“Amy, it’s not what it looks like. I didn’t bring her. She came on her own because she wanted to apologize to you personally.”
My lips thinned. I didn’t want to hear a word that women had to say. Not here and not anywhere.
“Amy, please,” Violet whined.
I watched her come towards me, head down and hands twisted before her. She looked so sad and lonely, and I didn’t buy it for one minute.
“Get her out of here, Alexei.” Turning to the nurse, I spoke more loudly. I didn’t care who heard. I wanted the whole hospital to hear. “If she turns up again, I want the police called. She is not to be anywhere near my son, is that understood?”
Mutely, the nurse nodded. Jerry darted between all of us, and I could tell she was ready to call security at any second.
“There is no need for that, Amy,” Alexei said in a hissing whisper.
“Oh, isn’t there? Are you sure about that, Alexei, because I think they would be very interested in knowing who shot me, don’t you?”
His face went dark. It was a dangerous thing to say to a feared mob boss, but I was tired of playing by his rules. If he wouldn’t use his power to protect us, then I would do it for him.
“I just wanted to say sorry, but I’ll leave.” Tears dripped from Violet’s eyes.
God, she was a good actress, good enough to win an Oscar.
“You never have to see me again,” Violet cried. “I will leave you all alone, but I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen. It was Kristoff.”
My head snapped upwards. “Your lover, you mean?”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. He made me, Amy. He made me do so many terrible things, and I don’t expect you to forgive me because what I did was unforgivable. But don’t break Alexei’s heart. Please give him a chance.”
Was she really begging for me to give my cheating husband another chance? I didn’t know what new game she was playing, but I knew she was playing one. Only this time I was ready for it.
Straightening my shoulders, I nodded, but not in agreement. “Here.” I passed the two coffee cups to them. “You two look like you need this more than I do.” Without looking at either of them, I stepped on them and walked towards Nikolai’s room.
“If she turns up again, phone the cops,” I said again to the nurses. I wanted to spend the morning with my child, but after that?
Well, Violet could play her games. I would be ready for her this time.
It was time, I figured out what was really going on, and I knew the perfect person to help me.
So this afternoon, I would go back to the place where this had all started.
Chapter Forty-One
Amy
“If I help you with this,” the older Nikoli’s voice was quiet but firm, “I need you to be honest with me.”
From the chair by his bed, I stared at him. “I am always honest with you, Nikolai.”
The old, lined eyes narrowed, but not in anger. Reaching out, he touched the back of my hand. “I know you think you are, Amy, but I don’t even think you are truly honest with yourself.”
I frowned. What did he mean by that?
Chuckling, he patted my hand. “Do you love my grandson?”
I remained silent.
“Let me rephrase that. You love him, don’t you?”
I blinked in shock. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I do, and then he—”
