Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"It's a really nice place." When Samuel sat down facing him, the man smirked, "You seem to have gotten very comfortable in your new place."

Samuel smiled and took a sip of his drink. "It's cozy."

"It is," Igor agreed. "Is this the reason why you have decided to settle down here?"

When Samuel did not say anything, he smirked, "Is this new city so cozy to you that you are willing to leave everything behind and start a new life here with your 'NEW' friends?"

"New life?" He chuckled. "Isn't that an exaggeration?"

"Well—" Igor shrugged his shoulders. "I know you will never leave home and betray your brother—"

He looked at Samuel. "But the way you are getting comfortable in this new environment, it's making me feel a little worried."

"If you are feeling worried then may be you should be worried," Samuel remarked. He wasn't surprised to see Igor all of a sudden inside his apartment. He had been ready for the surprise visit since the day he left home without saying anything.

Samuel also knew he couldn't keep his intentions away from his big brother for a long time. Though he started off with his plan in a very low key manner, but as soon as he kept progressing forward, he stopped hiding it.

He wanted Igor to know what he was trying to do. And even though he was trying to pretend like everything was okay, Samuel knew he was worried and restless.

Even though Igor had an upper hand over everything that equally belonged to the two brothers, there were certain things that he lacked in and one of them was gaining the confidence and trust of the people he closely worked with.

Though many people willingly worked with him, they wouldn't hesitate even once to show their backs to him. And Igor knew that too.

This was his weak point and Samuel was purposely pressing on it over and over again.

"Worried?" Igor chuckled. "Why would I be worried about my brother betraying me when I know he would never do anything like that?"

When Samuel did not say anything, he added, "Or are you telling me that you are really trying to go against me?"

Samuel kept enjoying his drink without saying anything. But his silence was killing Igor.

"Don't do things which will force me to do something I really don't want to," Igor warned him. His voice was no more gentle or cool. It was as if he was trying to threaten him.

"Do things like what?" Samuel questioned him. "Killing me?"

Igor frowned. He could sense the indifference in his brother's behaviour.

"I don't think that should be a big thing for you given that you killed grandpa." Noticing the change in Igor's expression, Samuel chuckled, "What's with that expression brother? Did you expect me never to find this little secret of yours?"

When Igor did not say anything, he added, "Seems like you don't have anything to say but I do."

Pausing for a while, he stated, "Katherine is going to stay with me starting today, she will not go back to Russia."

He then took out a brown envelope from his pocket and placed it on the table. "I asked someone to collect detailed information about the guy she is engaged to. You can see by yourself that his reputation is as bad as his face and personality. My sister is not getting married to a man whore who doesn't know how to respect women."

"I don't know what kind of deal you have with that family but call off the engagement and wedding as soon as possible," he added. "If you don't do this in the next couple of days, I'll do it. And if I have to do it, it's not gonna be pretty."

After saying what he wanted to, Samuel was about to leave when Igor stopped him.

"Do you really wanna do this?" Igor looked at him. "Your actions are forcing me to do things I don't want to."

Without waiting for Samuels reply, he got up and approached him. "We are brothers Sam, we are supposed to stick together, not fight and be against each other."

"Do you have any idea how much pleasure this will give to the Volkovs, especially Owen and Andrew if they find this out?" He added.

"Just because they helped you once, do you think they have forgotten the rivalry between the two families?" Igor placed his hand on his shoulder. "Sam, they are trying to take advantage of this. They are pretending to be friends with you so that they can drag both of us down. Why don't you understand this?"

He sighed and helplessly shook his head. "You are so naive Sam, you don't know anything."

Samuel did not say anything, he just kept staring at Igor. There was a time when he worshipped his big brother but not anymore.

When their parents passed away, Samuel was still a teenager. He had always relied on his big brother, who really loved and cared for him.

But apart from him, there was one more person he was very close to, his grandfather, Hermond Petrov.

"Why did you kill him?" Samuel looked at him with nothing but disgust. "Why did you kill grandpa?"

"Because that is how it works silly," Igor chuckled. "A little killing to gain power is like a tradition in our world."

Without waiting for Samuel reply, he added, "It's like how Owen Volkov killed his father—"

"It's nothing like that—" Samuel snapped at him and jerked his hands away. "Grandpa was a good man, he loved us. He loved you."

"I am not saying that he didn't but do you have any idea what that old man was about to do?" Igor frowned. "He was willing to give up everything we had."

After the death of his son and daughter-in-law, Hermond Petrov decided to take a very bold decision of leaving the nasty world his family had been a part of for decades. And the reason behind doing it was to make sure his grandsons and the future generations of the Petrov family lead a safe and healthy life completely away from danger.

But this was something Igor did not wish for.

When their parents passed away, Igor was already twenty-three and was ready to take over his father's place. But Hermond did not allow him to do so. Instead, he took over everything again and started making necessary arrangements to leave.

When Igor found out what his grandfather was up to, he tried to stop him first but when talking did not help, he ruthlessly murdered him.

"Dad had trained me for it since I was fifteen Samuel, what was I supposed to do? Let that old man cast everything away and leave us with nothing?" Igor snapped.

"Can you even hear yourself brother?" Samuel pursed his lips and frowned. "Your so-called power has made you turn into a self-centered selfish person that I don't recognise anymore."

"Sam—"

"Stop, don't say anything else that will make me resent you more." There were many things he wanted to say but Samuel knew it wasn't the right time.

Igor sighed and helplessly shook his head. "Alright, I won't say anything. Stay here as long as you want or until you are no more angry with your big brother, okay?"

He smiled and gently patted Samuel's head. "When you come back home, I'll throw a big party for you."

When Samuel mockingly scoffed, he said, "If you don't want that, I'll give you something else. Whatever you want, okay?"

"Keep Katherine with you as long as you want," he added. "When you come back home, bring her too."

When he did not say anything, Igor remarked, "You want me to call off the engagement? I'll do it. Don't worry about that."

Ignoring him, Samuel walked towards the bedroom.

"I am staying in Vagabound Hotel, I'll be here for a few days," Igor remarked. "Let's go out for lunch whenever you are free."

...

[Outside The Apartment]

When Igor came down, Viktor was waiting for him near the car.

"Boss, we found Snoopy's address," Viktor said as he handed Igor a file.

"Hmm, let me be for now but keep a close eye," he instructed before boarding the car.

Viktor nodded and followed him inside.

"Boss—" When Igor looked at him, he contemplated for a while before saying. "Young master, he—"

"Don't bother him anymore," Igor stated. "He is just mad because I killed his beloved grandfather. He will be fine in a few months. Just let him be."

"But—" When he looked at him, Viktor said, "He has been in constant touch with Snoopy as well as Andrew Volkov."

"I know," he nodded. "But even if Andrew is willing to extend a hand of friendship to him, Owen will never agree." He chuckled. "You know how much that man hates our family."

Viktor was about to say something but Igor stopped him. "Samuel is my little brother, even though he is angry now, he will never do anything to harm his big brother."

"He has always been like this. He will throw tantrums for now but later he will be okay."

...