Page 86 of Deceitful Bond

My fingers can barely touch it. The smooth metal slips farther out of my grasp.

“Stop it, Andrushka,” she begs. “It’s not important!”

My fingers graze it, and I flick it toward me, catching it in my hand. Standing to my feet, I open my fist, and in my palm is a silver band. Eva reaches for it and swiftly grabs it away.

“What is that?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she pants, backing away from me.

“Then show it to me.”

She shakes her head and desperation appears in her eyes. A look I haven’t seen in a long time. A look reserved for my father.

“No.”

I walk toward the door and block her exit before she can run. “It’s not a request, Mother. It’s an order.”

She wavers, rocking on her heels, her eyes wide with terror as I tower over her.

I hold my hand out. “I love you,mamechka,” I whisper. “Please don’t make me prove what I really am.”

For a second, Eva looks away as if she won’t do it. I don’t know what I will do, but I can’t make an idle threat. I will have to do something. They will hate me for it. I will hate myself. But I will have to do something.

Eva looks at me, and then it drops into my palm. A silver ring. I hold it up to the light and read the engraving inside, written in the old alphabet.To my only love.

My tone reflects my scorn and confusion. “What is this ring?”

“There is so much that you don’t know,” she whispers. “And if you did, you would never forgive yourself or me.”

Eva snatches the ring out of my hand. She slips past me, out of the room, before I can demand an answer. I sit down on the bed, and the platform squeals under my weight. Today I feel the weight of my world on top of me. And the past begins to churn in my mind as I seek out answers.

Is that ring the reason why we’ve gone through hell?

Chapter 53

Paige

Later

There’s a gentle tap on the door, as if someone is knocking with one finger. Natasha steps into my bedroom without waiting for an invite. She scans every corner for hidden danger before stepping further inside. Or maybe she’s looking for Andrei. When she’s certain I’m alone, her laser beam eyes scan me quickly. No doubt assessing my mental state. Maybe she heard my meltdown through Andrei’s office door, but she would’ve waited for her orders before checking on me.

Her expression is emotionless, but something about my countenance seems to temporarily stop her in her tracks.

Natasha has never been one to hold back, but she stands there in silence, looking at me as if I’m insane. I guess I do have a superpower.

“Eva asked me to check on you.” Her expression defaults to unreadable again. She could be checking the weather.

“I’m surprised you didn’t rush in when you heard the screaming,” I say to her coolly.

“I have to make allowances for your privacy,” she replies.

I take a soft breath. “Meaning he can beat me uninterrupted if he wants to?”

Her eyebrows arch as she inspects my body from a distance, her sharp gaze looking for any traces of pain. I forgot she can’t tell sarcasm from the truth. Before getting out of bed, I wrap the sheet tightly around my chest, shielding me from her relentless scrutiny.

“I’m being sarcastic,” I reply flippantly. “Andrei has to force himself to touch me. I’m surprised he doesn’t wear gloves.”

Her lips curl into a twist. “Then consider yourself lucky.”

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