Avrora
A chill rushes over me. “What do you mean? What did she do to me?”
“Even though she wasn’t ethically allowed to be your therapist, she gave you medication to stop you from remembering.”
I cover my mouth, holding in the wave of shock that’s ripping me apart. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Only God knows how hard I tried to remember, but I was never going to be able to because Mira was suppressing my memories with medication. I was such a fool to believe she was the person she portrayed to be. She was never the fucking motherly figure. All along, she was my enemy.
“You allowed her to do that to me.”
“I had no choice. She did everything she could to control our lives and make sure you didn’t remember what happened. But the nightmares were always a worry even when they went away.”
“She told me it was my brain’s way of trying to remember.”
“It was, and we feared you’d see something to trigger those memories. Or you’d just remember everything by some miracle. The whole thing tormented your mother every day.”
“Is that why she took her life?” She might not have been my real mother, but she was to me.
“It was one reason, but not the most significant. I’d even go as far as saying she wanted you to remember. Just so it would be over. She blamed herself for allowing Vittoria to take our Avrora out that day without her. She was never able to accept that our daughter died or live with knowing I stole you from your family. She couldn’t live with the fact that I killed them. Loving you and knowing the truth drove her insane. My wife and my daughter were the only two good things in my life, but I lost them both.”
“You still acted like my father after she died.”
“Because to me, I was. Men like me don’t know how to love, but I loved all three of you. When Anatoli rose from the ashes like some goddamn phoenix, I knew it was the end, but I didn’t want him to tell you what I did, or for you to find out about my crimes because you loved me. You were the last thing I had left in this world to live for.” He dips his head for a moment before his gaze climbs back up slowly to meet mine. “When Anatoli came to talk to me about the crest, I knew I was in more trouble, and worse when he asked me if I knew the Butyrskayas. Before that, I never took any notice of the crest when you told me about it because I’d never seen it before. His questions made me realize Pavel Butyrskaya must have been a member of the Pakhan’s secret squad. There were whispers about it when the Butyrskayas disappeared, but I never thought about it before. None of us did. Nobody even knew that Anatoli’s home used to belong to them. Not until he told me. Last week, when he captured one of my trackers, it was all over for me. Mira has kept me here since.”
“What is she going to do to you?”
He gives me a wry smile. “Kill me. I’m like an animal waiting to be slaughtered. I’ve slipped up too many times and am a liability now. If the Knights know about Mira and Mikhail’s secret plots, they’ll execute them. They’re already out for me because they now know I killed the Butyrskayas. And right now, as we speak, Mira is trying to find a way to get rid of Anatoli.”
Anatoli. My God, what are they going to do to him? He thinks I’m safe with Mira. I don’t know how much time has passed since I was out, but maybe he knows by now that something has happened to me. Or not. I said I’d be away all day, and he was going to Leif’s with Zakh and Malik.
When I asked him if I could see Mira, I knew he was hesitant. I wish I hadn’t asked now. It was me who got myself wrapped in the trap.
“They want to kill him and invalidate any plans he has to transfer his half of the oil company to you. That way, you can marry Mikhail, and it will be his. Then it will only be a matter of time before they kill you.”
“Kill me?”
“Or keep you. But Mikhail is a jealous man. He fell for you, and he loathes the fact that you want to be with Anatoli. Before this day ends, you might not even have that baby in your stomach.”
That does it. The tears I was holding back stream down my cheeks. “I can’t let that happen.”
“If they get Anatoli, you’ll be on your way to Russia at least by tomorrow. That’s when you need to try and escape.”
“Escape?”
He moves closer and lowers his voice. “I have a boat at the marina called Silver. I have ten thousand dollars on board and supplies that should last you for a few months if you need it.”
“Dad, how am I going to escape them?”
“You have to try and find a way. I can’t lose you again.” As he speaks, I know he’s looking at me like the daughter he lost. “I’m a soulless devil who doesn’t deserve your forgiveness. Not even the devil will accept me in hell. But I love you like you were mine because you are. I stole you from your family, and it’s my responsibility to try and save you. Even if it’s to give you the last things I have left to help you get away from these people. I am truly sorry for what I have done to you… Mischa.”
Hearing him call me by that name grips my heart, and I don’t know what to say.
All my words are jumbled in my mind. I don’t get the chance to unravel them because the handle on the door turns and Mira walks in holding a gun.
I marvel with disgust at how different she looks. She even seems taller. Not in height but personality and confidence.
“Your beloved husband is dead,” she declares with a villainous smile.
Her words shut my body and soul down in an instant, then my heart turns over and weeps. Numbness cascades over my skin and I can’t breathe. God… I can’t breathe.
“No…”
Anatoli. They killed him?
“I blew him up, my dear.” She smirks and looks at Dad. “Finishing the job you couldn’t do.”
“Please don’t hurt my daughter.”
“You fool. You fell for our own game.”
“Please, Mira. I’m sure we can come to some agreement.”
“What, like her giving me the company and agreeing to keep quiet about everything? I don’t think so. Besides, I’m afraid your journey has now come to an end.”
“Mira, please,” I choke when she raises the gun.
Dad looks at me, and our gazes lock. “I love you. I-”
Before he can get out another word, Mira shoots him in the head. Blood splatters everywhere, and I scream.