Page 69 of Fallen Roses

He downs the shot of vodka and drums his fingers on the table. It surprises me because Titus has no reaction to anything. He never has, and this is the first time I have seen him show any.

“Our problem is now closer to home.”

“Tell us.” Mikhail sits forward, almost salivating at the leash, causing Titus to smile, his eyes dancing with laughter.

“This one’s on me, Mikhail.”

“How?” I share my brother’s confusion because Titus rarely gets involved with the problems in our business. The rest of us have suitable skills in that area, leaving him free to coordinate the attack.

“The final secret that pa was guarding is a more delicate one. It concerns our country and there is no room for mistakes.”

We fall silent, all realizing the truth of his statement.

I say carefully, “How can we help with that? Surely it’s up to Boris to deal with it.”

Titus nods. “Ordinarily, yes, but he has asked a great personal favor from me and it would be in our family’s best interests to accept.”

He’s not wrong there. Nobody refuses Boris Fedorov anything and lives to tell the tale, but I wonder what Titus can do to help with a problem I don’t even want to think about, let alone be involved in.

Alexei sighs heavily. “If you need our help, it’s yours.”

“Of course.” We all nod because if there is one thing the Romanovs excel at, it’s the family business and I’m aware this decision will affect that, regardless of the personal favor Boris has demanded.

Titus sighs as he realizes that his glass is empty and Valentin reaches for the bottle and sets about topping up our glasses.

As he sets it back down, Titus says simply, “Please raise your glasses. I have important news.”

There is not a sound in the room as we wait with expectation, and his eyes flash as he says wearily, “I’m getting married.”

There is no sound, just disbelief as we stare at him as if it’s some kind of joke.

Arman recovers first and growls, “What the fuck! Do we know her?”

“No.”

Titus shakes his head and shrugs. “As it turns out, neither do I, but that is unimportant. It’s who she is that counts.”

“I don’t understand.” I glance around the room and note my confusion is shared by my siblings, and Titus smiles darkly.

“So, aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“Of course.”

Mikhail raises his glass and huffs, “To Titus and–”

We stare at our brother as we wait for the name ofthe unfortunate woman and he leans back in his chair and says simply, “Tatiana Pavlov.”

It’s as if he stole our power of speech with the drop of one name and as we stare at him in disbelief, he raises his glass.

“Wish me luck. I sure as hell am going to need it.”

As he drains the glass for the second time, my heart sinks. Here we fucking go again.

EPILOGUE

TITUS

There is a heady sense of expectation in the air as the crowd takes their place inside the impressive home of the Bolshoi Ballet.

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