Page 59 of Stolen Beauty

“I accept that responsibility, but let’s take it one step at a time, my love.” He kisses the top of my head. “Don’t run before you can walk. A man can only take so much.”

We lie in silence for a while, Arman’s fingertips drawing tiny circles on my arm. I roll away and doze, listening to the familiar hum of the city as it ebbs and flows.

There’s so much about myself that I tried to hide, even from myself. Arman accepts everything I am without question or judgment, and I’m struggling to comprehend it. When he says he couldn’t care less what others think, I believe him. My needs are paramount, and if anything gets in the way of them, that thing is gone. He is probably gonna spend months unraveling the damage he caused when he threw everyone out of the wedding, but he gives no sign that he’s in the least concerned.

A soft mewling purr, and a scratching sound. Napoleon is at the door.

“Shh, dumbass,” Arman murmurs. “Lilyana is asleep.”

I smile and keep quiet. Don’t wanna make him feel guilty for not letting the kitten into the room.

Napoleon continues to meow, and Arman sighs, getting to his feet. He opens the bedroom door.

“Come on, buddy,” he says. “Don’t do this to me. I laid down the law already; you wanna make me look like an idiot?” Napoleon gives a chirrup. “And don’t take that tone with me, either.”

I stifle a giggle. This scary-ass bratva man is negotiating with a small cat and, apparently, he’s losing.

“Okay, dammit.” I turn over and open one eye to see him scoop up Napoleon and bring him to the bed, setting him down on top of the duvet. Arman pulls on his pajama pants and lies down beside me. Napoleon stands up and stretches before padding onto Arman’s legs.

“Oh, you gotta be shitting me.” The kitten curls into a ball on Arman’s chest, tucking his freckled nose under his paw.

I can’t resist, and Arman frowns at me as I laugh. “You’re awake. Good. What do I do? I can’t move him; he’s asleep.”

I reach for Napoleon, but as soon as I lift him, he scrabbles at me, so I let go. He immediately resumes his position on top of Arman, and within a minute, he’s snoring again.

“I think you’re gonna have to make the best of it,” I say. “Unless you’re willing to put your foot down and banish him to his bed?”

Arman sighs. “It’s pretty clear who the real pussy is. Of course I’m not gonna fucking do that. But if I sneeze and he goes into orbit, it’s his own fault.”

39

Timur

Idrive away from the restaurant, my hands gripping the wheel until my knuckles turn white.

I’m still laughing, but nothing is funny. If I were the type to be charmed by Fate’s little games, maybe I’d be amused for real, but I’m not. My laughter gives way to a manic fury, and I punch the dash until my knuckles split.

I need to work out what to do next, but my entire world has pivoted on its axis, and now I’m in free fall.

If I’d spent a thousand years contemplating every possible twist my life might take, I’d never have imagined this one. Did I misunderstand somehow?

No. When Arman spoke about his father’s fiery death, I could have convinced myself it was a coincidence. Then I asked his fucking first name and confirmed the truth beyond all doubt. He went by another surname when I was a child, but it’s him.

Try as I might, all I can think about is that day of days, years ago.

When I finally tracked down my father, I couldn’t believe it. He was a chauffeur for some rich guy? What a loser. In my heart, I’d hoped he would have a good reason for leaving me and Mama, but there he was, doing nothing important with his useless life.

He stood beside the limousine, smoking a cigarette, and as I approached, I felt sure he’d speak first. Say sorry, offer to make it right, anything. Instead, he just stared as though I was a ghost.

“Papa,” I said. “So you abandoned Mama and I for this?”

He looked at his feet. “Timur, it wasn’t what you think. I don’t believe I am your father, and although I tried to stay and be there for you, I couldn’t take any more. She was—is—crazy.”

“Bullshit,” I said.

“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. She sent you to find me and enact her vengeance, right?”

“Something like that.”

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