The crash shattered the sticky warmth in the room. Genevie screamed and dove under the blanket like a startled rabbit.
I turned, frowning, and saw Olga—face twisted in fury.
Olga stormed in, cane tipped with black obsidian, eyes sharp as a hawk's, pinning Genevie to the bed.
"Get this woman out. Now."
"Olga!" I stepped in front of Genevie, trying to reach her softer side. "What are you saying? Genevie's hurt!"
"Hurt?" Olga laughed coldly, dripping contempt. "Since when did we turn into a hospital?"
Her words cut like knives. I heard Genevie's muffled sobs through the blanket.
"She's not leaving," I raised my voice, showing Olga a hardness I'd never used before. "Julian's an abuser!"
Olga had never liked Genevie. That was no surprise. But I knew she couldn't stand seeing young women abused by their husbands.
"She can stay. But you can't." Olga slammed her cane down, voice heavy with suppressed rage. "You better remember where you were supposed to be tonight. Instead, you left your Harper standing in the rain while you ran here to hold this woman?"
Harper.
The name hit me like ice water, dousing my anger and leaving me cold to the bone.
I remembered the scene at the entrance. I'd pushed Harper away. I hadn't even explained.
"I'll explain to Harper." My confidence wavered. Harper was kind, but what I'd just done would piss off any good woman. "But Geneviecan't leave. Julian's hunting her. She's pregnant. If she goes out there, she's dead."
"Then send her to a safe house! Or anywhere else!" Olga jabbed a finger at the door, voice dripping disgust. "Just not here! There's only one mistress in this house, and that's Harper. What are you doing keeping your ex-girlfriend under the same roof? The Orlovs don't do disgusting shit like this!"
"Olga!"
"Boris!" Olga didn't listen, barking orders at the guards outside. "Escort Miss Sterling to the estate in the suburbs."
Boris and several guards stood in the doorway, torn. They obeyed me absolutely, but Olga's authority couldn't be challenged.
I glanced at Genevie on the bed. Her eyes were desperate and hollow, like she'd die any second. No. I owed her enough already. I couldn't send her back to an abuser like Julian.
I knew Olga's temper. She meant it. Unless I gave her a reason she couldn't refute, I couldn't change her mind.
"She's carrying my child!"
I shouted it.
The air froze.
Olga's eyes went wide, mouth open, like she couldn't believe her ears. Even Genevie on the bed froze, stopped crying, and stared at me in shock.
"What did you say?" Olga's voice trembled.
For a second, I regretted it. But I'd lied. Now I had to see it through.
I took a deep breath, my expression cold and resolute. "I said, the baby Genevie's carrying is mine."
Olga valued bloodlines above all else. Even if she hated Genevie, she'd never let Orlov blood wander outside the family.
"You bastard..." Olga raised her cane and cracked it hard across my shin.
I didn't dodge. Took it.
