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“Do you really think there’s any way he can learn the truth that won’t end in my death?” Anastasia cuts in with a sneer. “I was right not to tell you about this baby because look at you. I can see your loyalty is with him, not me. I see it in your eyes. Even now, knowing that the truth will endanger me and the baby, you’re still looking for a way to soothe him rather than keep me alive.”
“That’s not it?—”
“Fuck the laws. He deserved to die. I’m glad I did it. And you?” She rolls her eyes and stalks away from me toward the window. “You’re just like everyone else. A fucking snake that got too close.”
“Anastasia, that’s not true. Please, if you’d let me explain.”
“There is nothing you have to say that I want to hear,” she snaps. “Unless you’re going to tell me that you will keep this secret?”
I straighten up as warmth tickles behind my eyes. “I have to tell him,” I say softly. “For his peace of mind. You don’t understand?—”
“I understand enough. You want to put the noose around my neck but hope we can still be friends,” she spits out. “Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again, you hear me?” She glares daggers at me. “I hate you. Get the fuck away from me. And don’t you ever come near me again.”
26
ANASTASIA
“You and the baby are fine.” My doctor flashes me a strong smile as she finishes packing up her equipment. “I understand that it was scary, but it’s deceptively common. You need to lower your stress and take better care of yourself, okay? I will prescribe a mild sedative to help you sleep, but I highly recommend that you take a step back from work and focus on taking care of yourself.”
She speaks from a place of wisdom and care, and I know I should listen to her.
But I can’t.
There’s simply too much to do.
“Anastasia?” She leans forward and lightly touches the back of my wrist. “Are you listening?”
“Yes.” I lift my head and force a deep breath. “I understand. No work. No stress.”
“Precisely.” She smiles again, although it doesn’t fully mask the concern in her eyes. “And I’m a phone call away.”
“Thank you.”
My doctor leaves the bedroom, escorted out by Faina, who returns within fifteen seconds and closes the door firmly behind her. “I bet you could use a drink.”
“If only.” Stroking my abdomen, I push myself back into the plush pillows lining my bed. “I’m not risking anything.”
“You don’t mind if I do, right?”
“Not at all.”
Faina groans softly and pulls a miniature vodka from her pocket. The seal cracks as she opens it, then she drinks it in one gulp. Smacking her lips together, she tosses the bottle into the trashcan near the door and then approaches the bed. “How are you feeling?”
I lift my gaze from my abdomen. “Is it wrong to be devastated?”
She shakes her head. “No. I don’t think so. I could see the two of you were close.” She glances briefly at my stomach. “I’m sorry.”
“You know, I think the worst part is that he must have told me thinking I would forgive him right off the bat. He told me the most shocking thing he could think of to stop my panic attack and then afterward, it was as if he expected me to understand.”
Faina’s eyes narrow. “Understand what? That he was loyal to someone else? Viktor…” She shakes her head and drums her fingertips on one knee. “This entire time, he was spying on you for Viktor because they thought you capable of murder. And not once in all the time that you two were close did he speak up. That fucker.”
“He wasn’t wrong, though.” My gaze lingers on Faina’s puzzled face. “About the murder.”
Her eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
There’s no point keeping it a secret. I’m surprised Viktor hasn’t already kicked down my bedroom door to drag me out in front of the other families and order my execution. What could he be waiting for?
“I did it.”