Two dozen men sit around a long black table, every head swiveled toward me, Aleksei’s brothers among them. When my gaze lands on Aleksei, his brows tug as he rises from the far end of the table.
“Fiona?” He advances, but something in my features holds him back. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
The sound of my name shatters me. A cry tears out of me before I can stop it, and every man in that room stiffens.
Aleksei doesn’t hesitate. “Everyone out. Now.”
Chairs scrape, and the men file out quickly. Konstantin is the only one remaining, his attention flicking between us.
“Whatever this is, it will be all right.”
He lays a hand on my shoulder, and I shake my head, swiping a tear away.
“No. It won’t.”
His gaze lingers on me for a beat. Then, with a firm nod, he’s gone, the door closing quietly in his wake.
Aleksei moves toward me, but I edge back.
“Don’t.”
“Fiona, what’s going on?”
My throat tightens so hard it hurts to breathe.
“I don’t even know what I expected from you.” I snicker. “Honesty? Maybe that was asking too much, considering who you are.”
He frowns, confusion flashing across his features.
“Do you really love me, Aleksei? Or was this just part of the game?” A harsh, shaky laugh slips out of me. “That was the point, wasn’t it? To hurt me? To see how far you could twist the knife before I broke?” I swipe at my face, angry at the tears. “Well, congratulations. You broke me.”
He takes another cautious step, his tone firm but edged with tension. “Fiona, what are you talking about?”
“This.” I throw the contract at his feet. “This is what I’m talking about.”
He glances down, and the blood drains from his face.
“Yeah. That’s right. I found it. The deal you made with my parents. The one where you bought me like one of your fucking cars.”
His mouth opens, then closes again. For once, he has no words.
“Don’t,” I warn when he reaches out. “Don’t touch me.”
He freezes, and the silence between us roars.
“I can’t believe I’ve been such an idiot,” I choke out. “Thinking we had something real. That we were healing. But we have nothing, Aleksei. Nothing! We never have.”
He shakes his head, eyes glassy. “That’s not true, Fiona, I swear I?—”
“Don’t you dare say it. There’s never been anything real between us. And thanks to whoever’s been sending those cryptic messages, I finally see it. You and my parents, you’re the same. You don’t give a damn about me.”
The change in his face is instant. “Someone is sending you messages? Why haven’t you told me? Where is it? Show me.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I look away. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Of course it matters! Blyat! I love you, Fiona.”
“Love? You have some way of showing it.”
