Chapter Nine #2
I'm seated next to Alexsey, neither of us is happy about it, based on his expression. I feel worse for Mom, who's forced to sit next to my father, who's looking increasingly like an animated corpse, though he's still radiating a cloud of menace thick enough to choke on.
After ordering something called Anch-flou-salm-trou - which turns out to be trout stuffed in salmon and then what I think is flounder - I pick at it silently, letting the currents of conversation swirl around me.
We're all seated at a long table in a private corner of the restaurant.
I'm uncomfortably aware of the other diners gawking at us, but everyone keeps their distance.
Alexsey selects a steak but doesn't touch it, though he signals three times for more vodka, swirling the drink in his right hand as he watches my father. He smiles slightly when Father coughs painfully into his napkin, putting it back on his lap before anyone can see the smear of blood.
I can't blame Alexsey for taking pleasure in his suffering, since Father has no problem inflicting misery on Mom and me. Maybe we can bond over our mutual hatred of Dritan Krasniqi?
By the time dessert and brandy is ordered, I have a blazing headache.
Roman and Violet are sitting with Alexsey and me.
She's been so sweet about including me in their conversation, but Roman's hand keeps creeping up her thigh and she seems quite pleased about it.
They excuse themselves with expressions that tell me someone's getting lucky in a back staircase in about two minutes
There's an uncomfortable lull, Alexsey and I are alone at this end of the table.
"Liria?" Alexsey says, his tone mocking me. "Liria Johnson?"
I give what I hope is an elegant sneer. "I use my mother's maiden name here in America.
And how are you, Beauford Wellington? You're the only one here who was lying.
" His gaze drops, giving me a thorough visual examination before rising again to my face with an expression that indicates he's not particularly impressed with what he's seen.
"We'll speak later," he says, looking at Dmitri, who's eyeing us both with a scowl. Alexsey leers back at him.
My relief as Maksim signals the end of this hellish eating experience is profound. I ignore Alexsey, hurrying over to Mom. "Where are we staying tonight?"
Father steps in, stinking of vodka. "You will be going home with your husband," he says, with the condescending tone you'd use on a special-needs kitten.
"I understand that your belongings have already been taken there," Mom says, forcing a bright smile for me.
There's a smothered chuckle and I turn to glare at Alexsey, who's still lounging in his chair, finishing his drink. "Where did you think you'd be sleeping, wife?" His smile is malevolent.
"After an evening of such good will and sentiment," I snap, "I was hoping for a hotel room on the other side of the city from you."
There's a searing pain in my arm as my father grabs me, digging his nasty fingernails in deep. He may be halfway to death, but his grip is going to leave a bruise. "Remember that your mother's well-being depends on your good behavior, vajze budallaqe, stupid girl."
"Take your claw off my wife's arm."
Alexsey's tone could give frostbite as he steps between me and Father, breaking his grip. He leans closer. "You should remember that what is left of your short and miserable existence can be very unpleasant if you don't follow our agreement. You will not touch my wife or Allegra."
Father's face flushes red and slowly steps back. The sounds of the restaurant are muted, as if the other diners are holding their breath. Ella gently draws my mother away murmuring something about taking her to her hotel. I know she's making sure Mom isn't the next target for this bastard's rage.
Alexsey catches me staring at him in surprise and seems to regret his chivalrous moment, striding out the door ahead of me as two of his men gently herd me to the street without actually touching any part of my body.
Roan steps up to open the SUV door. The biggest guard, an enormous man with a shaved head and the height and build of a bull moose, blocks him. Alexsey turns back from the Range Rover, watching the little stand-off with an amused smile. "Danyl will be Mrs. Morozova's new personal security."
Roan makes a noise in his chest, a growl I can feel rattling in my bones. "I have watched over Miss Liria since she was-"
"Yes, well…" Alexsey's eyes turn a polar blue. "A member of the Morozov family will be protected by Morozov security."
"Roan's my personal security," I say hastily. "He's been assigned to me for ten years. You could not ask for a better professional."
The man who's supposed to be my husband shakes his head. "No."
Everything's falling apart. Each piece of my life is slipping away from me. There's a sharp word from Father and Roan stiffens, forcing himself to stand back from the car, every step is killing him, I know.
Danyl opens the car door for me. I want to hug Roan. Tell him how much he means to me. To tell him thank you for everything he's done. He gives me one long, sorrowful look before turning away, following Father's entourage and I get in the Range Rover. The door shuts behind me with a heavy thunk.
My new husband and I sit as far away from each other as the back seat will allow, but I eye him surreptitiously. That night three months ago meant so much to me. And clearly, to him, it was nothing.