Page 51 of Weeping Roses
Her eyes widen and I love the disappointment in them and for some reason it causes me to do something alien to me. I pull her close and drop a light, lingering kiss on her lips and whisper, “I won’t be long. I’ll come and find you and Polly–” She lifts her eyes to mine and I whisper, “Remember, you’re not on your own anymore. I’ve got this, and if anyone thinks they can get to you, they must come through me and my small army first.”
The gratitude in her eyes makes me smile as she nods and then turns away and as I watch her go, for some reason my heart twists inside me and I fight the incredible urge to follow her and deal with business in the morning. Once again, I question it because I have never wanted to do that. It’s all about the business with a Romanov, but since meeting Polly, my views changed on that and I’m unsure what the hell to do about it.
I follow Artem to the den that sits not far from the entrance and as we walk inside, I picture my father sitting in the leather chair behind the polished desk. This room reeks of him. It is almost identical to the one at home and once again a dark ball of resentment stirs inside me. He has many questions to answer and more than anything, I wish he was here now to answer them. As I take the seat he once occupied, Artem drags a bottle of vodka from the bar trolley in the corner and slams two glasses on the desk.
“You’re going to need this.” He says ominously as he almost fills them to the top and then sits before me with a deep sigh of anger.
“Nikolai arrived in London two weeks ago.”
“From Russia?” I ask as the glass hovers against my lips and Artem shakes his head.
“From Cornwall.”
He takes a sip of his own drink and says roughly, “He arrived there one week prior to Veronica’s death. My investigations place him in the same town and he stayed at a bed-and-breakfast not far from Rose cottage.”
I raise my eyes.”There’s a theme running here.”
He nods. “There is a meaning behind the names chosen for the homes, a connection to the organization Burning Roses, and it is probable that Marsha Steele knows a lot more than she divulged to your brother.”
“He won’t like that.” I’m almost amused to picture Mikhail’s’ expression when he discovers that the woman tried to play him for a fool. Nobody plays a Romanov for a fool and Polly’s lunch date tomorrow is well-timed.
“Then it’s a good job Polly is meeting with the woman herself tomorrow.”
Artem appears surprised and yet says nothing as I consider the plan forming in my mind.
“I must speak with my brothers.”
He nods. “I’ll arrange the connection.”
As he makes the necessary arrangements, I’m still working out what to do about this. Potentially, this is bigger than we thought and now Polly is involved, it has become even more personal. It surprises me that I consider her as family after a few days, but I do. I am protective of her and I’m still working out why.
“It’s all set.” Artem interrupts my thoughts and I lift my phone to my ear and dial the number of my eldest brother, Titus. He is now the head of the Romanov family and this is his shit to shovel.
“Valentin.” His deep voice is reassuring and knowing that Artem has secured the line gives me the confidence to speak freely.
“I have news.”
I waste no time and he says nothing and waits for me to speak.
“Nikolai Barinov.”
I take a deep breath.
“He is involved.”
“Tell me.”
Titus is enigmatic at the best of times and this is no exception because there is no trace of emotion in his voice at all.
“He was in Cornwall when Veronica’s house was blown apart. He is also responsible for helping one of her Cotswold neighbors to an untimely death.”
“Neighbor?”
He is confused and I fill in him on the story and he sighs heavily.
“This changes everything.”
He echoes my own words and I growl. “I agree.”