Page 22 of Deadly Devotion
“Yes, come in,” I reply.
Opening the door slowly, Nikolai peeks his head into the room. “It is time for dinner. You come with me now,” he tells me in his heavy Russian accent.
He’s a good-looking man with shoulder-length caramel-colored hair and blue eyes. He doesn’t appear much older than me, and I wonder how he got the scar on his face. It’s a jagged line that runs from the outer edge of his left eye to the middle of his cheek. I don’t realize I’m staring at it.
“You want to know what happened?” he asks, pointing to his scar.
My cheeks flush pink as I look away quickly. “Oh…no…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”
“I tell you. It was a great big brown bear in Russia. I fight it, but I won.” He smiles broadly, displaying a row of gleaming white teeth.
“Oh my!” I gasped in surprise. “A bear?”
“It is now a rug in my brother’s cabin.”
My face scrunches up at the thought, and Nikolai laughs heartily.
“Come, we go, Miss,” he says.
“Please, call me Talia.”
Nodding, he escorts me out of my room and to the dining room.
When we arrive, Sasha, Maxim, and Olga are seated at the large ornate wood table. Aleksandr is noticeably absent. Nikolai takes a seat in the corner of the room, opening a newspaper.
“Talia, join us,” Olga insists.
“Sit next to me!” Sasha blurted, patting the empty seat next to her.
“Thank you, Sasha. I’d be delighted.” I sink into the plush velvet cushion of the chair and admire the brass chandelier polished to a gleam. The table has exquisite china dinner plates rimmed in gold, delicate crystal glasses, and polished silverware. A crystal vase in the middle of the table holds vibrant flowers. Sitting at this grand table in this lavish mansion highlightedthe stark differences between my life and the lives of the Avilov family.
“Have you seen the greenhouse?” Maxim asks, watching me admire the beautiful flowers.
“No, not yet, but I’d love to. I’ve always loved flowers,” I reply quietly.
“It’s a jungle!” Sasha exclaims. “I like to hide from Uncle in there. He never finds me when we play hide-and-seek.” She giggles while spinning a shiny spoon between her fingers.
“Sasha, your manners,” Olga reprimands.
“Sorry,” Sasha whispers, her lips turning into a frown.
“My favorite plant in the greenhouse is the Venus flytrap,” Maxim says enthusiastically. “Uncle lets me feed it bits of meat. It’s so cool when the plant snaps shut!”
“It sounds like your uncle is a cool guy.” I smile, picturing Aleksandr playing hide and seek with the children.
“He knows all the plants,” Sasha chimes in. “He’s teaching me their names.”
Their fondness for Aleksandr was evident in every word they spoke. Clearly, he played a significant role in their lives, one that went beyond just being their guardian.
Warm, fuzzy thoughts of Aleksandr crept into my mind.Stop it.I shouldn’t be thinkinganythingabout Aleksandr. I’m trying to figure out a way to flee this place, which confirms I’m a prisoner here. In this mansion. With these lovely children. And sweet nanny. And delicious food. And a closet full of gorgeous clothes. It doesn’t sound so bad when I say it in my mind. But the fact is that I can’t stay here. I can’t stay caught up in Aleksandr’scriminal empire. I must protect myself and my baby.Ourbaby.I wonder what type of father he would be?
Mentally bitch slapping myself, I try to concentrate on Maxim and Sasha’s banter and push all thoughts of Aleksandr to the back of my mind. Sasha proudly shares stories of her adventures in the mansion’s extensive gardens, and Maxim is stating facts about carnivorous plants.
“Dinner is served,” Abram announces, placing trays of meats and vegetables on the table.
The scent of savory meat blankets the table, and my stomach flips. It feels like the sandwich I ate earlier is trying to escape.
“Are you feeling well, Talia?” Olga looks me over as if trying to pinpoint the cause of my ailment.