Page 19 of Embrace of the Russian Tiger

But no more. With determination burning in my chest, I stood up and made a decision. I refused to be controlled by Maxim anymore. I had power too, and it was time for him to see that.

As I stormed towards his office, I heard mumbles coming out of his library. The door was left a bit open, and I heard Mikhail’s voice. I wanted to barge in when I overheard my name and then I stopped myself. Then I heard:

"… sooner or later, she's going to find out," Mikhail's voice said.

"Mikhail, shut up," Maxim growled in response. "She cannot find out that she is Rossi’s daughter! Don’t you get it?”

My heart skipped a beat. Rossi’s daughter. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks - I was the daughter of Don Rossi, my mother's boss and the Italian mafia leader who Maxim had killed years ago. The man who had raped and murdered Maxim's sister - and I was his biological product!

Right that moment, I felt the realization as a slap. The reason why Maxim hated me the way he did was there, raw and so clear.

I took a step back, reeling from this shocking revelation.

My mind was in chaos, my emotions swirling as I tried to process this new information. All my life, I had been living in the shadows of other people's decisions - first my mother, then Maxim. And now… this. I wasn’t just Anna anymore. I was someone important, with a past that I didn't even know existed.

Why keep this from me? He ignored the anonymous note I received the other day. I brushed it off as a coincidence, but I was wrong. This arrogant bastard with his whispery voice and beautiful cock decided to hide the truth from me.

I turned and hurried back down the hall, my thoughts racing. I needed space, time to think. But as I made my way back to my room, a part of me wondered if I could ever trust him again. He had kept this secret from me, controlled me with lies and half-truths. What else was he hiding?

As I reached my room, my phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking through my thoughts. My brows furrowed as I picked it up and saw a message on the screen.

Do you want to know more? Meet me atPapa Joe's Pizzatomorrow at 4 PM.

My heart pounded in my chest as I read the words. "Who is this?" No one was supposed to have my number except forMaxim and his people. But clearly, someone else did - and they knew something about me that I didn't.

I sat down on the bed, fear and curiosity warring within me.

"Want to know more?"

The question taunted me, tempting me to find out what secrets were being kept from me. But it could also be a trap, a way for someone to use me against Maxim. The risks were high, but I couldn’t ignore it. I needed answers.

My mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain - I couldn’t back down now. I had to know the truth, no matter the cost.

The thought made me hesitate. But then again, I had been living under other people's control for too long. This was my chance to take back some power and finally learn the truth about myself.

I glanced at the closed door, half-expecting Maxim to walk in and stop me from going. But he didn't, and for once, I felt like I had a choice in my own life.

I made up my mind.

I would go toPapa Joe's Pizzatomorrow and see what this person knew about me. And I wouldn’t tell Maxim, not yet. He had kept secrets from me for far too long, and now it was my turn.

As I sat there with the phone in hand, I realized that finding out the truth came with a price. But I had come too far to turn back now.

Later, I needed something to do. Something to keep me from spiraling into a thousand different thoughts. I made my way toward the kitchen, hoping a drink—anything—would calm thestorm raging inside me. Every step I took felt heavy, the weight of the revelation I had overheard pulling me down like an anchor. Russo’s daughter. The words echoed in my head, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

I pushed open the kitchen door, the cool, sterile air of the room offering a brief moment of relief from the pressure mounting inside me. It was late, so I didn’t expect to see anyone, but as I entered, I froze.

Mikhail was there, standing by the counter, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as if he were lost in thought. His hand was wrapped around a glass, but he hadn’t taken a sip. Instead, he stared out of the small kitchen window, the tension radiating off him so palpable I could almost feel it.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.Stay calm, Anna. Don’t let him see anything’s wrong.I couldn’t afford to give away what I knew. Not yet.

“Anna,” Mikhail said, his voice breaking the silence as he turned to face me. His eyes softened when they met mine, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before he gave me a small, almost weary smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I forced a smile in return, though it felt stiff, unnatural. “I just needed something to drink. Couldn’t sleep.”

Mikhail nodded slowly, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than usual. There was something off about him—something uneasy. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days, the lines around his eyes deeper than I remembered. But then again, he always looked like that these days. Ever since Maxim’s sister’s death, Mikhail had carried that weight, and it showed in every part of him.

I moved toward the fridge, feeling the tension in the air between us. My hands trembled slightly as I grabbed a bottle of water, trying to keep myself composed. Act normal.

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