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“Still not crying.”
He leans back and takes a sip of his coffee, and I sigh theatrically. “When I asked you to kiss me, it was the boldest question I had ever asked because as it happens, that was my first kiss—ever.”
Now I have his attention and he seems shocked. “Ever!”
“Yes. I told you I have lived with girls my entire life and even when the holidays came around, they were spent in tennis club, cookery school, or deep in the countryside in my parent’s country home. Strictly no boys allowed and every move I made was watched.”
“So, you’ve never had a boyfriend.”
Ivan looks curious, and I nod. “You’re catching on. Anyway, the day you kidnapped me, I prayed hard for a different life. Something cool and edgy and it appears my wish was granted.”
“You wanted this.” He laughs as if I’ve cracked the funniest joke and I nod. “I want life, Ivan. I want to love, laugh, and live. I want freedom and not to live by the rule book. Kissing you was the single best experience of my life so far and to you, it was probably one in a very long line. I just want you to know that because, despite the circumstances, at least you have given me something to treasure in my boring future married to a wet blanket.”
“A what?”
He looks confused and I laugh out loud. “It’s a term we use like a wet weekend. Someone boring, plain, and unimaginative. Going through the motions of life rather than living it. I am now open to receiving your pity. Thank you.”
He sets down his cup and stares deeply into my eyes.
“My story is a much better one.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
This time I raise my cup and take a sip of the tea that feels a lot like home.
“I never knew my mother. Only a father whose idea of raising his son was making him fight. Ever since I can remember, he entered me in contests against local kids and if I didn’t paint them in their own blood, he took mine instead.”
The cup freezes against my mouth as he says dully. “I lost my virginity with my father’s girlfriend while he watched.”
Now I put the cup down and wish I had never asked. “I was fourteen years old.”
I reach out and take his hand and as his fingers lace with mine, he says roughly, “I was educated in the school of life and dragged around after him as he tortured, murdered and raped his victims. I was encouraged to participate and the only time I ever earned his approval was when I won a fight.”
It’s as if he’s speaking of somebody else because there is no emotion in his voice at all and he says with a sigh. “Fighting became my safety blanket. If I won, he was happy, which made me happy. I sought his approval because he was the big bad monster everybody feared. I grew to love what I did. For every bone I broke, I was rewarded. I had everything. Women, food, and alcohol. An unlimited expense account and no rules but one. To win.”
He breaks off and I see the light dancing in his eyes as he says with a smile. “His biggest mistake was sending me to America to be educated. The place was called Rockwell Academy, and I met my future there. Along with my friends, we will change our future and live our lives the way we want to and not how our families have planned. Like you, I want a different life to the one mapped out for me and kidnapping you will give us everything we want.”
“How?” I hold my breath because I wasn’t expecting this, and he says darkly, “I lied about the reason I kidnapped you.”
“You did.” Now I’m afraid because the conversation has a darker edge to it, and he nods, looking at me with a tortured expression.
“As it turns out, Winter’s husband wants to trade.”
He appears disgusted as he spits, “We exchange you both and everyone gets what they want.”
“Everyone.” I feel weak and desperate as I face the real reason I’m here, and he nods.
“Massimo Delauren, as it turns out, is your biological father.”
CHAPTER14
IVAN
Ifeel like the biggest bastard in the world as I watch Charlotte’s life crashing and burning at her feet. Her expression says it all as I lay out the real reason behind this.
She looks shocked and yet we can’t talk about it because the captain calls me and tells us we’ll be landing shortly.
As we clear and stow away the breakfast things, I sit beside a shocked Charlotte as we wait to land.
