Page 81 of Sinful Lies

There’s no way in hell Igor Ivanov would have let his wife raise the child of a rival Pahkan, especially if the child was a boy. He would have posed the greatest threat to Igor’s empire.

“Perhaps the stillbirth was a cover up…” I think out loud.

“That was my first thought too.”

“Fuck.”

“I’m following up another lead back in Russia to find out more information, but right now that’s all I have.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the effort, Rurik.”

“Anytime. I’ll be in touch soon.”

I set my phone down on my desk and lean back in my chair, letting out a long breath.

There had been a child, ason. I had another brother that I didn’t even know existed.

My brothers don’t need to know about this, at least not until I can get more information.

Danil is already distraught enough as it is about our father’s affair, and I don’t want to have any more fights with Alexei. We’ve all been through enough as it is, I don’t need to throw a long lost brother into the mix.

I stay locked away in my office for a few more hours, trying to process the information Rurik gave me. I can barely focus on my work, my head switching between thoughts of my father and thoughts of Zara.

How did it all go so wrong so fast?

There’s nothing I can do about my father’s affair right now, but I can do something about my relationship with Zara.

I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s almost six. I think Zara and I have avoided each other for long enough.

Pushing my chair back and getting to my feet, I wander out of my office and go in search of my wife.

She slammed the door to her room earlier, and I’ve heard nothing since. It’s likely she’s still hiding away in there.

Hiding from me.

The pang of guilt hits my stomach like a lead weight, and I fight the urge to go barging into her room and beg for her forgiveness.

I cross the hall and press my ear to her door, but it’s quiet.

“Zara?” I call out softly, rapping my knuckles on the door.

Silence.

I grind my teeth. I hate the idea that she’s ignoring me, so I try the door handle.

It opens, and I peer inside to find her curled up in bed, asleep. Her blonde hair is fanned out around her head, and her cheeks look red as if she’s been crying.

I’m such a bastard.

I want nothing more than to climb into bed beside her and hold her against me as she sleeps. But I’m all too aware that she won’t forgive me that easily, and I don’t deserve her to. There is no excuse for my behavior, and I’m sure as hell going to make it up to her in any way she’ll let me.

So for now, I’ll let her sleep.

The blinds are open and her light is still on, so I creep inside, not wanting to wake her. I pick up the remote for the blinds on her bedside table and lower them, casting the room in shadow.

Bending over her, I press the softest kiss to her forehead, my lips barely brushing her skin so as not to wake her.

“I’m so sorry,sladkaya zhizn’,” I whisper before reaching over to switch off the light.

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