“Well, now that you’re both home, Roza has been bathed and is snuggly tucked in for the evening. If you don’t need anything else, I’ll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early.” Slipping her purse from the coat peg beside her, she pushes it over her shoulder and offers thanks to Ven and our father when they part to make a path for her to leave through.
Once the door closes behind her our father asks, “Who is Roza?”
Walking backwards, I extend both arms and raise a brow, “Why don’t we get a drink? We have a lot to catch up on.”
“I didn’t know about the kid,” Ven says, leaning against the kitchen counter, and running his hand through his beard.
Reaching for my glass, I knock back the vodka and savor the burn in the back of my throat. Although the circumstances are shit and what he did is still raw, it’s good seeing our cousin. And it has taken our minds off the clock ticking down for Alyona’s promised return.
Ninety-three minutes left.
“We didn’t know about the kid either,” Z grumbles, folding his arms and turning his attention to our father. “We have other matters to discuss regarding family secrets.”
My stomach drops.
Our father’s back straightens, and he slowly spins the glass on the table, the clear liquid sloshing inside. “Was it Roza who brought on this need to look into the Chester’s?”
“You know some things are best left unexplored,” I tell my brother,my soul mate. I hadn’t considered that he might want to delve back into this topic, especially since Alyona disappeared on us again. Her absence has consumed our every waking thought. “It’s the past. Can’t you leave it there?” I swallow down the fear in my throat. Because nothing terrifies me more than him looking into this and finding out what really happened.
“Why are you so adamant about me not knowing? Doyouknow what happened to them, Rodion?” My heart aches at the way he pronounces my name, each syllable heavy with disbelief, as if the mere thought that I might have known all along and chose to remain silent is incomprehensible.
And it is, because we don’t have secrets between us,apart from this one.
When I can’t form a fucking word, I open my mouth and close it again.
“Rodion?” His voice trembles as he startles, flinching as if an invisible force has physically pushed him away. His eyes dart anxiously between the three of us, and all I see is the damaged ten-year-old Zahkar, who lost everything when I felt like I gained it. When he became mine, I never thought about what he lost for that to have been possible.
Our father holds a hand out to me, signaling he will take it from here and gets to his feet. “Twenty years ago…”
“Alyona?” I gasp, cutting him off.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Alyona
As I enter the house, a wave of emotion engulfs me. I made it. Voices come from the kitchen as I enter and drop my bag to my feet. I feel like I've been through the fires of hell and returned with only a slight tinge to my skin. Relief and desire hammer in my chest at seeing my madmen.
“Alyona?” Rodion says my name, like he can’t quite believe it’s me.
A pang of guilt stirs my stomach. I hated being so secretive and leaving them like I did, but it’s done now, and we never have to be apart again. I’ve dreamt of this being a reality one day, hoped and prayed for it, and it’s finally here. No more running.
Both Z and Rodion rush me, boxing me between their bodies.
“I’m going to fucking kill you, woman,” Z hisses against my head and my eyes squeeze shut, breathing them both in. They smell expensive, warm, and delectably mine. I swallow the sob that wants to rip free. I’d believed I’d make it home but there was always that inkling of doubt, the fear of being caught and neverseeing them or my baby girl again. “You promised me you’d never run again.” Z cradles my head against his chest, like I’m the most precious thing on this earth.
“I didn’t run, Z. I’m here. I’m home. Where’s Roza? Is she okay?” I rush the words out.
“She’s sleeping.” Rodion reaches for her monitor on the counter and hands it to me. My fingers clutch the small device, and her soft intakes of breath settle my raging heartbeat.
He’s dead, she’s safe.
Finally giving me some room to breathe, they both cast a suspicious glare over my body, inspecting every inch. My bruises and the cut to my thigh are hidden beneath my clothes.
“You cut your hair?” Z murmurs.
I blink in confusion, and then memories of cutting it when Yuri fisted it as a weapon flood back in. I gather the strands into my palm and examine the damage. It’s a clean cut, but a wonky one. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“I’m still so mad but also so relieved,” Rodion says, a bead of sweat breaking across his hairline. “Fuck you’re really here.” He clasps my face and devours my mouth. I greedily take what he gives, my limbs turning to liquid. Breaking away, the side of his mouth kicks up. “I missed you.”
