Page 43 of Tangled Roses

Her shocked whisper accompanies the mist in her eyes, and I shake my head. “It’s Ellie now. I no longer wanted anything you gave me, including my name.”

Marsha recoils as if I’ve struck her and I snap, “Not one card, not even a phone call all these years. You left your mother to raise your child and never even attempted to get in touch.”

“It wasn’t like that.” Marsha’s eyes burn bright. “I tried everything to gain custody of you. I went through the courts, but that woman made certain every one of my secrets came out.”

“That woman was your mother, and she deserved better.” I reply with contempt. There are no words I want to hear against the only woman who ever loved me, and certainly not when she is no longer able to defend herself.

Marsha stands and reaches out for me, and I shake my head. “You’re not my mother, and this isn’t a happy reunion. Tell me who my father is.”

I throw that out there, demanding an explanation, and I’m not prepared for her reaction.

Her face pales and she visibly shakes. “I don’t know.”

Arman interrupts. “Then why are you so scared? Your body language is telling a different story.”

“I’m not. It could be anyone. I was a whore, remember?”

The wild panic in her eyes is interesting and I take a chance. “Nikolai Barinov.”

Her head snaps to the side as she stares at me in real fear.

“Should I know that name?”

“What’s this, Marsha?” I add coolly. “Don’t you ask the name of the men you fuck on repeat?”

Marsha backs away toward the door.

“I don’t know that name.”

“Is it him?” I say coldly and Marsha shakes her head.

“No! No! Please no.”

“Perhaps we should ask him?”

Arman lifts his phone and Marsha screams. “No. For God’s sake, it wasn’t Nikolai and for Gabrielle’s safety, I plead with you not to make that call.”

I’m shocked when she falls to her knees and openly sobs. “Please. Don’t do this. You must understand, nobody must discover where she is. Please, I’m begging you.”

Arman reaches for my hand as I visibly shake and squeeze it reassuringly.

I’m not sure what to do. I’m unprepared, and I wasn’t expecting her to crumble like this and what does she mean, nobody must know where I am?

Arman stands and heads to a cupboard near the wall that reveals a refrigerator inside and he grasps a bottle of water and heads toward my mother.

He dangles it in front of her and say reassuringly, “Drink this and tell us what you know. I can help you.”

She grasps the bottle and staggers to her feet, slumping into the chair and staring at me in disbelief.

“Gabrielle.” She says my name as if she can’t believe I’m real and then turns to Arman and says fearfully, “Why is she here? What are you hoping to gain from this?”

“Answers, Miss Steele. You tell me everything about my father’s death, and I’ll protect you.”

I watch as a myriad of thoughts mirror in her eyes as she struggles to make sense of it and to my surprise, she stares at me and whispers, “I stayed away to protect you.”

“Why?”

She says sadly, “You want answers. But I’m not sure you’ll like them and you must prepare yourself for that.”