Page 46 of Vasily the Hammer

Ana gives me the most apologetic look, making me hopeful that, worst case scenario, she goes with Tony because he’s got his hands on Artom and she’ll be able to protect him until I can extract them both from Tony’s place. Only, she shakes her head at a thought. “This isn’t though. None of that stuff was mine. It was all unused.”

“I can explain,” I rush out, attempting to take a careful step toward her, only to realize that Tony isn’t alone, of course.

There’s a pilot for the helicopter. And that’s a gun already on me.

“Lacey! He’s ruined your life once,” Tony warns her. “If you want to stay, I can’t stop you, but he’s going to ruin your life again.”

“How? How did he ruin my life?”

Tony looks right at me, six years of hatred and malice and planning— although this was certainly not in his master plan— glowing bright in his eyes. “He kidnapped us. You were just a college kid, Lacey, and he raped you right in front of me. And then he sent me back home but kept you for another two weeks, until he knew you were pregnant.”

“I didn’t know!” I bark out.

All but admitting to the rest of the accusations. Which are all but true, but fuck, it was all Tony’s fault to begin with.

“Please,” I call out weakly, realizing there is absolutely nothing I can do at this point except let her decide for herself. “Just come here so I can explain it to you.”

“I’ll even let you take Artom with you,” Tony says like he’s manufacturing halos on the side. “Let your boy see the man who abandoned you both.”

Ana shoots me one last glare, and it’s nothing less than venomous. “No, I’ve heard enough. Let’s go home.”

Chapter 15

Ana

“Mommy, is it trueyou don’t remember anything? That’s what Uncle Tony says.”

“Yeah, baby, I’m so sorry.”

He moves right on, like he doesn’t get why I’m apologizing so it’s not worth his time. “Is it real weird?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“So you don’t remember that time we went to the playground and you slipped and fell in the mud and it looked like you pooped your pants?”

Tony, for his part, has the decency to look out the window of the plane and cover his mouth with his hand as he laughs.

“No, baby, but that sounds really funny.”

Artom lights up so brightly I can’t even be bothered by the fact that the memory of me that pops out most to him is muddypants. I still haven’t had any strong memories hit, but I feel so strongly about him. I love him so much it hurts. The moment the captain told us we could take off our seat belts, Artom climbed into my lap, and I’m actually regretting how short this flight is because I’m going to be upset when he has to go back to his seat.

He is mine. There’s absolutely no doubt within me. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t look even a little like me.

Or that he looks so much like Vasily.

Everything Tony said made sense in a way so much of what Vasily had already told me didn’t. Not just the stuff in the apartment; it goes right down to the tan on my ring finger. He never explained why I was in Orlando either. And the sexual chemistry between us was undeniable, but was that because it was the only thing we ever had?

It makes me nauseous just thinking of it that way.Wedidn’t have anything. If Tony was telling the truth, Vasily captured me and raped me for two weeks. And that’s why I have Artom.

I hug him more tightly just to remind myself that it doesn’t matter how I got Artom; it only matters that I have him.

And I’m sure the feeling of heartbreak inside me is just the whiplash of the day. I’m relieved to finally have the truth, I am.

I am so happy.

“Are you crying because you remember it now, Mommy?”

“No, I’m happy. It’s happy crying.”

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