Pulling up the bassinet and cradling her daughter that much more protectively, as though sheltering her from what had, so unfairly, been said about her father, Sacha went to leave. She was furious with herself for feeling insulted on Alekzander’s behalf, but it was there, and she couldn’t pretend otherwise. Not to herself.
Angela touched her arm as she made it to the door, her smile careful as she slipped Lekzi’s diaper bag over Sacha’s shoulder. “Don’t be upset by what he said. He’s not used to this kind of thing. My dad’s friends were forever sitting around our kitchen table eating my mom’s amazing creations. Sure, now we know they were gangs and la familia, but at the time, they were just dad’s friends. What people see on the surface is rarely what is.” She looked back at Justin, who was by the window, texting once more. When she came back around, she took Sacha by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “How did you feel when you saw him?” she whispered. “For real.”
Sacha didn’t mean to be honest, but when she opened her mouth, it just tumbled out. “It was awful. Seeing him was awful and wonderful and terrifying and maddening. I felt as if I had woken from a dead sleep. I would not admit this to anyone but you because it sounds so silly and dramatic, but I did not realize how broken I was until he reappeared to kick around the pieces he left behind.”
“Oh, baby girl.” Angela pulled her in, and they hugged for a long time. For once, Sacha didn’t feel awkward and pull away. “I’m so sorry you love him like that.”
Sacha nodded but was unable to speak. She did love him “like that”, and she was sorry, too.
“I couldn’t help but get the vibe that Tarasov thinks you and I are bumping uglies,” Justin said as he came over. “If it helps tomorrow, play on that. I don’t mind if you use me to drive him away. If he thinks we’re involved, will he respect that, or fight it?”
“I do not know,” she lied. Alekzander would not take that well.
“The option is there. If you want to throw a boyfriend at him, I’ve dated my share of women. It’ll seem legit.”
Sacha was surprised by that. “Really? Are you…interested in…I mean, I do not want to pry, but…”
Justin chuckled and pulled her in to kiss her temple in that way he always did. The rage that had entered Alekzander’s eyes when he’d seen the gesture at the restaurant was what had sent Sacha fleeing.
“My boy/girl dates were for my father’s sake. And…others. I don’t go around advertising how attractive I find David Beckham, but I certainly don’t bother anymore with the pretense of admiring his wife for anything but her business acumen.”
Sacha gripped the bassinet handles with one hand and hugged her gorgeous friend. “I will keep my eye out for a wonderful partner for you,” she promised.
“Introduce me to your brother and we’ll be all set.” He said with a wink as he reached for the door.
“You are the closest thing I have so that would be impossible.” She waved at Angela and missed the profoundly touched look Justin gave her as she walked out into the corridor.
A chill flashed down her spine when she saw Grigori standing guard near the top of the stairs. He was big, grim-looking, and a few years older than her.
She quickly made sure Lekzi was still asleep and well covered. If the baby were to open her eyes and look at any one of Alekzander’s men, they would know immediately who her father was.
SIX
Alek was itching to text Maks again to ask for an update. The last fuck off and let me work he’d gotten was thirty minutes ago. Guy must have something by now, he thought, looking at his Piaget as he, his uncle, and Dmitri crossed the lobby of the building Alek and Sacha had seen for the first time during a snowstorm. Alek had told the real estate agent they’d take the unit the minute he’d seen Sacha’s eyes light up at the view. After signing something he hadn’t even scanned, he’d sent the woman on her way, shooing her out into the hallway and toward the elevators. He and Sacha were christening the place before that lift had any chance of reaching the lobby.
“Evening, Mr. Tarasov.”
He flashed the peace sign at the familiar face behind the reception-slash-security desk but didn’t stop to chat about his sudden reappearance after more than a year-long absence. They rode the elevator up and entered the place he’d once loved coming home to. It smelled of lemons; a result of the cleaners he still had coming in once a week. But it was quiet as a tomb. Fitting.
Was he touching her right now?
Alek’s jaw locked as he forced the thought back into the box it kept escaping from. The sinister feelings that came with it rode low under the surface of his patience. He was doing pretty well. Not obsessing. Keeping a clear head. But that goddamn attorney’s presence was drilling a hole in the top of his skull, and that agonizing buzz wasn’t letting up. He doubted it would until the issue was dealt with.