Fucking one more lie on their end!
“She gave a written alibi for you on the night of Cliff’s death, claiming that you had spent the whole night with her, and then you both went to see Cliff, and then you both went to see Cliff, but he was already dead. You told her to run, and since she was pregnant, she was afraid to speak up.” Dima gasped painfully while touching his puffy skin, and continued, “Stupid as fuck, but the judge had no hold on you anymore since we had an alibi.”
“Dominic said she testified against me. Is that true?”
“Fuck, we are so dead,” Yuri muttered and then finished his drink, throwing the glass against the wall so it shattered into tiny little pieces. “Hope this eases your frustration, and you won’t hit anyone else, because, man, seriously? We thought she did. They presented her testimony as true, although she was never a witness in the case. But the prosecutor claimed she gave a written confession where she blamed you and stuff. Turned out though—”
He shifted his attention to Gleb, who continued, “It was most probably a setup, because during your trial, she was in the hospital. A miscarriage scare or some shit like that. Dominic doesn't know, but Melissa told me. Maybe the paper was fake; we wouldn’t know.”
Yuri’s eyes narrowed in anger as Gleb mentioned a connection to the woman he currently screwed, but he only gritted his teeth and said nothing on that.
“So let me get it straight,” I finally said, as their words and the information in the folder created an almost clear picture in my head. “Her family hated my guts, and she was left alone and pregnant with no means to support herself and the child. She came to the Bratva for help but was sent back home, and by the time Dominic got to know about this, she ended up married to Alex Jordan, and no one knows what happened after?”
They all nodded as hollow laughter burst from me, chilling me to my bones.
Forgiveness.
I thought about giving her my forgiveness?
I was the one who should kneel and beg her to give me a chance to make her mine again, because while she entrusted me with her life, I ended up in jail, leaving her alone.
My woman suffered through those years along with me, and instead of soothing her heart with love and kisses, instead of reestablishing a connection, I pushed her aside and used her body in hatred.
Moya krasivoglazaya.
I would fix it.
Or die trying.
Turning my phone off for the flight, I tried to make sense of the tension in the first-class cabin as the men kept on murmuring amongst each other regarding something, and it confused the freaking hell out of me. They all spoke in Russian, while giving me curious glances.
Radmir was still not present, and finally my patience snapped. “What is going on?” Dominic and the rest of the men turned their attention to me with surprise, clearly not expecting me to say anything.
For the love of God, were they the kind of men like my father who thought women had no voice or say in any matter? Before I could add anything else though, Radmir emerged from the crew cabin as the lady announced through the speaker system for the whole plane to hear. “Is Vivian Jackson on this plane? If you are seated next to her, please inform the crew as she is sought by her father. There is a family emergency.” Panic rushed through me as my palms began to sweat and my heart hammered rapidly against my ribcage while I wrapped my hand around my neck.
No, no, no.
Had my dad used his connection at the airport to stop me from going? Was he that powerful? I couldn't go back. Not now. Not to the life he had planned for me and give up without fighting.
This trip was my only way out of the nightmare they had created with Alex and his father, Julius. As much as America was a free country, I almost laughed at this thought; my father had connections everywhere, even in the police. No one would protect me.
Through the haze of fear and anguish, I hadn't noticed the strong hands that picked me up; my mind only registered it when he took me to the front of the plane where there was a small room with refreshment supplies and he barked at the stewardess. “Get out. Vivian is not on this plane. Get this moving.” Resting my head on his shoulder, I took calming breaths trying to function normally, but I was overcome with the memory of Alex and his strong cologne while he lovingly kissed my knuckles.
Revulsion came back, and I covered my mouth for fear of vomiting right there.
“But… she is here!” The girl pointed at me, her voice trembling as he snapped again.
“Tell them she didn't board. Fix it, Olga. Don’t forget who owns this company.”
She nodded hastily and closed the door behind her, leaving us in the semi-dark place. Radmir at once put me down and made me sit, gave me a paper bag, and ordered, “Breathe,krasivoglazaya. Breathe.” Following his command, I did, slowly inhaling and exhaling into the bag, and in few seconds, my pulse calmed down as I blinked the panic away, only the worry staying in my heart. “Good girl,” he murmured, removing the bag and then helping me stand. He pressed my back against the wall as he leaned on his elbow, his scent washing over me and surrounding me like a protective bubble. “Now, answer. What the fuck is going on?”
Swallowing loudly, I answered without even thinking how bizarre this whole situation seemed. “My father… he—”
His eyes narrowed. “Abuses you?” He clenched one hand into a fist, and in an instant, I placed my palm over it.
“No.” As much as he was controlling, he’d never hurt any of his kids like that. We had a happy childhood, but my father just wanted us to live his way. And who would want such a life? I certainly wasn't signing up for it when I had agreed to work in the family business and stayed with them instead of moving away. Maybe it had been my mistake. “He insists I marry Alex Jordan.” Radmir tensed next to me as I licked my dry lips and continued. “They are business partners, and we’ve known each other since we were kids. Alex is a good guy. Well, he used to be before the idea of marriage appealed to him.”
He studied me for a second and then raised my chin, and our eyes locked with each other’s. His stone cold yet curious, and mine probably confused.
