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“Levan!” I cried in fear.
He looked at me and smiled, then he put his hands into the air.
One of the police officers stepped forward, pulled his hands roughly down, and placed the handcuffs around his wrists. “Levan Ivankov,” the officer said. “You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire.”
A few more officers charged in.
As they lead him away, he looked into my eyes. “Stay here and wait for me,” he mouthed.
Then he was gone.
I turned my shocked gaze to Maxim.
When he felt my gaze, he turned to look at me. His eyes were hostile. It was clear he blamed me. Then he turned around and went back the way he had come.
I felt my legs give out and I collapsed to the floor. I shook so hard that my body was vibrating.
Aldie crouched down next to me and pulled me into her arms.
I felt cold. Very, very cold.
33
Levan
Five million dollars and six hours later, I was bailed out of jail. I walked out of the station to see Maxim leaning against a waiting SUV.
I stopped and watched him.
And he did the same to me. “Your head clear yet?” he asked.
I knew he was pissed about the huge bail, so I gave him a hard look and went around to the door Alex held open. He nodded in greeting but I barely even noticed him. Maxim got in and we began our journey back to the house.
We both remained quiet until we arrived. The moment the engine was cut off, Maxim turned to me. “You’re not going to apologize for thinking with your dick?”
“I took a calculated risk,” I said. “And I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that it doesn’t sink us, but I’m not giving up Bianca.”
He scowled. “Is that your apology?”
“What do you want me to fucking say?” I snapped.
The two men in front immediately jumped out of the car.
“I’ve told you from the very beginning,” I went on. “That I didn’t want to get involved in the family business. This is your thing, not mine. I’m not cut out for this life. But then I didn’t have much of a choice, did I? She is the one choice I will not allow anyone else to make for me. I’m not going to say it again. I’m not going to abandon her, no matter what.”
He looked away from me in thought. “Dad’s out for blood and is furious about this situation. He wants you in Spain before the end of the week.”
“I’m not allowed to leave the country.”
“It’s not a request. You can go ahead and make another choice if you so desire, but don’t forget attending funerals of loved ones is also a choice in our family.” He got out and slammed the car door behind him.
This left me alone in the car, cold and breathless with fury all over again. Despite the hand my father had in my mother’s death, he had chosen to attend a gathering of ministers in Tokyo rather than attend her funeral.
The warning from Maxim was directed towards Bianca. It had been noted. My father was a stone-cold man. Nothing stood in the way of his goal. Sometimes, I thought even Maxim and me could be sacrificed at the altar of his ambition. Definitely, Bianca would stand no chance.
I got out of the car and quickly walked to the house. When I came inside, I noted Aldie by the doorway to the kitchen.
She was waiting, her gaze filled with anxiety, but she hesitated in coming forward to meet me.
I nodded at her then walked up the stairs to my room and shut the door.
34
Bianca
I was lying in bed, my eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. I hadn’t slept a wink and it had absolutely nothing to do with the rain outside, pouring heavily down.
With a sigh, I turned my head to watch the downpour beyond my window.
I loved the rain, but it wasn’t Levan’s favorite thing. My mind went back to a day two years ago. I had been working late in the bakery when a sudden knock on the glass door of our store had startled me and made me jump.
I’d spun around to see Levan by the door, soaking wet, a big smile on his face.
On his way in, he tripped, and almost landed on his butt on the floor if not for some fancy footwork. With a laugh neither of us could control, I’d asked him what he was doing across the Brooklyn Bridge at 3.00 a.m. It didn’t matter what he would have said anyway, my heart felt as if it was melting at the mere sight of him. I couldn’t believe it, especially as it brought the stirrings of hope that perhaps he was beginning to see me as more than an acquaintance if nothing else.
