I’d been so shocked, so unsure of what to do or how to deal with it.
And then Valentina walked in and caught it all.
She’d never stopped bothering me about it.
Valentina disrupted my thoughts, “Call my brother.”
“It was one fucking time! Never again has a man touched me.”
“I’m over it, Misha. Just—”
“I’m not over it!” I marched her way. “Stop bringing it up. Stop acting like I’m now the gayest man walking the earth.”
She blinked and stepped out of the bathroom. “Okay. I just—”
“And you know what else, Natalya is my child! I took her pacifier the other day and got it tested! So congratulations, you’re not pregnant by your brother!”
She gasped.
“And mosquitos are the most dangerous fucking animals in the world. They suck your blood and carry diseases, you fucking bitch!” I slammed the door, locked it, yanked down my boxer briefs, and got in the shower.
As the water sprayed, I heard Valentina scream, “Maxwell!”
One problem down. A few more to go. My list will be done soon. I’ll see Ava dance, get Kazimir’s babies in Paris, and then fly back.
Next week, I would bury my father. Ava and her grandmother would come with me. Perhaps, by then she’d be back in my arms. I had several days to stop getting her to fear me.
But what could I do today?
Going to her performance wouldn’t be enough. I yearned to touch her. I’d spent enough time in the balcony, drooling and watching her from for a year. Sitting in the audience, watching other men lift and pick her up. Turn and twirl her around. The pain and unending twinge of jealous as I thought of Ava touching me the way she touched the dancer playing the hero.
How many times had my cock pressed against my pants with no hope of relief?
I’m not going back to that. She’s fucking mine!
We needed more time together, but there was no time.
She needed space, but I had none to offer her.
If I planned on leaving for Paris after the performance, I had to make a move now.
I had to make things clear.
I give up with being patient. With all the things going wrong, this is the one thing I won’t allow to be destroyed.
It was time to go to Ava and let her know what I’d been telling her all along.
This is forever.
Chapter 23
Ava
Three hours before the performance, I entered the theater with my guards. Besides some of the backstage managers talking amongst themselves, the place looked like a ghost town.
I reveled in it. I hadn’t wanted to talk to anybody.
Trying to keep myself busy, I planned on prepping the new pointe shoes that Misha had gifted me. I needed a pair for the performance. It would be a while to break them in. At least with these, I didn’t have to pancake them. The rest of the time, I hoped to sit in my dressing room for the next few hours and meditate.
I needed quiet.
It had been a tremendously difficult day. The hours passed in a blur. Thank God dancing helped. It kept my mind off everything. I worked hard and focused on my movements. The other ballerinas had no idea what occurred yesterday. There’d been rumors that maybe Akiva had a fight with someone, but no one had any idea about the deaths.
And the few that may have figured some of it out, had been smart enough to not say it around me.
I forced myself to eat throughout the day. Eventually, my appetite returned. But the phone call with Misha was what got my emotions back on track. Hearing his voice kept me calm.
I can’t believe I invited him to dinner in two days. Where did that come from?
I’d been starved for him. Probably addicted. The idea had come to me as soon as I heard his voice.
I guess we’ll have dinner. Maybe, my head will be clearer by then. Don’t worry about it. Focus on the last performance for this week. I’ll think about that later.
I’d spent a little time with grandma at the condo. She’d been binge-watching that old detective show on the one English Channel. Later, she convinced one of her guards to get her a few bottles of Hennessey. While she hadn’t drank any yet, I knew one would be gone this evening.
She’d also bought some new wigs and a gown. When I’d asked her where she’d gotten the money to buy them, she’d shrugged and admitted.
“Misha offered me a bag of money, days ago. I wasn’t going to take it, but after yesterday,” she shook her head. “I went back to the suite with my guards. The bag was still there. I grabbed it.”
“Grandma.”
“It’s my money.”
“What! Grandma, I don’t think we should take anything from Misha until I figure out—”
“That money is between Misha and me. Mind your business, baby.”