Page 82 of Tangled Roses
“But she was your mother. It may hit you when you least expect it.”
“You’re wrong.” She shakes her head sadly. “She was never my mother. I just rented space in her womb. My mother died from cancer. She wasn’t targeted by a hitman and left to bleed out on the sidewalk. That person wasn’t my mother. She was nothing to me.”
The ice in her voice tugs on my heart. Ellie is strong. Stronger than I was when I heard of my father’s death. Strong because she dealt with her grandmother’s death on her own and strong because she is surviving what I’m putting her through.
I don’t deserve her and she doesn’t deserve me. She should demand more. She should expect more. The trouble is, I’m a greedy bastard, and she is now stuck with me and it’s up to me to make it worth her while.
Ellie sits beside me as the cops pay us a visit and break the sad news to her officially.
She nods in all the right places and asks the expected questions, and they appear satisfied with her responses.
“What happens now?” Ellie asks, and the officer smiles kindly.
“Her body will be returned to you after we finish our investigations. You may want to arrange her funeral in the meantime.”
“What about the investigation into her death?” Ellie asks. “Is there CCTV footage of the man who did this?”
“We’re working on it, Miss Adams. As soon as there is any information, we will let you know.”
She stands and her colleague smiles his sympathy and as we show them out, Ellie’s hand is clasped firmly in mine.
When they leave, she sighs with relief. “Thank God for that. They know nothing. They don’t appear to have discovered the body of the man your men, um, apprehended. I am so worried you will be in trouble for that.”
I smile and spin her to face me and, staring deep into her gorgeous eyes, I whisper, “That man is a ghost and his body will never be found. We clean up our shit and this will be no exception.”
She shivers as I drag my thumb across her tempting lips. “You’re a bad man, Arman Romanov. Why does that turn me on so much?”
“Because you are the other half of my soul, malysh, and you always will be.”
“Is it wrong to have sex when your parent dies, Arman?” She asks, the longing heavy in her voice and I say huskily, “Fuck what’s right. You’re coming with me.”
CHAPTER 51
ELLIE
Two days later and we are heading on Arman’s private jet toward Marsha’s head office. I know I shouldn’t be excited about that, but it gives me a chance to learn more about the woman who gave birth to me. I will never think of her as my mother, but she is an important part of this puzzle that I am determined to complete.
I want Arman to get closure. I accept that I never will and even knowing my father is searching for me leaves me cold.
I’m not interested in him. He paid Marsha to get rid of me. He can live with that because I have no intention of ever meeting with him.
“Do you always travel this way?” I ask, as we recline in the most comfortable seats, a glass of champagne in my hand and whiskey in his.
“Yes.” He shrugs. “I have never traveled any other way.”
“Then you haven’t lived.” I laugh as I picture him experiencing what the rest of us consider a luxury. He would be appalled.
“I make no excuses for our wealth, malysh. It’s the Romanov way and we have my father to thank for that.”
“Tell me about him.” I’m intrigued, and Arman nods, sipping his drink with a proud gleam in his eye.
“He was born on the outskirts of Moscow into poverty. My grandparents had nothing and yet he was smart enough to study, rather than turn to crime for easy money.”
I’m enthralled, as he smiles proudly. “He won a scholarship to an expensive school but was bullied severely for his lack of parentage. He was the poor kid in a school of entitled ones and was smart enough to stay out of trouble and devote all his time to study rather than retribution.”
“He was a clever man indeed.”
I’m impressed, and Arman smiles, a wistful expression in his eyes.