I look down at the floor and then at Vladim whose eyes have such a different glow to them, now that he’s gone. I shiver. “I can’t believe he was my father. Did you know?”
He nods. “But if I’d told you, it would’ve only hurt you.”
“I know,” I say. “You don’t have to explain. You tried to protect me from the truth.”
“I swear all that I told you is the fucking truth. He created you only so he could sell you.”
“So no one loved my mother?”
He coughs and tries to sit up straight by leaning back on his elbows. “You. You loved her. And your sister.”
“Do you think she’s still alive?”
“No … I think he killed her long ago when she was no longer useful. When she couldn’t bear any more servants after your sister.”
I sigh. “I knew it. Deep down. I just didn’t want to know it.”
“I get it. It’s tough to know you’re alone. But at least you have your sister. Is she safe?”
I nod. “I got her to go to Deangelo’s. He’ll take care of her.”
“Isn’t he your—”
“Pimp … yeah.” I smile. “But he’s a good guy.”
“Must be if you’re friends with him.” He smiles. “Well, I’m glad I let you go then.”
I place my hand over his. “Thank you.”
He pulls his hand back. “Don’t say that. I made you do this. Because of me, you had to kill your own father. I’m sorry, Lexi.”
I do what my instincts tell me and immediately hug him tight.
He pats me on the back, then groans and cringes from the pain.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Doesn’t hurt at all.” His grandstanding makes me grin.
“Well, then you can clean up this mess on your own, I assume?” I muse.
“Of course. After you help me get up and call Winston.”
I shake my head, laughing. When I put my arms under his to prop him up, he says, “So … you’re not mad?”
“Oh, I am fucking mad at you for making me kill my own dad, even though he was a fucking asshole, but I’m especially mad about the part where you took me away from my mom …”
He squints as he hears everything I have to say.
“But,” I add, and his face immediately lights up, “that part where you said you loved me made me believe you aren’t such a fucking bad person after all.”
“You heard that, huh?” he says, cocking his head.
“I sure fucking did,” I say, and then I help get him up from the floor.
He groans but manages to stay upright.
“You know … for a moment there, I thought you’d actually kill me instead.”
I frown and glance at him. “Why’d you think that?”
“I dunno … part of me wanted to believe I deserved to die.”
“You … you can’t die.” I clear my throat. “I need you.”
He smiles at me. “You do?”
“Yes.” I smile back and lean in to kiss him on the cheek. “More than anything.”
“More than your dad?”
“Fuck, so much more than that.” We stumble toward the door.
“More than life?”
“Depends.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “On what?”
“On whether you’ll love me for the rest of my life.”
He grins. “Fuck, yes. I’ll take on that challenge any day.”
“Good,” I say, smiling to myself, “because you’ll be stuck with me for a little while longer.”
I wink as we walk into the hall, where a smiling Winston meets us. And dead bodies, which I try to ignore.
“So glad you’re alive,” Winston says, dropping the gun in his hand.
“Winston?” Viktor’s eyes widen. “You’re here.”
“Of course, I’m here. Where else would I be?” He playfully raises a brow.
Winston walks up to hug Viktor, who cringes from the pain. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he mutters. “But how did you get here? Did you just seriously use a gun?”
“I didn’t just use it,” he says, smiling.
“Winston actually hid behind a tree like a sniper and killed them all,” I muse. “Then he covered for me while I went inside.”
Viktor seems surprised. “Huh. Who’da thought …”
“I would’ve been dead if it wasn’t for him,” I say. “How else do you think I got in so easily? It’s all thanks to Stan.”
Winston frowns at me but continues smiling. “I took some lessons a few years back. Guess they came in useful, after all,” Winston gloats. “This old man had some tricks up his sleeves no one was prepared for.”