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I feel sick and he says softly, “You told me your father ordered a hit on you all and your brother got there first. Is it possible your aunt and father were working together?”
“I suppose.”
I still can’t believe we are having this discussion at all, and he strokes my hand lightly, which is exactly what I need to keep me focused.
“But what would she gain by killing me? It doesn’t make sense.”
Alexei smiles ruefully. “I haven’t finished my story yet?”
“You mean there’s more?” I’m not sure if I can take any more and he says angrily, “She wasn’t acting alone.”
“Who, and please don’t say my grandparents.”
I’m not sure I can take any more family members wanting me dead and I stare in fascination as his eyes flash and his lip curls as he spits, “Stoner.”
I blink and stare at him in horror.
“Joe Stoner!”
“Yes.” Alexei grips my hand a little harder. “They were good friends who go way back. It appears that your aunt wanted to cause trouble in your family and arranged it so your mother discovered your father cheating on her. She encouraged her to leave and offered to put her up in her penthouse in the city where she met Stoner in the elevator one day.”
“They planned it. But why?”
I still can’t believe it and Alexei carries on, “It worked. She fell in love with him, probably because he was being everything she wanted at the time. It broke up your parents’ marriage and took her away from you.”
He sighs heavily. “Something must have happened in the past to make your aunt seek revenge. I’m guessing you need to question that and when you find the answer, you will have your reason.”
“Thank you.” I stare at him with a hardening expression and my emotion turns cold inside me. It was the same when I discovered our father had ordered the hit on us and it will be the same for her. I need to discover their motives if we stand any chance of unraveling this mystery, and there are only two people who can help me with this who I trust with my whole heart.
“I can’t deal with this alone, Alexei.” I stare at him with determination.
“You’re not on your own, tiger. You have your brothers, and you have me.”
“You would help me. Why?”
“Because I like a challenge, I suppose.” He laughs softly, and it cuts the tension in seconds.
“My life is a constant challenge; you may not be able to keep up.” I say drily, and he grips my hand a little tighter.
“I can run and negotiate business at the same time, Serena. The only question is, can you keep up with me?”
“What do you think?” I say with a chuckle, and he nods. “Then we do this together. I will be your back up and help you unravel the mystery and in return…”
“What?” My breath hitches at the desire in his eyes as he growls, “I want you, Serena.”
He stares at me hard. “In my bed, by my side and at my beck and call.”
“At your beck and call?” I laugh out loud. “Too far, Alexei.” I sigh heavily. “Your terms are like you. Arrogant.”
I laugh softly. “But I kind of like an arrogant man, so I agree to the first two, but only for as long as I want to be there.”
My eyes flash as he leans back and smirks, his robe falling open, revealing that flawless body that could ruin a seasoned nun.
“Then I shall work hard to keep you, Serena.”
“Keep me?” I lean forward, my own robe offering him a glimpse of my tits. “I am not a possession, Alexei. I never have been, and I never will be. I’m not my mother and make my own decisions. I willnotbe at your beck and call, but I will be by your side, but only because I want to be.”
“Then we have an agreement.” He reaches out to shake my hand and, as his rough hand covers mine, I shiver inside. Then I raise my eyes to his and grin. “You’re a shit negotiator, Alexei, because I would have agreed for nothing.”
