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“He’s an honorable man at heart, Lilli. Don’t hold his aggression against him. It’s there for a reason.”
It makes me smile because I’m guessing these guys could do no wrong in their mother’s eyes.
We wander through palatial rooms and Grace points out items of interest and speaks of events that happened in them. I am forming a picture of the family as we walk through their home, and then we stop at a portrait above the fireplace in the main living room.
“This is my husband, Andrei.” Grace’s voice softens and I stare with interest at the man I’ve heard so much about and not all of it good.
“He was a formidable man, much like my sons. To the outside world, he was ruthless and unapproachable.”
“Much like your sons.” I add, making her laugh.
“They have to be.” She says sadly. “Impossible wealth brings impossible danger. As Andrei discovered, to his detriment.”
“I’m sorry. Mikhail told me he was murdered. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain that brought you.”
“Thank you.” Grace continues to stare at his portrait and a wistful spark lights her eyes.
“I wish it was different, Lilli. Sometimes life deals us a hard blow that is difficult to recover from. We are all trying to come to terms with what that now means for the family.”
She turns away and I note the regret in her expression, and she sighs. “Titus is now the head of the family, for his sins, and the rest of them have settled into their respective roles.”
“What about you?” I ask with concern, and she shrugs.
“I must make my own future now.”
She turns and stares at the portrait and says wistfully. “I was once an important accessory on the arm of one of the most powerful men in Russia. When you take that away, I become an accessory with no purpose. Titus is now the man they all want and when he marries, his wife will take on my role. I am expected to finish my days in the shadows, no longer of any consequence.”
“But you won’t let that happen. Right?” I’m angry for her and she laughs softly.
“It’s a good job I was born in America, Lilli. The land of the free. As soon as the children are settled and are over the shock, I will slip away to a home we have there and live out my days without constantly looking over my shoulder. I will be free, and that is an attractive future for someone who has lived in a gilded cage for too long now.”
I’m not sure I like the direction this conversation is going in and she appears to shake herself and grasps my arm again and says quickly, “I’ll show you the guest house. Mikhail has made it perfectly clear that you will remain with him in the main house, but if you ever want somewhere to be alone, it’s yours all the time you are here.”
As we make our way out of one magnificent house to another, I wonder if Mikhail, or his siblings are aware their mom is planning on flying the nest and leaving them to fend for themselves. In her position, I’m convinced I would do exactly the same, but imagining the reason behind that actually hurts my heart and makes me realize just what a bitter pill I just swallowed.
CHAPTER 51
MIKHAIL
Iwait until mom and Lilli are out of earshot and the servants have left before I say gravely, “There is something you should know.”
My brothers stare at me with deepening interest and Ana says quickly, “Tell us.”
I fill them in on what I’ve been doing, and I don’t hold anything back. When I finish, I can tell they are as shocked as I was when I discovered our father’s duplicity and Ana says with a break to her voice, “I don’t understand. Who is this woman?”
She shakes her head. “I mean, from the sounds of it, she was more than just a hook up when he was in town.”
I drain the vodka in my glass and hiss, “That’s what we need to find out. Any ideas?”
Titus appears thoughtful and yet before he says anything, Ana speaks up. “It makes sense now.”
“What does?” Titus says sharply, and she leans forward, excitement lighting her eyes.
“I’ve been trawling through his paperwork and there are a few contracts that don’t make sense. Most of the files I’ve uncovered are legitimate ones concerning our business, but one keeps on cropping up that doesn’t tie in with the rest of them.”
“Explain.” Titus says gravely and she shrugs.
“It’s called the Rose foundation.”
