27. Why?
Talon
The minute they left Raúl emerged from the shadows.
"What would you like me to do?"
I thought about it for a minute. I'd already decided to take over Conti Industries. I wanted it all. I hadn't anticipated Kara to go and marry the guy, not after everything she told me she went through with him.
"Talon?"
I held my palm up to stop him. I needed to think. The wheels were turning in my head, but I wasn't there yet. The first question I needed an answer to was related to their marriage. Did they sign a prenup or didn't they? The second question is about the father's will. Who gets what if elder Conti were to die? Did he leave it all to his son or someone else? The third question was easier. How dirty were the Contis?
"I need you to find out three things for me. You can ask Alessandro for help if you need it." Raúl smirked. "The first, did Kara sign a prenup. The second, what's in elder Conti's will. If you a get a copy that would be much appreciated. The third, how dirty are the Contis. I want to know all of their secrets."
Raúl bowed and disappeared.
I paced around my father's office still feeling a bit uneasy. Now what was I going to do about Nikolai? I couldn't let his betrayal go unpunished, but he is my brother. That means something. Many ideas ran through my head but I kept coming back to the one solution. I had to send him away. If I didn't he would keep getting in my way and I can't have that, so having come to a decision, I went in search of Alessandro who was unsurprisingly with Lucas who jumped to his feet the minute I walked in.
"Don't start. I won't tell you where he is."
"He's our brother."
"That is exactly why he's locked away right now. I asked him to do one thing for me; take care of Kara while I was away. He didn't do that."
"You can't blame him. Kara made her own decision."
"Which Nikolai allowed her to do! He couldn't have her, so instead of seeing her with his brother he let her go to that monster. I can't forgive him. I won't."
"Fine. If you want to tear this family apart then do it."
"No one is forcing you to stay here, Lucas. I do remember you making that decision on your own."
"This is as much my legacy as it is yours. I'm not going to walk away from it like you did."
"What's your point?"
"The point is all of us stayed while you ran away."
I scoffed. "Following your dream isn't running away. I made a decision about my own life."
"And yet you come back here after many years and have taken up the responsibility of making decisions about everyone else's life. How ironic."
"I'll say this again, no one is forcing you to stay here."
"You are more like father than you think. You're controlling and a tyrant. Maybe Kara is better off without you."
I wasn't going to be baited by Lucas.
"Alessandro, I need you to look into some volunteer programs in South America for Nikolai. The more rigorous the program is, the better."
"What? You can't be serious."
I looked Lucas in the eye without blinking. "It will help improve his character. Besides, he might meet some beauty there, fall in love and live happily ever after. I do not want him here or anywhere near me. This is the best thing I can do for him."
"Lucas, maybe a break from all of this will be good for Nikolai. I'll look into it right away."
"Thank you Alessandro."
At least someone around here could be counted on to do what they're told.
"He's our brother."
"That is exactly why I'm doing this! It's because he's our brother. He needs to learn that betrayal is not accepted in this family. Loyalty is what matters. He needs to learn this. How else can I protect him? How else can I protect all of you if our own brother can't follow one simple instruction! Nikolai didn't do this to protect Kara or this family. He did it for himself. It was pure selfishness and it will not be tolerated in this family, so either you get on board or exercise your right and freedom to leave. What will it be Lucas?"
He shrugged. "I still don't like the idea but I'll just watch for now."
"As you wish."
***
Shadow got back to me a few days later with more information than I could ever anticipate. He was always thorough and never gave wrong information, so I never ask him how he gets the information. I didn't want to know. I had forsaken my conscience. That was my burden to bear.
"Start with the good news first."
"They didn't sign a prenup."
"That's indeed good news."
I sat down in my father's chair. I couldn't decide on whether I wanted his office or not. I wasn't even sure I wanted to live here. It's our family home but I'm not so sure it's for me. It's my parents' home.
"So, if Bastian were to die Kara would inherit everything."
"As it stands, yes."
"What if elder Conti dies?"
"That's where it gets a bit tricky."
"I thought it might. That old bastard is no fool."
"He isn't a genius either. Of course everything he owns will go to his son."
"Do you have a list?"
He handed me a folder.
"It's quite extensive," he added."
"I thought it might be."
"If elder Conti dies, junior gets everything. However, they all have to remain under the Conti name."
"That sounds fair, but what happens if there are no Conti's to inherit?"
"It says it has to be under the Conti name, not that the person has to be a Conti by blood."
"Ahh. Therefore if they both die, Kara would get it all."
"As long as there are no relatives with the Conti name, then yes."
"That is a blessing and a curse. I want the Contis wiped from existence. I don't care how you do it, but it must be done."
He nodded in understanding.
"I wasn't going to say anything because it really isn't any of my business, but seeing as I'm able to guess what you're going to do next, this might ruin your plans. If Bastian dies before his father everything will be lost."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It would all go to the government and their reputation would still be intact. Therefore, I think you need to know that Kara plans to kill Bastian and Salvador is helping her."
"What?" I jumped to my feet. "What did you say?"
"Calm down. I'm sure there must be a reason, but you'll have to ask him that yourself."
I paced around the office.
"Call him here. I need to hear his explanation."
Salvador came in a few minutes later. I'd calmed down a bit and was able to address him in a civil manner.
"Explain yourself."
"I was just helping a damsel in distress."
"That's not your decision to make!"
"Then whose is it?"
"What's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"This isn't like you. You do not interfere in people's affairs."
He shrugged but responded anyway. "She needed help."
"She needed help to kill her husband."
"It's not like it would have been a great loss."
"Don't meet her again. Kara killing that bastard isn't part of the plan. Bastian Conti will die by my hands and by my hands alone."
"Noted. However, I doubt there is anything you can do. I already gave her the poison."
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
"Raúl."
"I'll take care of it," he said before disappearing.
"Why?"
"It's not safe for her in that house."
"He hasn't done anything to her. I would have known."
"He hasn't, but that doesn't mean he won't. It's not my place Talon."
"What isn't your place? What aren't you telling me? Why is it so important to get rid of him right now?"
"It's important because if he finds out she's pregnant, he'll kill her without remorse. She's pregnant with your child and the minute that bastard finds out, she'll be dead. She'd already made up her mind before I got there. I was just helping her do it cleanly."
"How? How can she be pregnant?"
"All I know is that when I met her she was terrified, and from what I saw and overheard, there is no way that child is his. They haven't slept together and she's about three or four months along."
I sank into the chair feeling defeated.
"I would offer my congratulations but I see that you need a minute to take it all in."
Salvador left after that. Can I believe him? Is what he said true? Is Kara really pregnant with my child? Why didn't she tell me? Why go through this alone? Why? I needed answers. I needed to know. I won't feel satisfied until I do.