“I can tell you but please don’t say anything to anyone.”
“Anastasia, come on.” She frowns and places a hand to her heart. “You know your secrets are completely safe with me.”
“I know. It’s just that the stuff I have to tell you is quite bad and I need you to promise me you won’t even tell your family.” Her father is one of the Pakhan’s brigadiers and her brother is on the enforcement team. I’m putting myself at risk by even breathing the mere words I’ve said but I’ll go crazy if I don’t talk to someone I trust.
“I swear on my life I won’t tell a soul. Okay?”
“Okay.” I take a moment to think, then I tell her everything. All that I know.
“Jesus, Anastasia. That is crazy.” Her face pales like the time she nearly got expelled from school for smoking pot in the locker room. “Do you have any idea what your father could have done to Desmier?”
“No. And I don’t think he’s going to tell me. Or he would have by now.”
Her shoulders sag. “And he seriously won’t allow you to speak to your father?”
“No. I don’t even want to find out what will happen if I try to make contact with Dad.” Things are bad enough as it is, so I’m going to play it safe.
“How are you feeling about your father?” She issues me with the same I’m-here-for-you stare she gives me every time I’ve had problems with Dad.
I inhale the fresh air wrapping around us like a blanket, allowing it to soak into my lungs and loosen the tension. Normally I can open up and talk freely about how I feel. Today I don’t know how to answer her question without breaking down.
Lorelai is aware of the intense awkwardness I’ve experienced with my father since my mom’s death. I’ve told her how he became more overprotective and secretive. But this disaster has driven a wedge in my heart.
“I feel betrayed and disappointed.” My voice is so fragile a gentle breeze could shatter it.
“I’m so sorry. This is truly awful.”
“I know.” I take another gulp of air, hoping it will ease my mind. “I hate feeling so trapped and knowing there’s nothing anyone can do.”
“Viktor tried to get you back,” she offers with an encouraging smile.
My heart flutters on hearing that. “Did he?”
“Yes. He even came to my father for help, but everything they thought of turned out to be a bust.” Her father has connections that can be useful sometimes. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t help me.
“Thank you for telling me. It means a lot.”
“I thought it might. I don’t have the best opinion of Viktor most of the time, but I thought it was sweet he tried to get you back.”
“It was. Please thank your father for trying too.”
“I will. It’s just unreal that no one knew about Desmier.” She bites the inside of her lip. “The news of another Volkova son has shocked everyone, but it hit Mira the hardest. Desmier is only about four months older than Viktor.”
“I didn’t even know they were so close in age. And poor Mira.”
“Yes, poor Mira.”
I’ve tried to figure out if Evgeni cheated on her or he just didn’t know about Desmier. We can’t even ask him. The man is on the verge of death.
“Has anyone said anything about Desmier’s mother?” I bite the inside of my lip.
“No. Nothing at all.”
Then where is she?
I assumed she was in the background somewhere pulling strings. Or if no one is talking about her, maybe she’s not around anymore. Like mine.
“I heard Desmier has practically taken everything. The company and all the Volkova assets are going to be signed over to him today.”