Page 61 of Sweet Deception

I wanted to press her but decided against it. If she wasn’t ready to talk, I wouldn’t force her.

I sighed. “I feel okay now. I want to go home.”

“Okay, I’ll speak to the doctor about your discharge.” She stood up and walked out.

***

The next morning, we arrived at the Romanov mansion. I had no idea how difficult life would be here, but I was ready to face whatever came my way.

Instead of joining the large, suffocating family of over ten members for breakfast, I wandered through their expansive garden, taking in the meticulously maintained hedges and statues.

Zoya wasn’t allowed to follow me here, which meant I’d be alone for the next twenty nine days. But that was fine.

I had no intention of making friends with this family of savages.

I was studying one of the ornate statues when I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned and saw Gleb.

The morning sun shone on him, highlighting his sharp features and cold expression. I kept my face blank as he approached.

“I waited for you, but you never came to breakfast.”

“I’m not part of your people,” I said. “Why should I sit and eat with people who clearly hate me?”

His jaw tightened. “It’s the family’s culture. You should have been present.”

I crossed my arms. “You act like they will welcome me with open arms.”

His voice dropped to a warning. “Anna. You need allies in this house. Refusing to sit with them only paints a bigger target on your back.”

“Then let them take their shot.”

Gleb exhaled sharply. “You don’t get it, do you? Grandma isn’t just waiting for this marriage to fail, she’s ensuring it does.”

My blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”

“She’s already making arrangements for what happens after. If I don’t touch you within a month, she won’t just let you walkaway.” His voice was grim. “She’ll make sure you don’t leave this mansion alive.”

I met his gaze, the sarcasm heavy in my words. “And my husband, who hates me, refuses to touch me, but will never allow another man near me, let alone touch me... he’ll just stand by and let his grandmother kill me and send my pieces to my family?”

His expression darkened. “Stop talking like that. No one will ever touch you as long as we’re married. I gave you my word, Anna. Believe it.”

I scoffed. “Then I have nothing to worry about, do I?” I crossed my arms. “By the way, who is Anastasia?”

Gleb’s face remained unreadable. “Anastasia is my grandmother’s stepsister’s daughter.”

I frowned. “And?”

“Grandma’s stepsister died giving birth to her, so Grandma took her in. She loved her like her own.”

“What happened to her?”

“She was seven when she disappeared. That was nearly twenty years ago.” He paused then added. “The Italians ambushed us at a mafia gathering in Mexico. Many people died. Over fifty of our men were killed. And in the chaos, Anastasia vanished. The closest assumption was that she was dead.”

A chill ran through me. “So... she was never found?”

“Grandma sent a spy to Italy a week later, but he found nothing. Considering how brutal the Italians are, they likely had her killed. Even children suffered that night. That was also when my grandfather was captured by your people. They tortured him until he died.”