Page 92 of Tied to Hope
Brie giggled. “It’s not charity. It’s a good use for a home that needs people in it.”
He smiled as he looked back up at the ceiling. “I may have to join you on your hunt for a house,radost moya. To ensure it meets my standards.”
Brie grinned, squeezing his hand.
But Rytsar slowly lost his smile. “I should have known something was not right with Sasha.”
“No one could have known,” Sir assured him.
“But I remember being surprised when Sasha kept pushing hard to get married, despite the casual BDSM relationship we shared.”
“You never told us that,” Brie said, sitting up to look at him.
Rytsar shrugged. “I saw no reason to mention it because I was at an impasse. While I didn’t want the child to remain a bastard, I’d already sworn myself to Tatianna and will marry no other.”
Again, Brie was struck by the fact that Rytsar was a condor.
“I’m glad you did not have to make a choice either way,” Sir told him.
Rytsar sighed. “I can’t help feeling I failed her.”
“Her fate was sealed, brother. There is nothing you could have done to change the outcome. But, you were able to give Sasha the only thing that mattered to her—peace of mind about her son’s future.”
“I should be angry at her for her lies and the consequences they would have had on me and my family, but…I understand her reasons and feel no resentment toward her.” Rytsar turned to look at Sir. “When I got up this morning, I was ready to rip her apart. Crazy the difference twelve hours can make.”
Sir frowned. “I never would have guessed the truth behind her lies.”
“And I wouldn’t have known it if it hadn’t been for you,” Rytsar replied.
“Truthfully, I did it for me. The only way I could support the future you had chosen was to eliminate any doubt about the validity of her claim. Unfortunately, I am not a very trusting person.”
“Me neither,moy droog. That’s why we get along so well,” he laughed.
Brie gave each of them a kiss. “I cannot wait to get back home and snuggle with Hope.”
“Yes, I will have to tellmoye solntseabout her cousin in Russia and the herd of ponies I am going to buy her.”
Brie giggled. Then, gazing into his blue eyes, she whispered, “Are you really okay, Anton?”
“I will be.” He kissed her on the forehead before getting up as he headed to the bathroom.
He returned a few minutes later, drying off his chest with a towel. He walked up to Sir, who was still lying on the bed beside Brie. Without any warning, he twisted up the towel and snapped it on Sir’s thigh.
“What the hell?” Sir yelled, caught off guard by the sneak attack.
Rytsar smirked. “It’s time we plan a date for the isle,moy droog…”
Their Voices
After returning from Russia, Brie was driven by a burning desire to finish her second documentary. Sasha’s death had reminded her of how fleeting life was and it helped spur her on as she devoted countless hours to complete the film.
Brie believed the only way one could truly live on through the ages was through art—and her art was film.
The moment she finished, Brie ran into Sir’s office and cried, “I’m done!”
He stood up with open arms and picked her up, twirling her in the air. “Congratulations, babygirl. I’m so proud of you.”
When he set her down, they indulged in a long kiss.
