Page 65 of Tangled Roses
“What happened then?”
Arman carries on stroking my back and I snuggle deeper against his chest. Loving the intimacy of the moment.
“My mother had a change of heart, apparently. She wanted custody and was prepared to fight dirty to get it.”
“But she didn’t.”
Arman reminds me that he already knows a lot about this story and I nod. “Thankfully, no. She didn’t because my grandmother learned what she had been doing in her absence and it appears that Marsha wasn’t afraid to earn money using sex and the devious cunning I now expect of her.”
“She was a hooker.” Arman states fact and I have no defense against that.
“She was and had been arrested multiple times and even spent two years in jail for trafficking vulnerable girls. However, every time she was in trouble, she landed on her feet again and a few years later appeared to have hit the jackpot. The entries only documented things my grandmother had heard or read about, and my mother was considered an astute businesswoman with a growing empire.”
“Burning Roses.” Arman sounds thoughtful. “We must investigate the rise of it. Discover who helped her and why?”
“You should start at the school, perhaps.”
I shift and stare into his eyes as I prepare to reveal the most damning evidence I read.
“My grandmother wrote that when she questioned Marsha about the identity of my father, she broke down. She had never seen her so scared. She begged my grandmother to forget about it. To never speak of it again and berated her for not following her wishes at having me adopted. Despite my grandmother’s efforts, all she could get out of her was that Adele had assisted her and it wouldn’t cause any issues.”
“What do you think she meant by that?”
I note the gleam in his eye as he thinks hard and then says with a low husky growl, “I believe our investigations would be better spent researching your mother’s friend, who I happen to know isn’t far away in Washington.”
“Adele?” The expression in his eyes intrigues me, and he nods with a determination that makes my heart beat a little faster.
“Leave it with me, malysh. After we eat, I’ll make some enquiries while you carry on reading and if you find anything of interest, I won’t be far away. I’ll never be far away and will always have time for you.”
I lean down and kiss him softly on his lips and as he deepens the kiss, my heart is fuller than it has ever been. It’s as if home is where Arman is and I have no intention of moving.
CHAPTER 40
ARMAN
We finally made it to the dining room where my chef had prepared a light meal and as I leave Ellie to an afternoon of reading, I head to my den and Luka is already waiting for me.
He glances up as I enter and says immediately, “Nikolai left on a flight for Russia one hour ago.”
I say nothing and head to my desk, and yet my mind is racing.
“Anything else?”
“He met Marsha last night at his hotel room and she left at seven am. Thirty minutes later Nikolai went for a jog in Central Park and then returned one hour later where he had breakfast and then left for JFK airport.”
“What else?” There is always more and Luka shrugs, appearing puzzled.
“He checked in business class to Moscow and spent his time reading a Jack Reacher novel in the lounge. He never glanced at his phone and didn’t communicate with any other passengers. He paid one visit to the restroom before the flight boarded, which lasted two minutes.”
It makes me smile because Luka has spies in the most unlikely of places and it never ceases to amaze me how he does it.
“So, what are you thinking?” I’m interested to hear his take on it and his eyes gleam.
“That he was intent on playing the tourist to cover up something that may throw heat his way. The only people he met were Marsha and Roden.”
“Have you discovered anything about their meeting?”
He nods. “They shared a drink together and one of the workers at the club performed a private dance for them. She told us Roden offered her services to Nikolai, who politely refused.”