Page 44 of Fallen Roses

“It’s a game. A mutual game, isn’t that right, James?”

“I said no.” Is all James says in reply and Adele starts to shake.

“But you didn’t mean it. Did you, darling?”

“Of course I fucking meant it, you sadistic bitch.”

He is getting angry and rightly so, and I place my hand on his arm and smile softly, “It’s okay, James, Mikhail can take it from here.”

“Who are you?”

Adele catches my eye and I note the anger flare as she sees my hand on James and I say casually, “Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t James tell you he has a girlfriend now? Perhaps you never gave him the chance to speak before you whipped the hell out of him as soon as he stepped inside the door, you sick bitch.”

“How dare you? Do you know who I am?”

It makes us all laugh and Adele stutters, “You have nothing. My husband will–”

“Will what, Adele? Call in a few favors. Ask hisfriends at Burning Roses for help to sweep this discretion under the carpet. Perhaps he will appeal to his Russian friends, or then again, call in help from the chief of police and the mayor, who I believe are close personal friends of yours.”

Adele has no words and Mikhail growls, “Consider us the untouchables, and consider this arrangement over. However, the only way you will keep this scandal from hitting the campaign trail is to answer a few questions we have.”

“Questions.” I can see Adele’s mind working as she seizes on any way out of the situation.

“What questions?”

“Who killed Andrei Romanov for one?”

Her eyes widen and I watch with interest as the penny drops and she gasps, “Andrei!”

“Otherwise known as our father.” Mikhail says with a snarl and Adele gazes around the room in a blind panic as she realizes she has nowhere else to run.

“I don’t know.” She says quickly and Mikhail merely laughs.

“Don’t know, or won’t tell.”

“I don’t know.”

She takes a deep breath and says quickly, “I mean that. I really don’t. There is no reason to kill Andrei, he was too powerful and important to us to wish him dead.”

“Then who would – wish him dead, that is?”

“If I knew I would tell you, please believe me.”

Mikhail shifts and says quickly, “Marsha Steele. What can you tell us about her?”

“That bitch.” Adele sneers. “I went to school with her. She was always an easy lay and kept the men entertained—all of them.”

“So you are aware of her organization, Burning Roses.”

Adele hangs her head and says softly, “I am. It’s not anything I want to be a part of.”

“Your husband can’t say the same though, can he, Adele?” Mikhail adds, and she snaps her eyes to his and hisses, “Charles has his fun and so do I. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing if you don’t seek public office I’d say and preach the sanctity of marriage and Christian values to the voters, while breaking every rule on morality in the process.”

Adele has no response to that and Mikhail changes direction.

“Veronica Scott-Stanley. Tell me about her.”

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