With This Secret

“I’m going for a nap,” I said to Aldie, and turned around to take my leave.

There was no one around to show me the way, but Levan had waved his hand in the direction of the left-hand portion of the second floor and he had also told us to explore the whole house, so I decided to just find my way to the rooms where our bags had been taken to.

I went up the grand marble stairs and felt a little bit like a princess in a fairytale. At the top, I saw what seemed to be the entrance to a massive conservatory full of gorgeous tropical plants. I couldn’t resist immediately heading for it. I walked into the plant filled space and wanted to linger ? perhaps it would be a better place to think than the bedroom I’d been looking for. A small pond sat in a corner filled with lilies and beautiful red and gold koi. Beyond the glass walls was the breathtaking view of the ocean.

I began to stroll around the miniature fruit trees and the brilliantly colored flowering potted plants. As I stood there admiring the effort that had gone into this garden I heard the voices. They sounded muffled, but I was certain one of the voices was Levan. I was not in the habit of snooping so I quickly walked towards it, with the intention of announcing my presence. I made it to the end of the wonderful garden and spotted a white, glass paneled door. It was shut, but through it, I could see Levan. I didn’t however, see who he was speaking to.

For a moment, I wanted to go forward, but then I saw the angry, forbidding look on Levan’s face and I knew I shouldn’t intrude. But as the voices got a bit louder, I took a step backwards. Then I turned around and my heart lurched into my throat in shock at the sight of the 6ft 4 inch frame that blocked my path.

“Oh my God!” I gasped, slapping my hand across my mouth.

The icy blue, almost soulless eyes of Maxim stared at me expressionlessly.

Levan had told me he was going to Switzerland.

What was he doing here? And why had he come in so silently?

I felt scared he’d inform Levan that I was eavesdropping on him when I had barely even heard a word. Not that I would have understood. They were speaking in Russian. “Hello,” I croaked.

He didn’t reply.

“Can you move please? I-I need to leav—”

“No, you should stay,” he said softly.

I stopped at his detached, solemn voice. It was the first time I think that he had ever spoken directly to me.

“I’ll interpret for you.”

“No thanks,” I said, certain it was a trick of some kind. Besides, I didn’t want to eavesdrop on anyone, let alone Levan.

He didn’t move. It became clear then that it wasn’t a request.

I didn’t want to cower and escape through the other way, and at the challenge in his eyes, I knew he expected just that of me, so I swallowed a very painful lump in my throat, and waited it out.

“My brother is speaking to our father,” Maxim suddenly said, his gaze on the glass windows. “My father is laughing at him because he wants to leave the family business and live an ordinary life.”

Maxim paused, then continued to interpret what his father was saying. “You think you’ll ever be able to be free of us? You will forever be a target. I’ll give you two months. Two months of thinking that you’re an ordinary person, and keeping your eyes day and night on that little gold digger, and you’ll be dead! You won’t even see the bullet coming. You won’t even know who killed you. You’ll be like road kill, and perhaps even rot away like one.”

I waited to hear what Levan’s response would be, but it didn’t come immediately. I watched Maxim as his gaze hardened. Then came the reply, “I’ll watch my back as best I can. And I’ll do the same for hers.”

His father’s voice rose so much then that I turned away from Maxim, and towards the door.

Maxim kept interpreting, “And how the hell is that going to be possible in New York? Every eye is on you now, after this fucking mess you’ve created! You didn’t even exist before this, and there was a reason why I fought so hard to make it that way, and now you’re a big star! Blown up all over the country.”

Maxim nodded at me. “Levan said, ‘We’ll leave the country … whatever we have to do, but I will keep her safe.” He paused and gave his father’s reply. “Has that bitch completely turned your brain to fucking mush? In this day and age, there is no corner on earth where you will be safe. Even if we resolve your problem with the authorities. If I can find you that dog can too. No matter where you go, you are a dead man.”