“Tori. I don’t know what to say. This is all happening so fast. I never—”
“Shh. Just listen,” she started, looking me determinedly in the eye.
“No, you listen,” I shot back, suddenly energized by my panic and grabbing her by the shoulders. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on in there, but my father is obviously amusing himself by playing God—”
“It. Doesn’t. Matter,” Tori said, her voice soothing. “Your fatherdoesn’t matter. Okay? This isn’t about him. It’s about you and Anja and that little boy in there. Regardless of your dad’s role in making this happen, itishappening. And now you have to move forward.”
I took a deep breath, squeezing her shoulders softly. Then I nodded.
“You’re right. I just don’t know how any of this fits together. How you and I…”
My voice trailed off as I fought to find the right words. Because there weren’t any.
“We can talk about all of this later,” she said. “For now, you need to focus on Anja. I’ll take a car back to the condo, and we’ll catch up when you get home. This is important.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I laughed at the absurdity of it all. “I don’t even know how I feel. I mean, if this is true…where do I even start?”
She smiled. “You’ll figure it out, Stefan. I know how long you’ve been trying to find her, and obviously you two have a lot to discuss. Just take it one step at a time. You don’t have to decide anything right now. Talk first, decisions later.”
I wrapped her in my arms, pressing my face against her hair.
“I love you.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Everything will be okay,” she replied, pulling away and smoothing her hair back down.
My wife was so fucking understanding, it killed me. It also made me desperate to keep her from walking out that door. She was the only solid thing I could count on right now.
“Stay,” I said. “You don’t have to run back to the condo. This isn’t just about me.”
“It’s better if I go,” she said, shaking her head. “Whatever history you two have between you, it’s got nothing to do with me. And I need a little time for myself, too. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I searched her eyes. Her expression was guarded but resolute. My wife, the rock. Stronger than anyone ever gave her credit for. As she tilted her head back to look up at me, her diamond earrings caught the light. I’d given them to her on the way to my father’s place, to represent how we were a pair, how we belonged together. I hoped she’d still give me a chance to prove that.
Leaning forward, I dropped a soft kiss on her lips, trying to communicate how I felt. Letting her walk away didn’t feel like the right move. Not by a long shot. But I had to let her go. Give her some space. And I knew she was right about me needing to stay here and talk to Anja.
After walking Tori out of the building and seeing her safely into the backseat of my private car, I headed back up to my father’s penthouse, lost in thought.
In spite of all the years that had passed, or perhaps because of them, my heart had ached seeing Anja’s face again. She reminded me of so many things, but mostly of the person I had been when I was seventeen and in love for the first time. Far from innocent, yet innocent about the world. Maybe that’s what my heart ached for. For the person I was back then. I’d had my whole life ahead of me, full of possibilities.
I’d been optimistic. Happy.
Instead of angry and jaded, obsessed with revenge and with my plan to take down my father and his vile corporation. A plan that I still had every intention of following through with. No matter what happened with Anja and the boy, I would not be stopped. I just wished Tori hadn’t been dragged into it. Into all of this. My father was a monster.
Tori had put on a brave face, but I knew she had to be hurting. I had no idea if I’d be able to repair what my father had just broken.
I stormed out of the elevator and back toward the door of the penthouse. When I walked inside, though, I slowed my stride. It was true that I was dying for answers, but I was also battling the urge to kick down the library door and throttle the man responsible for all of this.
He’d told me he had arranged Anja’s disappearance the first time around—deporting her right when it would hurt me the most. Now it seemed he’d brought her back just when he knew it would hurt me again. When he knew my marriage to Tori had been on the rocks. The bastard.
But he’d underestimated me. I might have chased Anja for years, but she was now more a fond memory to me than anything else. I cared about her, and I’d do right by my child, but my relationship with Tori was solid. I wasn’t going to walk away and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her go. I’d never stop fighting for her.
As I walked up to the library door, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. After years of dead ends and cold trails, the mystery surrounding Anja’s disappearance was about to come to light. I could hardly believe it. Even if my father’s intentions had been malignant, I was grateful I’d be getting the truth.
Anja had a shitload of explaining to do, and I was finally going to get my answers.
Stefan
