Mrs. Cole nodded her head. “Just come home for one night,” she tried again.
And again, I shook my head. “I have my train booked.” I lied. “I just want to spend a few minutes with my sister before I have to leave.”
They nodded their heads and shuffled away, leaving me standing at the graveside completely alone. And I was alone for the first time in my life. I had no one else. No family, apart from the baby growing in my belly. I would have to be enough family for them.
I would have to be stronger than ever for them. Not moving, I stared down at the open grave and waited. A small part of me was still holding out hope that Alexei would come for me. That he would finally choose me.
It was dark when the grave diggers approached. Shovels in their hands.
“Miss?” the older one asked, and I jumped at the sound of his voice, surprised to find that darkness had fallen. How long had I just been standing here?
“Are you OK, Miss?”
Alexei hadn’t come. I hadn’t really expected him to really.
“Do you need us to call someone to come and collect you?”
“No.” My voice came out steady. “No, there’s no one for you to call. I’ll go now.” Bending, I picked up the duffel bag and tossed it over my shoulder. “Sorry to be such a bother.”
“You’re not, miss. If you need—”
“I don’t. Thank you, though.”
I gave one last look around, and then, reaching up, I piled my drenched curly hair into a ponytail at the back of my head and walked away. I didn’t look back. Alessia was dead and cold in the ground, but she would live on through me. I would channel her strength and raise my child.
To escape this nightmare, I would become strong like my sister, and I would live. Far, far away from Alexei Petrovov. My head held high and my back ramrod straight, I walked out of the graveyard and into the street, half expecting to hear the screech of tires and Alexei’s voice calling for me. Which of course didn’t happen.
I let the bright lights of the city envelope me, and I disappeared into the busy street. I walked towards the bus depot, and I didn’t once look back. No one was going to rush to stop me.
The baby and I were officially on our own.
Chapter Thirty-One
Alexei
Most of the day had been spent trying to find my phone, which had disappeared. I was sure I’d had it yesterday, but now I couldn’t find it at all. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford a new one, and no one could trace that one back to me, but it was still infuriating.
So, it was late by the time I got back to the house, which was dark and unusually quiet. I threw my coat onto the back of a chair and looked around. “Hello?”
Nothing but silence met my voice, and that silence seemed to echo back at me. Frowning, I moved through the quiet house, looking in rooms until I got to my office. I didn’t expect anyone to be in here because it was my sanctuary, but I flipped on the lights anyway. Sinking down into the worn but comfortable leather chair.
“You’re home.”
I hadn’t heard her approach, so my head snapped up in surprise to find Violet leaning provocatively in the doorway. Her body was draped in shimmering silver grey satin, like she was going to a party and not waiting at home.
“Yeah.” Slowly lifting my chin, I took her in. Even in pregnancy,she was beautiful.l There was absolutely no denying that. “Where is everyone?” She gave a bony shoulder hug.
And my frown deepened. Had she always been so scrawny? Maybe she had been suffering from morning sickness, and I just hadn’t realized it. Her stomach was already flat.
“How are you feeling?” I asked quietly. Sometimes I was an oaf, and I forgot that other people had feelings and needs. Violet had just gone through something terribly traumatic.
“Have you eaten today? I’ll get Mrs. Cole.”
Violet’s eyes flashed. “Of course, I’ve not eaten, Alexei,” she snapped. “There’s no sign of your good-for-nothing housekeeper. I can’t even find a maid.”
I blinked rapidly. What the hell did she mean by that? If my staff weren’t here, then where were they? Angrily, because that seemed to be my go-to emotion these days, I pushed my way up from behind my desk and went in search of my wayward staff.
It wasn’t that I didn’t believe Violet, but more the fact I wanted to see for myself, or not see, as the case might be. The kitchen and staff living quarters were empty, just like Violet had said. No wonder the house had been quiet; there was no one here.
