AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eva is quiet, no doubt thinking of a reason that he will accept. “Andrei, I didn’t do it for myself. I did it for Sonya so that she wouldn’t be penniless. You have businesses, but what means of support does she have other than you? You have your father’s money, but she has none of her own.”
Sighing, his shoulders relax, and I wonder if Eva understands what she has done to him by keeping secrets. What she’s done to us. He may never trust another soul after this.
“She will have her father’s money in time, I’m sure of it.” he replies solemnly. “And now, mine.”
It is a forbidden subject who Sonya’s father is. No one in the house dares to guess. And it’s never discussed—not even in whispers. Eva stares sternly at Andrei as if he’s betrayed and shamed her for what happened long ago. The conversation ends as each stares at the other as if they’re enemies.
“You will stay here,” Andrei demands.
“No, Andrei,” replies Eva, lifting her chin. “I’m going out.”
Andrei points at Eva and bellows, jabbing his finger with each angry word. “You will stay in here until I’ve figured out what you have done. That is my decision.”
“You tell me you’re no different from your father.” Eva shakes her head as a tear rolls down her cheek. “But all I hear are his words falling from your lips.”
Andrei says nothing as he turns and walks out of Eva’s room. I hurry to follow, but the look of betrayal on Eva’s face is burned into my mind.
Andrei waits outside of the closed door while a solemn Natasha obediently fetches the key. I feel sick, knowing that Eva will be locked in her room like I once was.
“Andrei, please don’t do it,” I whisper, not wanting to be overheard.
He folds his arms across his chest. “You can’t have a soft heart at a time like this.”
***
Later that night, I return to the second floor and glance over at Natasha as she sits outside Eva’s door. She strictly ignores my gaze, and I wonder what she’s thinking. I can’t tell by her indifferent expression if Natasha is judgmental or supportive. I want to ask her what she thinks but quickly decide against it.
Just like that, I’m an outsider again.
I enter Emma’s room and stare at the mess and miss her even more. I pick up her denim jacket and press it against my face as I burst into tears. A wave of grief overwhelms my soul and makes my knees go weak. I slump down on her bed, not caring about the clutter. It’s a comfort, if anything, to lie near her things. It’s like Emma never left.
I don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until the door opens, and Andrei enters. His expression is a clash of emotions, his eyes angry but full of hurt. For a few moments, we stare at each other in silence, refusing to speak but feeling everything awful happening around us. Does he also feel a loss of control?
Andrei clears his throat and answers my unasked question. “I sent Natasha to bed. She offered to continue to watch Eva, but I said no.”
I nod, laying my head back down. I care about these people, and he understands what I’ve been going through with my father. We can’t do this alone, and maybe Eva’s betrayal has brought us closer together. Maybe he’ll decide to trust me.
Andrei climbs onto the messy bed and lies down beside me. He hugs me tightly, and I don’t want him to let go. I want to remain in this cocoon alone with him, safe, wanted, and needed. But this feeling won’t last once the outside world intrudes again. When he finally pulls away, he gives me a tender kiss. I cling to him, and the kiss deepens. I want him to stay with me. I don’t want to lose him too.
Gently, he pushes me away and gets up. “I have to leave, so we can go look for her.”
I sit up, swallowing hard and forbidding any tears. “Come home to me, Andrei. Promise you’ll come back to me.”
I can’t remember if I’ve ever said that to him before.
Chapter 45
Andrei
We spend twenty-four hours straight looking for Emma, but no one is talking, and it’s not a cover-up by the Novikovs.
Perhaps he really is working alone, and greed is his only motivation. It changed Gerald Reyes from a loving husband and father into a scumbag. Gerald Reyes may have squirreled away billions, not millions, especially if he stole fromeveryone.
I’m tempted to ask the other Bratvas for information, but I’m not crazy. So far, it seems that only Igor and I are in pursuit of the money.
Maybe Kenney found something that day we hadn’t. Maybe he found the will. I don’t have it, and Paige said she didn’t know about it. Or maybe she does? Her secrets are in layers. Each one I uncover only leads to several more underneath.
She hasn’t returned to our suite, preferring to stay in Emma’s room or Eva’s. Her actions display disloyalty. And although no one speaks out against me, I sense the disapproving expressions when I pass the household staff in the hallways.
