Page 36 of Forgotten Vows
“Myson.”
He shook his head, judging me bluntly. “You walked away from your child and?—”
“No.” Cutting off the Boss was stupid, but this mattered too much. He couldn’t assume the wrong thing now. “I didn’t know. She didn’t tell me that she was pregnant. I made the decision to leave her to spare her. To do the ‘right’ thing and end it before you or her father could order us apart or punish us. I walked away, and it was the hardest fucking thing I’d ever done. But I did. I only followed up and sought intel about her after the fact, worried that if she could’ve been pregnant, I could help from afar. She admitted to faking records of a miscarriage, wanting to hide Lev from her father. She has been living under the radar and hiding from anyone in the Mafia since he was born.”
He raised both brows, skeptical. “That’s what she told you?”
I nodded.
“When?”
I frowned. “Tonight. I haven’t seen her or heard from her all these years.”
“And you believe her?”
He was testing me. I knew he was. Considering how quickly and easily Raisa had gotten to me physically, I had to wonder if I was thinking with a level head where she was concerned.Should I believe her?
“I do.” I nodded, wanting to sound confident about that. Because she hadn’t made a peep or shown up all this time, I was inclined to take her word for it that she wanted to be undiscovered by anyone all this time.
“Then why is she here now?”
I opened and closed my mouth.
“Did you manage to keep it in your pants long enough to ask?” he asked wryly.
I hadn’t. “I will.” Heaving out a deep exhale, I prayed that some amount of sleep tonight would have me rested and refreshed to confront her again tomorrow.
“Oh, you will, huh?”
I did a double-take. I couldn’t tell if he was asking if I’d keep it in my pants or if I’d ask her for more answers. “Yes.” Either way, that had to be my reply. Caving to desire wasn’t wise. Not now. Not until the picture was clearer between us.
He stood, sighing. “Get some sleep. We will talk tomorrow.”
“I’ll speak with her again tomorrow.”
“Yes.” He headed toward the door. “You will. Even though she is a Petrov, your son is another matter. Be sure to inquire about her father—if he’s dead or alive.”
“She isn’t sure if he’s still around. She says she cut ties and never looked back.”
He paused, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Until now.”
I nodded. “Until now.”But why?It wasn’t because she missed me and loved me.
“I’ll await the results of your investigation about this matter. Because while she will be here until we have our answers, she is not to be trusted.”
I winced as he saw himself out. This complicated relationship hadn’t been strong enough to make me stay before. And now, with a son in the mix, it was proving to be a challenge in the present.
Of course, Luka didn’t want a Petrov here. I didn’t have to think about it or ask what his opinions were about Konstantin’s daughter being here. Or with me at all. And a son?
I hung my head and went to shower before trying to get some rest. A clearer head would help, but I doubted I’d relax at all, knowing she was here and still so angry with me.
In the morning, after the most restless night of sleep ever, I was determined to start getting answers out of the one woman I’d ever loved. Caffeine didn’t do much help in waking me up or infusing me with energy. Breakfast didn’t appeal either.
But the second I spotted Raisa in the courtyard, leaning her forearms over a stone wall as she watched Lev and Misha in the open-air area located in the center of the mansion, I felt invigorated to reach her. To see her. To merely be near enough that I could extend my hands and touch her.
She didn’t react to my approach, but I knew she was too sharp and observant not to be aware that I was joining her.
Together, we stood side by side. The silence unnerved me, but it was also a chance to gather my thoughts. I wasn’t sure where to start with my questions, where to begin with comments about how she’d handled this huge secret that still pissed me off.
