Page 88 of Tangled Roses
I am so miserable I could crawl into a hole and stay there.
This is bad. So bad I want to place my hands over my ears and shut the world out. Now I’m shaking because what the actual hell. It appears that I was the result of a gang bang. Could things get any worse?
“Are you saying pa could be Ellie’s father?” Titus says gruffly, already knowing the DNA test disproves that theory.
Mama says angrily, “Of course not. Andrei was a decent, honorable man. He would never take part in anything like that.”
“Then why did he keep in touch with Marsha Steele and Veronica Scott-Stanley until the day he died? Why did he meet up with Veronica four times a year and why did they have an affair for your entire married life?”
Titus is cruel. I have never seen anything like it and I stare in horror as his mother crumbles before our eyes.
“Stop!” she sobs into her hands, effectively covering her face but not the tears that are streaming from her eyes.
“Please stop. What are you saying?”
Oh my god, she doesn’t know and they have just broken this poor woman.
I don’t miss the look the brothers share as their mother breaks down before their eyes, but before they can do or say anything, a man heads into the room and moves across to Titus and whispers something in his ear.
He stares at me and from the worried spark in his eyes, my heart sinks.
Fuck, this concerns me.
Their mother is sobbing into her hands and Arman is staring at his brother with concern as Titus nods.
“Show him in.”
“Titus–”
Arman’s voice is loaded with questions and his brother says quickly, “It appears that Ellie has a visitor.”
Grace lifts her head and I sense something happening out of their control and say weakly, “But I don’t know anyone here.”
Arman reaches for my hand and says fiercely, “What the fuck is going on, Titus?”
He doesn’t get to answer because as the door opens, a man enters the room and it’s as if all the warmth evaporates against the chill surrounding him.
It’s as if evil has invaded the bright sunny room and turns my blood to ice.
“Mr. Fedorov.”
Titus stands and offers the man his hand and as they shake, I don’t miss the interest with which he stares at me.
Arman does the same, but I note the tightness of his smile as the man turns to their mother and says respectfully, “Grace. Forgive my intrusion in your time of grief. I can tell things are no easier.”
She turns a tear-streaked face toward him and I don’t miss the resignation in. her eyes as she nods.
“Mr. Fedorov.”
He adds. “Boris, please. We are old friends, after all.”
She smiles briefly before allowing him to kiss her three times and then, as he steps back, she says with a reluctant sigh. “Please take a seat, Boris. You are just in time for refreshment.”
The fact he takes the seat beside me is terrifying enough, but the way he turns and stares at me causes a shiver to run down my spine.
“Gabrielle. It is good to meet you – finally.”
“I’m, um–” I have no words and his eyes flash as he smiles.