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“Who are you?” I ask.
“I was late getting the guys,” Mirdza says, “because I found her—Katerina.”
“Let’s go,” Katerina says. “When Leo realizes I’m gone, he’ll be really angry.”
Just when I thought things can’t get any worse, they somehow do.
32
True to his word, Leonid doesn’t interfere when we drive back to Aleksandr’s home, or when Aleksandr, Grigoriy, and Alexei begin liquidating some of their interests in Russia and shifting money to Latvia. I’m actually shocked at how well he keeps his word. I expected him to show up, dramatically, and attack us.
Even though things are going as well as they possibly could, Alexei’s being really, really strange. We’ve been staying at Aleksandr’s while they try and sort details and make a plan, and it’s been getting worse and worse.
He’s avoiding me all the time, so I can’t even pin him down about it. I finally catch him as he’s ducking out the back door.
“Whoa there,” I say. “Where you going?”
Alexei freezes, but he doesn’t turn.
“Are you just never talking to me again?”
He sighs, his shoulders slumping a little. “I thought that might be best.”
I practically lunge toward him. “Are you kidding right now?” I grab his shoulder and spin him around. “What are you doing?”
“The Romanovs were obsessed with two things,” Alexei says. “Gemstones and horses. Did you know that?”
I can’t help frowning. “I’m always happy to hear about your family, but can we go back to why you’re avoiding me first?”
“My dad came home with seven horses once—Arabians he had bought from the finest breeder in Asia.”
What’s he talking about? He’s not even meeting my eye.
“He brought us all out to watch them move. I fell in love with a beautiful, deep, blood bay.”
“Alexei.”
His eyes snap toward mine. “Just listen.”
At least he’s talking.
“He let me choose first. It wasn’t fair, probably, but I was the only son, and I didn’t question it. I chose the blood bay mare, and I never looked back.” He’s looking away again, eyes on the horizon. “But before I ever rode her, she got white line and foundered.” He finally turns back toward me. “I never rode that horse. They worked with her for years, but she was never sound to ride.”
“I’m sorry.” And I am. Founder’s the literal worst.
“I was sorry I chose her in the first place,” Alexei says. “I should have chosen one of the greys, the chestnut, or the browns. It was my own fault. I’d made the choice, but I didn’t realize she was going to have so many problems. I had to watch as my siblings rode their Arabians, delighted, knowing I’d never ride mine.”
“But surely you had other horses.”
“What if she was my only horse? What if I chose a horse that looked perfect, only to have her never be rideable?” His eyes are flashing now. “That’s what you’ve done. You said yes to marrying me, but now, after you’ve chosen, I’ve gone lame.”
Oh, geez. “Alexei.”
He shakes his head and tries to walk away.
“I honestly thought you were smarter than that.” I snort.
That makes him stop.
