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“Some of these schools, the children of royalty attend. Their security has to be top notch,” Vadik says.
Wow. Just wow. For one of the first times in my life, I am breathing easily. Not to say life will never throw me another curve ball—I’m not that lucky—but I feel like I can handle what comes my way with the support of the guys.
My phone vibrates with a call from an unknown number. I usually ignore those, but something is telling me to answer this one.
“Hello?”
There’s a gasp on the other end of the line. “Oh thank God you answered, Charleigh. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“Victoria?”
“Yes, honey, it’s me,” she says, her voice cracking. “How are you?”
Good question, I’m just trying to figure out that myself.
“Things are good, Vic. Better than they’ve been in a long time. Pops is gone, but I think you know that.”
She sniffles. “I do. And I’m so sorry. I wanted to be in touch sooner, but I wasn’t sure it was safe.”
“You’re safe, Vic. You have nothing to worry about. In fact, why don’t you come over to the Alekseev’s house? It would be great to see you.”
“No. No, I can’t do that, Charleigh. I’m not safe. I never will be.”
“Why? What kind of danger are you in?” I ask.
The guys look up from their conversation and start to listen.
“I’ve never been safe, and I never will be, Charleigh. Please understand, I have something to tell you I’ve been hiding for years. Now that your father and the shop are gone, I feel like you should know.”
I give a little laugh at her dramatics. “What, Vic? What could be so bad?”
“Charleigh. I was there when your mother was murdered.”
* * *
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
Charleigh
A kick straight to my gut couldn’t have hit me harder.
“Wh… what do you mean?” I ask, stumbling to a chair.
Niko mouthsis everything all right?,but I raise a finger to ask him to give me a minute.
“Y… you were there? When Mother was killed? How? Why?” I ask, my mouth going dry.
Thank goodness I’m sitting because the room is beginning to move around me, and I think I may be sick.
“I was there. So was your sister, Evie.”
“What?” I ask in a whisper.
“I don’t think Evie remembers anything. In fact, I’m sure she doesn’t, Char. I don’t know that I’d tell her, at least not until she gets older.”
The guys are gathered around me now, listening only to my half of the conversation but having no trouble picking up what we’re talking about.
“Your mom was working in the shop, and Evie and I had just come in the back door after getting ice cream. We heard loud voices, so we hid, which was easy to do. You know all the junk your father kept there.”
