Page 45 of The Payment

“What doyouwant, Tatiana?”he countered as he stepped closer, close enough that she could feel his warmth against the morning chill.“Not what you fear, not what you think you should want.What does your heart demand?”

The question undid her.She wanted to create what she had lost.A family, belonging, and unconditional love.She wanted to prove that the cycle could be broken, that love could triumph over power.She wanted...

“I want my children to be free,” she breathed instead, not yet ready to admit all her deepest needs to him.“Free to choose, to love, and to live without shadows of the past.Free from debts, obligations, and family criminal legacies.”

“Then perhaps,” he said quietly, “that’s where we start.”

She looked at him, really scrutinized him, and like the moment inside, she saw past the Dark One to the father who had lost everything.In his eyes, she saw her own reflection—scarred, afraid, but still hoping.They were both desperately seeking the dream of paper birds taking flight.

Maybe there was hope after all...

Chapter Seventeen

Tatiana

Four Seasons PrivateResidences, One Dalton Street, Boston...

Tatiana stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the city lights flicker in the dark of the night.Her cell phone vibrated.

“When is he ever going to get the message?”she growled as Gregor's number flashed on the screen.She refused to acknowledge him as her grandfather.

“I have nothing to say to you, Gregor Polov,” she snapped into the phone when she found herself answering instead of ignoring his calls as usual.

“I will ignore your disrespect because I know you’re under a madman’s influence.”

Tatiana snorted a response, refusing to be goaded into bad-mouthing Jarek to ease his guilt.

A deep sigh floated toward her over the phone.“This is ridiculous, Tatiana.It’s time for you to come home.Forget about that bastard’s threats.They mean nothing.I’ll protect you from his wrath,”

Tatiana wasn’t fooled by the false concern oozing from his voice.A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

“Home?What home?The one I built for myself or the prison you and grandmother created for me growing up?Tell me, Gregor.Why would I want to go back to a man who would murder his own son?”

“What lies has that vengeful criminal been feeding you?”

“Only the truth.All of it.”Her voice shook with rage.“How you ordered my parents’ deaths.How Elizabeth stood by and did nothing.”

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