Page 62 of Fallen Roses

He stands and heads across to the small bar and my voice shakes as I whisper, “Bad choice of words, brother.”

He shrugs. “She had no choice. I would have done the same.”

I nod, because I am of the same mind. Mama loved our father with her whole heart and devoted her life to him. I am full of sadness that she never had it back in return. Even in death, she spared him by carrying it out herself in a kinder way.

Titus hands me a full glass of vodka and smiles as I raise my eyes and touch my glass to his.

“To Andrei Romanov. He got what he wanted in the end.”

“How?”

I’m confused and he shrugs. “He now gets to spend eternity with the woman he loved.”

“Who killed Veronica and why?”

I ask the burning question and Titus says thoughtfully, “I’m guessing she knew too much. Like pa, she was surplus to requirements and I’m guessing Nikolai Barinov was ordered to clear up the loose ends.”

“Of course. First pa, then Veronica followed by Marsha. Let’s hope the body count has ended.”

Titus frowns and I can almost hear his mind working before he raises his eyes and smiles. “Let’s hope.”

“What will you tell the others?”

I reference our brothers, and he leans back and sighs heavily. “The truth. As soon as Valentin and Alexei arrive, I’ll call a meeting in my den. We will deal with this as a family and it stays within the family because after all?—”

I roll my eyes. “Business always comes first.”

CHAPTER 33

JAMES

It’s now been three weeks since Ana left, and I’ve hated every second of it. We FaceTime, a lot and speak often long into the night. Seeing her on a small screen merely intensifies my need for her and I inevitably end the call asking when she will return. She always has an excuse and I note the troubled expression behind the sweet smile. She is suffering. I can see that thousands of miles away, but she won’t tell me why.

I’m thinking the worst. That her family disapproves of me and is preventing her from coming back. That distance has made the heart grow cooler, and she is trying to let me down gently.

I barely sleep worrying that I’ve already lost the only woman I’ve ever cared about. I can’t say love. I don’t know what that means.

Do I love Anastasia Romanov? I feel it in my heart, but my head is questioning it. We were together for sucha short time and I’ve always been led to believe that love grows over time.

Time we may have run out of.

I’ve used my time wisely and torn the business apart. Making sure everything is explained, and any discrepancies reported to the correct authorities to deal with. I will not run this business any way other than above board and if it means we get fewer donations as a result of that, it will have to be the case.

Eric pokes his head around the door at six thirty. “We’re heading to the bar across the street. Will you be joining us?”

“Not tonight. There are some contracts to search through.”

“If you change your mind, we’re there until eight.”

Eric nods respectfully and leaves, and I smile to myself. I like him—a lot. He is a competent manager and the rest of the staff appear to adore him. He is also incredibly good at what he does and was the perfect replacement for David, who was not only lazy but a fool. He also fed other people’s ideas as his own and took the credit for work he never lifted a finger to create.

I am happy with my team, although we are short of an accountant. I am mindful of finding Harriet Buchanan a job and the office manager appears to be the perfect role for her. Angela, my assistant, has long doubled in the role along with Miss Prendergast from HR because being a charity, every cent is carefully counted and we don’t employ a huge staff. I have anidea for expansion which would multiply our offices across the country. It’s still an idea though, and I would like to discuss it with Ana first. She has a good brain for business and I want to consider her opinion.

As I work, I push her from my mind. It has to be that way or else nothing would get done. Ana is the last thing on my mind when I fall asleep and my first waking thought in the morning and I physically ache to hold her in my arms again.

The shadows deepenin the corners of the office and my eyes sting from the flicker of the computer screen

I remember Eric’s invitation from earlier and decide to catch them before they leave for the night. I could use a drink. It’s been a bitch of a week really and I’ll back here in the morning bright and early, so I may as well call it quits for the night.

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