Page 19 of Slipping into the Dark Side

Tatianna went to the phone but paused. There was always a chance of the police listening to her conversation. They liked tospy. Should she write back? The chance of it ending up in the wrong hands was too much risk.

Seeing him in person? He lived four hours away. It wasn’t like he lived next door.

Tatianna sat at her desk and flicked on the light. She reread his letter. If he wanted to play with her, then she was going to win. She began writing the most exaggerated plan if only to spite him. It made her laugh diabolically as she wrote, imagining the look on his face. It was devious and dreadful, full of death, and words only the devil himself would write. And when she was done, she proudly fanned herself, having worked up a sweat over the last few hours.

“Tati!” one of her siblings called from downstairs.

“Coming!”

She left the letter and dived down the mountain of stairs; her seven brothers and sisters were gathered on the steps, peeking through the banister. It was something they did with every guest. As the oldest now, she had no choice but to barrel forward and hop the last step onto the kitchen floor.

Yakov Morozov stood in the center of her dining room.

“Ah…” An awkward sound came out of her mouth as she blinked. He was dressed in a fine-tailored gray suit with light brown shoes. He held his hat in his hand with a wickedly pleased smile.

Tatianna had done up her hair in a messy bun, and a few bangs were still slick with sweat. Unlike his mansion, air conditioning was only for the bottom levels. Her room was typically a sweatbox.

Her father swept into the room, passed her, and shook Yakov’s hand. “It is a great pleasure to have you in our home.” He looked back at her. “Tati, say hello.”

“Hi,” she managed.

Nevsky waited for more, but when she remained still, he pushed through. “Come to my office. I have brand new cigars.”

“Forgive me, but I have come to speak with your daughter if that’s alright.”

Nevsky hesitated, flicking his gaze between Yakov and Tatianna. “Um…yes?” he questioned himself. “That’s fine, I gather. Please take your time.” He eyed Tatianna and placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t embarrass me.”

She nodded with a pressed smile.

Nevsky waved his arms at his children, and the stomps of their feet lasted for at least a minute, and Tatianna winced with every door slam.

An embarrassment is this house,she wanted to scream up the stairs.

“Lovely home.”

“No, it isn’t.” Tatianna shot back.

Yakov suppressed a smile. He dropped his hat on the table and pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit. Tatianna didn’t want to sit. She was smelly, underdressed, and caught off guard. She hated him for it because chances were he was doing it on purpose. Still, she forced herself to sit, and Yakov sat at the head, typically where her father sat.

He cleared his throat before he began. “I will apologize, only this once–”

“No need. I overstepped.”

Yakov continued nonetheless. “I was caught off guard. Which is becoming typical with you. Luernaisimportant to me. Though I believe those words have never left my mouth.”

Tatianna bowed her head to hide the heat of her cheeks. “I’m honored.”

The silence that followed made him terribly uncomfortable, and he moved on. “You received my letter.”

Knowing Yakov wanted the topic to be completely erased, Tatianna dutifully followed with a curt, “Yes. It was ridiculous.”

“How so?”

“You set a trap, and like a stupid bunny, you expect me to be ensnared. Well, I didn’t fall for it.”

“What made you believe it was a trap?”

She scoffed loudly and exaggerated. “It was obvious! You used names, dates, and times. It was dangerous doing so, I will admit. If anyone believed that was actually real, you would have been in a world of trouble if the Rostovas got a hold of it. I hear they curse their enemies.”

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