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I approach her slowly, keeping my hands visible. Talia watches me, her hand holding the front of her coat tightly closed. Or perhaps she is protecting her baby. For a moment, a touch of sadness softens my expression. This is how we end, and it feels bittersweet.
“Are you here to make sure we go?” she asks.
I nod. “And to make sure no one interferes with your plan.” I look over at the plane. “Wise choice.”
“I … we decided not to take any chances. We didn’t even tell our men.” She lowers her voice. “Is it true? Gleb is dead?”
“The police are looking for him in conjunction with Kenney Grant’s murder. But they’ll never find him.”
Talia smiles. “You kept your word.”
I pause. “Talia, I want you to know that it wasn’t my intention to treat you so heartlessly. I would’ve gone against anything my father wanted.”
She smirks. “And in the process, you became everything he hoped you’d be.”
“I know.”
“Thank you, Andrushka, for this. For being honorable when it mattered most.” Talia shakes her head. “I hope I never see you again.”
“I’m certain you’ll get your wish.”
Talia starts to move away, then stops. Her gaze rests on Valeri, who scowls at us while speaking to the men in the hangar. But that hateful, possessive look doesn’t stop Talia as she takes a step toward me again.
“I fell in love with the idea of you, not you,” she whispers. “I thought I was in love with you, but I know nothing about you. I’ve been able to let go of that idea after seeing up close what you are.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?” She tilts her head quizzically. “I’ve been in love with Valeri. But my pride made me chase after you. I never thought I wouldn’t want you until everything pulled our worlds apart. I was jealous of Paige, but I didn’t know why. Not until now.”
“Why?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Because she never lost herself to you,” she replies. “I hope she can forgive you for all the terrible things you’ve done. Maybe you still have a chance.”
Talia holds out her hand, and I take it in mine. “Thank you, Andrei Vasilyevich, and goodbye,”
“Goodbye, Talia Afanasyevna.”
I watch her walk toward the hangar into the arms of an anxious Valeri. He must know I’m no longer a threat. But he glances over at me with a baleful look. Talia reaches up and places her hand on his chin until he looks at her again. His eyes soften, and she kisses him gently on the lips. They hold onto each other, completely unaware of the people watching them.
I feel a pang of jealousy as they board the plane hand in hand.
I want Paige to look at me like that again.
Chapter 50
Paige
“I almost passed it on the street.” My mouth drops open as I stare at our renovated house. It’s no longer the rat’s nest of the neighborhood anymore. The place looks amazing, with a fresh coat of teal paint, brand-new spotless windows, and a white fence encircling the lawn. A wreath of pine and red berries hangs on the door and a windchime tinkles in the frigid breeze. I would’ve stared for another hour if Emma hadn’t pulled me inside.
She looks past me. “No guards?” she asks.
I smile. “I have one in the car. Just in case. But I really don’t need them anymore.”
Every cent of the stolen money has been returned with interest. Sorokin made it clear to the others that my debt was paid in full. And despite being Andrei’s wife, I had nothing to do with the Barinov Bratva, and if I was hurt, Sorokin said he would consider it a personal and lethal insult.
Lev carries my suitcase into the house, and I dump my duffel bag on the closest chair. “Everything is new,” I squeal. “And it matches.”
Emma throws back her head and laughs. “Just wait until you see the rest of it. You can buy a lot of furniture with a sapphire necklace.”
