Page 96 of Corruption

“He is,” Addy says casually before moving on. “People in this world don’t respect an intelligent woman. So Adrian plays the big bad boss of the Fantoni empire while I sit and look pretty. He’s intelligent enough to know that I’m more intelligent than him and can make decisions without a bad temper clouding my judgment. You know. A man does something, and it makes him a great businessman. A woman does it, and she’s just a bitch.” Addy adjusts her hat. “People eventually do realize I’m the one in charge if they do business with us long enough. But for some of our business partners, letting it seem like Adrian is the one fully in control makes my life easier. Now. Again. Let’s talk about what we’re going to do about Alik and Nadia. You’re pregnant with the man’s baby, and I imagine Nadia considers it as much hers as his. So what are your thoughts?”

“I want to stay with them,” I say without hesitation because that’s what I want. No doubt.

Nadia and Alik lied to me. It’s all their fault that I’m here in this predicament. Surrounded by criminals and murderers and narrowly missing being murdered myself. But also, if they hadn’t done what they did, I wouldn’t have them. If Adrian and Addy can work out trying to kill each other multiple times, then I can work out Nadia and Alik lying to me.

“That’s a given, dear,” Addy says, slipping into her Italian accent. “But how are we going to spin this so that you get the most benefit from it? The way people decide to arrange their romantic relationships is their own business, but the government has decided they’ll only recognize the union of two people and no more. So how are we going to ensure you get everything you deserve and cement the relationship between the Vorobevs and the Fantonis?”

Something tells me Addy already knows the answer to this and just wants to see how smart I am. Just like she did when she and her husband showed up in my apartment. But I don’t know anything about this life. I haven’t spent my life deceiving people and making deals and forcing them to do what I want. I’ve spent most of my time just trying to survive the hand I was dealt. My mother. The Fantonis. My engagement to Vaughn.

My engagement to Vaughn!

“Do you all have friends that can help you forge a backdated marriage certificate?”

“That entirely depends on what you have in mind.”

“Everyone knows Vaughn and I were engaged, and as far as anyone knew, I was living with him. We can say that Vaughn didn’t want to wait until March and we had a secret, private ceremony. If you can get someone to forge the marriage certificate and license for a couple of weeks ago, that would make me Vaughn’s widow.”

“Oh, that’s clever. And people would assume the baby was Vaughn’s and not that Alik slept with his brother andpakhan’swife. Good thing they looked so much alike.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t want people thinking that. I won’t… If I keep it, I’m not going to lie.”

“You don’t have to lie to the child. Just to everyone else.”

“No. I can’t…”

I don’t know how to explain to Addy that I won’t do to my child what my mom did to me. Lied that my father had abandoned her when he found out she was pregnant and then died. Only for me to learn that she never told him and by the time I learned that, he was dead. I won’t have my child robbed of that knowledge.

Addy seems to get the sentiment behind what I can’t put into words. Or, at the very least, she gets that I won’t budge on this.

“You’re what? No more than six weeks pregnant? Maybe not even.” Addy sighs and continues without waiting for me to answer. “I suppose if we do it right, we can spin that in your devastation you took comfort in Alik, and he was only too willing as a man like him would be. Then you fell pregnant, and the baby just came a little early. As long as you weren’t letting Alik dick you down while you belonged to theirpakhanin a betrayal of their brotherhood, no one will care… Anyone who would is likely already dead. And an heir will help Alik solidify his control. Especially if you have a boy.”

I don’t like that my child is already being discussed for how useful they’ll be in spinning this story. But just like I was a pawn because Adrian claimed me as his daughter, so too will be their fate anyway if I’m committed to staying in this life. If I’m committed to staying with Nadia and Alik. And I am.

“Alright then. Adrian and I will arrange it with Alik and Nadia and then send you right on your way tomorrow afternoon.”

“That’s it?” I ask. “That simple?”

“You want to be with Alik and Nadia, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s that simple.” Addy moves to get out the car. Then pauses. “Just one thing. Make it hard for them. Make them earn your forgiveness. Even if you planned to do it anyway.”

“Wait!” I say before I stop myself, and Addy turns back to me instead of getting out the car.

I open and close my mouth. Not sure how to say what I want. Not sure I want to be this vulnerable with Addy Fantoni of all people. But she’s the only one that would understand.

“Are you afraid he’d do it to you again?”

“For who to do what again?”

“Adrian. Are you afraid he’ll cheat on you again and then throw you aside like he did his first wife and Cres, your best friend? I mean. I know you, him, and Cres all worked it out in the end, and she’s still your best friend. But still…”

Addy sighs and settles back in her seat. She’s looking at me, but her gaze is far away. Finally, she says, “Adrian never cheated on any woman in his life.”

I frown. “But the reports said…”

“Don’t always believe what the news says. None of us ever commented on it. I’m telling you. He never cheated on anyone. Adrian has a lot of faults, but that’s not one of them.”

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