Page 77 of Tied to Hope
Sir stood beside Rytsar, the picture of masculine protection, but neither of them could do anything to prevent the pain he was experiencing as he absorbed the news.
“The boy is not mine,” he stated in a tortured voice.
Brie closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Rytsar had accepted he had a son and was ready to change his life, move back to Russia, and create a family for the little boy by partnering with Sasha.
Now… Everything had changed.
Not only was he not a father, but Sasha had clearly lied to him. What made the deception even more unbearable was that he now knew his oldest brother had fathered the child and had kept it a secret for two years—until now.
Rytsar sat in stunned silence, a look of devastation on his face.
“There is no chance of an error?” Sir asked the doctor.
“It was conclusive for all five facilities.”
Pulling a flask from his breast pocket, Sir told Rytsar, “You look like you could use this.”
Rytsar took it from him and swallowed a long draught of the vodka. Afterward, he wiped his mouth and held the flask up to Sir.
“No need to share.” Sir reached into his other breast pocket and pulled out a second flask. “I’ve brought my own.”
Rytsar snorted, then tipped the flask back, taking another long draught.
Brie sat there with him, wishing desperately she could do or say something to help him with the shock. After Rytsar finished the flask, he patted her hand, then stood up.
Nodding to the doctor, he gathered the five files from the desk and turned to face his friends.
“We are done here.”
“If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to call,” the doctor said, holding out his business card.
Rytsar didn’t take it. Instead, he tucked the files under his arm. “You’ve given me everything I need to know.”
Sir and Brie followed Rytsar out of the office, and the three walked back to the car in silence.
Once in the car, Rytsar told one of his men, “Call Vlad and tell him to meet me at the mansion. Stress that time is of the utmost importance and that lives depend on it.”
After the driver started heading to the family mansion, Sir asked, “Are you sure you want us to be present?”
“Are you not my brother?”
“I am.”
“Then, it is only right that you be there when I confront the maggot.”
Brie looked at Sir with concern. The fact that Rytsar had just called Vlad a maggot did not bode well.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked, hoping to ease his mind.
“Da, be a woman I can trust,” Rytsar said with a catch in his voice.
Brie glanced at Sir, hurt that Rytsar would ever doubt her. “You can always trust me.”
Rytsar looked at Brie and sighed. “My level of trust has been eroded. I apologize for disparaging your honor,radost moya. I know you are like my mother in your loyalty.”
Brie wrapped her arms around him, touched by the comparison. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been hit in the gut by this news.”
