Page 156 of Kings & Queen

Turning my attention to them, I said, “I know virtually nothing about either of you. Owen taught me never to trust a man at face value. Surely, you understand why going with you would not be something that I could do. You said you would discuss with me what you know of the Seattle situation.” I shuddered as I thought about the man I killed.

“What is it you would like to know, my child?” he asked, a hint of guilt in his eyes. Immediately, I knew he was responsible. Something in the way his shoulders sagged. My heart grew cold. If he was responsible, then I needed to know his connection to the Mask.

“Were you behind it?” I asked, my frame shaking as my rage built.

“I ordered you be taken, yes. I was afraid that these men you were associating with were keeping you hostage. And from what I now know, treating you as a common whore,” he retorted, then more calmly, “I’d like to know what transpired between you and my man.”

“Ha, you want to know. That’s laughable. What do you think happened? Your man told me you’d be very disappointed because my value was diminished since I was no longer the virgin you thought you would be getting.”

“I’m sorry he said that,” he mumbled. “But—”

I cut him off. “But what you really want to know is why I killed him? Is that what you want to know?”

Sophia audibly gasped, a look of shock crossing her face. Mikhail’s eyes grew wary, and he nodded.

“Very well,” I said. “His actions got him killed. He ordered me to strip for him. He ordered me to…me to…” I shuddered and shook my head to clear it. “He would have raped me, that was his intent, and that is why he’s dead. I’d do it all over again if I had to. It was him or me, and I chose me.”

“My sweet vnuchka…”Granddaughter. “I’m so sorry he did that to you.” He stood and took a step toward me, but I shook my head.

“You’re sorry? Sorry? Do you have any idea what it cost me?” I shouted. “I killed a man, all because you wanted me. Why not introduce yourself like a normal person?” I asked, feeling exasperated. “And why, after all this time, did you comefor me?” I broke down in sobs, my real truth spilling forward. Ivan wrapped his arms around me.

“It was always my intent to bring you home. Owen disregarded my orders and refused to leave you at New Haven. He then went on the run with you. I regret many of the decisions I made in trusting him. There are things you don’t know—can’t know—about what happened to the ot—”

My heart froze. “Stop,” I exclaimed, not wanting him to say another word. My guys didn’t know about the other girls. If he was going to share anything at all about them, I had to shut it down. I knew instantly what I needed to do.

I placed my hand on Ivan’s chest. “My beloved. I’m okay now. I would like to speak to this man alone.”

Alek shot to his feet. “Absolutely not. There is no way in hell—”

“Leave us,” I bellowed, my voice filled with rage.

Chapter 58

Kinsley

Truths Revealed

Walking over to Alek,I spoke softer. “I’m sorry. Please, I need a moment alone. I’m going home with you. I was in the process of packing my clothes. If you could finish up for me, we can go home as soon as I’ve said my peace.”

It took several reassurances for Alek and the guys to agree, and Sophia was a great help. Once we were alone, just the two of us, I sat opposite my grandfather. The atmosphere between us was heavy, mirroring the weather almost to a tee.

“Mr. Romanov.”

He flinched at the address, and I studied him, unable to conceal the intense feelings coursing through me.

Imposing even in his older years, he definitely exuded an air of power and control. His demeanor was what I would have thought a mobster might’ve been like. His eyes were still sharp, and looking into them, I noted we had the same grayish hue.

With my gaze locked on him, I found my voice. It may have trembled with a mix of anger and fear, but it was strong. “I need to know what you know about the other girls.”

His face sagged in sorrow, and my own heart sank. “I’m sorry, I know nothing of them. Owen held all of that information. He wrote to me often, never traceable. He kept you from me. You must know—”

“Please don’t do that. Whatever regrets you may have, leave them for another. I loved Owen with everything in me. He loved me, he cared…cared—” My voice broke, and I took a deep breath, brushing away the angry tears that fell. “Hewas my everything.”

Mikhail let out a deep, heavy sigh. His gaze stayed fixed on mine. “Owen was my best friend in the whole world. Like a brother,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “Someone I trusted with a precious secret.”

“And that was?”

“A second son, who was your father. My wife wanted him raised by another. She wanted him to have a chance at a normal life. Foolishly, I loved her so much that I allowed it. I entrusted Owen to watch over him and, by proxy, you as well. After I determined you were not the child buried with my son and his wife, I set him on the task of finding you.”