pink, plumpy lips that has a deep cut by the left side, thanks to engaging frequently in fights. Lucille sits across from him, her back erect as she sips from her mug. "Why'd you come home this time?"

"Harvey," Lucille calls softly, a sharp edge in her tone. "Shut up. And get the hell out of that chair. Show some respect to your elder brother."

"Oh, please," Harvey waves her off dismissively.

"It's fine," I tell Lucille, stopping her from barking at him any further. Harvey's a stiff thorn in the flesh as she raised him to be, and I've learned to tolerate his trashy attitude. "I don't intend to stay long, though."

"Really?" Lucille splutters, trying unsuccessfully to hide her delight. "If it won't sound insulting, what brings you here? You haven't been home for what? Months."

I sigh, exhausted by her already. "I came by just for a friendly visit. Nothing more," It's infuriating how much she wants me out of their lives for good, as though she has the right to be in mine. I've never been able to forgive her for everything she's done. The trauma she's caused. "What now? You two don't seem particularly happy to see me."

"Now, dear, don't be absurd," Lucille murmurs as she stands. "We don't hate you, and we wish you come home even more often. I'll go make some coffee and bring along cookies as well," she disappears down a corridor into the kitchen.

I sit on the couch farthest from Harvey, the stale smell of cigarettes upsetting my nose. It's been ages since I smoked last, hence my discomfort. Harvey pulls a few drags and exhales slowly, his eyes on me like a hawk's. "What's up bro? Fill me in on what you've been up to."

I offer him a polite smile, not at all willing to indulge. "Been working. How's your old man?" I stopped calling him Dad the minute I discovered that he killed Mom.

"Our old man," Harvey sighs, tired of correcting me. He exhales smoke through his mouth and snorts. "He's good. Annoying as usual. Are you coming for Uncle William's big birthday bash next week?"

I open my mouth to decline, but think better of it. I need a chance to confront my arsehole uncle, as it is. "Well, I'll see if I can make it."

"Please do come," he intones. "I know you're always busy, but it'll be nice to let off some steam and spend some time as a family. I'll save one of my girls for you."

"Actually, there's no need for that," I lean my back more evenly on the soft leather, my cock instantly going hard at the thought of Titania. "I have a girl already. A beautiful woman I'll like you all to meet."

Harvey's jaw goes slack for a minute, before a smile breaks through his surprise. "No. Fucking. Way. You two are engaged or..."

I shake my head, mentally laughing as I imagine how horrified Titania would be if she was here to hear what Harvey just said. "Not yet...but I'm working on it."

"You're always working your arse off," Lucille chips in as she re-enters, a coffee tray balanced on one hand. She sets it down before me and turns to sit. "I know how much you love working, but come on, hun. You'll get burned out if you keep up like this."

Pfft. As if I'm not burned out already, talking to you two.

"Uncle Williams tried to steal my mother's ring from me," I blurt out thoughtlessly after we've talked about irrelevant things for a while. Harvey freezes, his cigarette stick hanging, suspended in the air for a split second while I've never seen Lucille look so pale and frightened. "He mobilised one of my most trusted men to carry out the operation. Thanks to my CCTV footages and baser instincts, I was able to get a hold of the thief, and he told me that Uncle William was the one who made him do it."

For a few minutes, silence hangs in the air. Lucille's hands are shaking and Harvey is trying to avert his eyes away from me without much success.

"Are the two of you in this, as well?" I ask coldly.

"Why would you say such a thing?" Lucille says at last. ,"Of course not. We're just surprised. I mean, we never thought that your Uncle William could stoop so low..."

"Right. As if it isn't the same blood running through that criminal's blood that runs through his as well..."

"You will not speak of your father like that," Lucille explodes, her voice sharp and hurtful, eyes looking me up and down derisively. "Have some self-respect. I expect decency from you at least."

"And I suppose you have the so-called self-respect you stand here preaching to me about? You didn't even wait till your best friend and half-sister died before whoring yourself around with her husband," I grit out bitterly.

"Brother, enough!" Harvey shoots up in anger, his demeanor menacing. "Watch your fucking tongue, arsehole."

"Stay out of this, Harvey," Lucille warns him, turning to face me once more. "Is this the reason you came here? To insult me for the mistakes I committed years ago? I've been trying all I can to correct them and become a better stepmother to you, but all you do is spit on my face and ridicule me over and over again. What more do you want from me?"

"To get out of our lives. To leave Dad and go back to the hell you came from."

"You ingrate," she gasps, whipping my left cheek hard. I hang my head to the side for a few minutes, gnashing my teeth at how stinging the impact of her hand feels. When I turn my eyes to her again she's wide-eyed and remorseful. I lean in to whisper in her ear. "If you really want to make things right, you'll live. Till then, try not to be pissed hearing the damn truth about you all the time. As the first son of this family, it's my duty to protect it's name and image from demons like you. But, I guess I'll let up," I smile sardonically, stepping away. "I'll leave the prickling for your conscience. That's if...you have a conscience at all."

I stride over to the door and grab the handle, turning one last time to say. "Oh, and...tell William that I have my men on his sneaky arse. I might disregard my humanity and forget we're family once I lay my hands on reasonable and concrete evidence against him. Tell him to watch his back. Kristoff Stravkos is not to be messed with."