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“My mother brought a man home while my father was there,” she whispers. “Before the divorce.”
Ivan?Curiosity piques as I turn to look at her. “What did he do in response?”
“Nothing. Emma was too little to understand, but I could hear them through the walls. My father sat in the kitchen, drinking. Dad was still there in the morning with his head on the table. He never went back into their bedroom after that.” Paige snorts a laugh. “I guess we all have our fucked-up pasts, don’t we?”
“Some more than others.” My voice softens as I pull her onto my lap. “Not since I have you.”
Paige bites her lip; a slow, wicked smile appears on her lips. “That’s so corny.”
It’s as if an understanding now descends between us. A newfound connection is forming—one that transcends mere words.
“Eva told you about the first time I stood up for her,” I offer. “But she never told you the truth.”
Paige sits up straighter, her crystal blue eyes intently drilling into mine. “She told me it was because she didn’t want his mistress in his bed.”
“No.” I pause, searching for the right words. When I find none, I settle on the simple truth. “It’s because he found out she was pregnant. He wanted to kill her that night. But first, he wanted to kill the baby in her belly. He made me stand there and watch.” I squeeze my fingers together at the memory of that night.
A sobbing woman clutching her belly. A helpless boy screaming at a monster. And a rain of fists he can’t protect her from.
“She screamed for help and no one came. Finally, I could no longer watch.” I close my eyes and feel my body trembling at the memory. “No one but me. I was Vasily’s only son. Yet that night, I knew he would not hesitate to kill me. Only when Eva screamed that Vasily was killing me did his brigadiers finally step in. A dozen men stood outside the door. All of them listened, and not a single one of them lifted a finger until the monster turned his anger on me.”
I open my eyes and fight to keep my breath even. The feeling of relief is strange to tell someone. Paige’s eyes are locked on mine, and they’re brimming with tears.
“It’s never too late, Paige,” I whisper. “To repair your broken relationship with your mother.”
Chapter 42
Andrei
Later that night, I stand on the terrace, staring at the maze. It’s a liability to have a massive obstruction near my home. A ready hiding place for an assassin, but I refuse to cut it down. Vasily kept it as a challenge, and I want to do the same.
I’m not my father, but I expect my enemies to show the same respect to me as they used to show him.
I can’t help but think about the conversation earlier. I never fooled myself into believing that Paige’s life was easy. But she opened up to me, telling me things about herself that I otherwise never would’ve asked. I never thought about what she left behind because I didn’t care in the past.
My collar feels tight as I tug it away from my neck, as if my emotions are strangling me.
“Andrei Vasilyevich?” Oleg descends the stone stairs. He is wearing the same suit from this morning, but his tie is off, and he smells faintly of beer. I can sense the tension radiating off him, and I glance behind him at the house.
“Chto?”
Though the light doesn’t reach us, I can see his facial expression in the shadows. His jaw ticks as his brows pinch together.
“There was a Karamazov hitman near the hospital earlier today. He left after seeing me.”
I take another sip of scotch. It was foolish to send Paige to the hospital without proper protection. Two jeeps weren’t enough. Next time I will insist on four.
She’s no longer bait. She is my wife.
And I will not risk her like Vasily risked my mother.
“Molodets, Oleg.” His loyalty reassures me. “Spasibo.”
Instead of leaving, Oleg swallows hard. There is a determined look in his eyes when he speaks again. “Her father is very ill, Andrei Vasilyevich. It’s clear how much she cares for her family.”
I don’t respond, and he avoids my stern gaze. Oleg joined the Bratva late, in his teens. He is loyal but not ruthless like a man raised in the Bratva from birth. Oleg lets fairness interfere with his duties. He overthinks. His determination to express himself reminds me of Paige.
“There will be no trouble from our enemy as far as my wife is concerned.” My voice deepens as I give a command. “She means more to us than a piece on the board.”
